icon-arrowicon-chevron-whiteicon-chevronicon-commenticon-facebookicon-hearticon-instagramicon-instant-poticon-listicon-lockicon-meal-prepicon-nexticon-pinteresticon-popularicon-quoteicon-searchicon-staricon-sugar-freeicon-tiktokicon-twittericon-veganicon-videomenu-closemenu-open
Our recipes, your inbox. Sign up

5 Minute Magic Vegan Caramel Sauce

67 reviews / 4.6 average

LUSHHHH! β™‘

You guys, I’m so glad you’re here today because this magic vegan caramel is legit silky, creamy, and luscious.

Wait, I know -> vegan. Which is interesting since I’m not a vegan (remember how the last recipe I posted was, um, a LOADED MEATBALL PIZZA?) and lots of you aren’t vegan either, but one of my favorite food terms is Everythingtarian. Right? s/o to Holly way back in the day for introducing me to that term with her funky blog. Since then, you and I and our POY food corner of the internet have totally identified ourselves with the Everythingtarian food culture, which to me means that you basically eat all the things. It’s a little bit meatball pizza, a little bit vegan caramel, and a little bit detox lentil soup. It’s Everythingtarian, Flexitarian, Food Eatertarian. It’s yummy. You down?

HOW TO MAKE OUR VEGAN CARAMEL (30 SEC):

Magic Vegan Caramel Sauce made in a dish with a small spatula.

Like 99% of recipes in my life, this magic vegan caramel was a happy accident that was inspired from making Angela’s Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars – the ones with the juicy, sticky jam? Yeah, those ones.

I was just following the recipe, doing what Angela instructed, and all of a sudden I looked down at the mixture I was whisking and I thought: hey, that looks like caramel. A really BOMB caramel. A really BOMB VEGAN caramel. I wonder if we could make a version of this that would just be straight vegan caramel sauce for eating?

We could and we most definitely did.

Magic Vegan Caramel Sauce in a measuring cup.
Magic Vegan Caramel Sauce on a spoon.

Uses of this sauce in my life have included:

  • Drizzling on oatmeal
  • Spreading on toast – don’t knock it till you try it
  • Stirring into yogurt (not vegan! but #everythingtarian)
  • Dipping with apples and other fruit
  • Pouring over ice cream (could be coconut ice cream for the Vs)
  • Mixing into no-bake batters – like energy bites
  • Topping for breads, muffins, and cakes
  • Stirring into coffee and tea
  • Straight spoonful snacking during Netflix binges, for those of us with no boundaries

But we’re in the heart of October now, so highest on my agenda is generously bathing all my gorgeous fall Honeycrisp applies in this liquid gold and repeat, and repeat, and repeat. It’s too good for words.

Magic Vegan Caramel Sauce over apples.

This is fall magic! ✨ Make it and love it.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Vegan Caramel Sauce poured into a bowl.

5 Minute Magic Vegan Caramel Sauce


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 67 reviews

  • Author: Pinch of Yum
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: about 1/2 cup sauce (46 servings depending on how you use it) 1x

Description

Magic Vegan Caramel Sauce made with coconut oil, real maple syrup, and almond butter. Microwave for one minute. SO GOOD!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup real maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter
  • sea salt, vanilla, or cinnamon to taste

Instructions

  1. Melt the coconut oil and maple syrup together in a glass container for 1 minute.
  2. Whisk in the almond butter for about 30 seconds until fully incorporated and very smooth.

Notes

I’m not saying you HAVE to, but using cookie butter in place of almond butter is so dangerously good. And cookie butter is vegan (at least the one I bought is). Who knew.

  • Prep Time: 3 mins
  • Cook Time: 2 mins
  • Category: Sauce
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: vegan caramel sauce, vegan caramel dip, vegan caramel, caramel sauce recipe



MORE VEGAN TREATS:

Jam Bars.

Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars


Nice Cream in a cone.

Peanut Butter Cup Nice Cream


Raw Chocolate Snack Bars.

Raw Salted Chocolate Snack Bars


Energy Bites with chocolate and coconut.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Energy Bites


Matcha Latte in jars.

Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte


One More Thing!

This recipe is part of our collection of best dip recipes. Check it out!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

280 Comments

  1. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Hello Lindsay! This looks absolutely amazing! However, due to the fact that Maple Syrup is horribly expensive in the UK, do you think it could be replaced with honey (which I know wouldn’t make it vegan anymore)/Agave syrup/ brown rice syrup/golden syrup or anything else?

    Also, have you tried any other nut butter? (I love almond but my favourite is cashew, it is sooooo gooood)

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      good question! Yes, honey would work nicely I think. I have used brown rice syrup too and that’s good but the taste gets a little funky IMO. Agave would probably also work but would be a little sweeter.

    2. Pinch of Yum Logo

      This is delish. Honey is vegan, just wanted to share that. Honey is made BY bees, not from them.

      1. Pinch of Yum Logo

        It’s made by bees FOR bees and they often die when people Harvest the honey, so No. It’s not Vegan and I’m not telling you you should be- but please don’t misinform people.

          1. Pinch of Yum Logo

            From my understanding some wines are vegan, it just depends on what the wine is filtered through.

            PETA2.org has a list of vegan friendly wines πŸ™‚πŸ·

        1. Pinch of Yum Logo

          Wow! So delicious. I used cookie butter and homemade syrup from bark(my daughter’s recipe). Wonderful and can’t wait to dip a brownie into it! Thank you!

      2. Pinch of Yum Logo

        @AMYV
        It really depends what your motivation and ethics are.
        I consider Honey to be NOT vegan because bees are often killed. Queens wings are often cut off.
        But for me, the reason I gave up honey was because I saw a fact that it takes one bee about 100 journeys to create 1 spoon of honey… And I saw this is unfair treatment of an insect. Bees actually need the honey for the colder months of the year when there are no flowers.
        For someone that doesn’t care about insects and just wants to be a healthy vegan (rather than a conscientious vegan), then honey would be ok for these kinds of people.

        1. Pinch of Yum Logo

          I have friends that raise bees and market the honey and can assure you that they do not harm their bees or cut off the queen’s wings during harvesting. While bees do die in the hive, because we all die sometime, the other bees are generally pretty efficient at removing dead bees, but parts may end up in the honey here and there. No more than any other vegetable product occasionally contains insect parts.

    3. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Supporting local bee keepers is important, and they actually care about their bees, without them there would be more bees lost because of pesticides. At least they can control to a degree what the bees get into that’s safe. Also if you’re going to not eat honey because of bee exploitation, then don’t eat broccoli, squash, almonds, avocado, kiwis, melons, cherries, cucumbers, lettuce, etc. Good luck.

      1. Pinch of Yum Logo

        Let people eat what they want…I’m all for that. A meat eater could say that β€œit’s important to support our local cattle raiser and butcher shop,” too. I try not to judge others by what they eat and to consume as few animal products as possible. Some would call me a vegan, but I don’t prefer labels. I buy organic sugar that I believe to be vegan. I shop at farmer’s markets when possible, and from the best of my knowledge they do not exploit bees. I eat avocados from my tree and veggies from my garden. I don’t claim any of it to be organic or vegan. To me seafood and chicken are both forms of meat, hence not part of a vegetarian diet. Some do consider themselves to be vegetarian and still eat these. As for honey, bees make it, yes, but they’re not doing it for human consumption. So, one should not claim to be a vegan while knowingly consuming honey, just as one should not claim to be a vegetarian while enjoying their blackened salmon steak. Just my 2 cents:). Have a ONEderFULL 2021, everyone!!!

    4. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Wonderful Recipe Lindsay!
      @elodie, Heating Honey makes it toxic and should be avoided. Also using Honey makes it non-vegan.

  2. Pinch of Yum Logo

    YUm this looks delicious! I’ve never tried it with coconut oil but I’m sure it’s amazing <3

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Hi! Thank you for sharing. It’s so easy and delish! Does it need to be stored in the fridge?

      1. Pinch of Yum Logo

        Hi, Jess! This would be okay to be stored at room temperature or in the fridge. It might solidify in the fridge, so you can just warm it up in the microwave for a 30 seconds to a minute.

  3. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Hey Linds –

    Looks incredibly YUM!! Did you mean 1/4 cup* of real maple syrup?? Just checking. Thanks!!

      1. Pinch of Yum Logo

        Wow, so glad I kept scrolling through the previous comments to find this section, I was also wondering what on earth cookie butter is. Now I must go and find this, and when I end up in rehab, I will mention pinch of yum πŸ˜‹ 🀣 and to think this (my pinch of yum journey) all started with the detox lentil soup πŸ€”πŸ€·

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      HAHAH it is a heavenly spread that is, like, literally made from cookies. πŸ˜‚ you can get it at Trader Joe’s and I got mine at Target!

      1. Pinch of Yum Logo

        I looovveee cookie butter it’s to amazing I wish I could get a big jar right now

  4. Pinch of Yum Logo

    I used to love your blog, but lately it seems you can’t stay authentic. All you do is copy other food bloggers, like The Minimalist Baker. Your recipes, writing and photos all resemble someone else’s work beyond a complimentary level. Really tired of it and considering unfollowing.

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Wow Pinch of Yum, petty much? Let me guess, everything on YOUR blog is completely 100% original, because you have never been inspired by another idea from online… Considering unfollowing YOU.

  5. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Good heavens. Anonymous up there is in a snit about the POY writing style. I’d hazard a pretty good guess that Anonymous doesn’t even operate a cooking website.

    Anonymous…don’t knock Lindsey’s work until you’ve walked a mile in her shoes. Go ahead, unfollow, and please move on. Don’t hit the door on your way out. β€˜K, thanks!

      1. Pinch of Yum Logo

        In reference to Anonymous and Jamie, I’d just like to say that your response, Lindsay, was classy. I hope that I can show the same restraint and politeness when I encounter a similar situation. β€œThe haters gonna hate” and they’re out there. But you’re a role model of how to respond.

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      My momma always said
      β€œDon’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya!”

  6. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Wow this looks so good…..Love the idea of stirring into tea or coffee… And no cooking involved! Thanks for sharing πŸ™‚

      1. Pinch of Yum Logo

        Can i substitute the coconut oil with vegan margarine. And corn syrup for the maple syrup?

  7. Pinch of Yum Logo

    OMG Lindsey!! I am a huuge caramel flavour lover, however since I forsake refined sugar, I haven’t eaten anything with caramel sauce and was sadly resigned to this desolate state but then you and your fabulous healthy, vegan caramel sauce recipe came along and now I’m so excited to try it!! The photos are gorgeous, it really looks like legit caramel sauce!! πŸ˜€ Thank you!!

  8. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Hi Lindsay,

    this looks great. I usually make vegan caramel sauce with coconut milk. Well this takes a bit longer than 5 minutes. But I tastes also very good. But I will try this version.

  9. Pinch of Yum Logo

    OMG! I made this for a small party last night and EVERYONE raved about it! I served it in a small bowl with sliced red pears and green apples! Who would have thought that in 3 minutes or less you could prepare and serve something so wonderful! Thanks Lindsay!!

  10. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Thanx again Lindsay. I love that even those who are ignorant of the inherent
    cruelty in the animal food business will
    be eating something yummy & cruelty-
    free.

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Hi Lindsay, would this harden up? I’m looking for a thicker caramel sauce to put on top of an oat-base creation. Looking for something that will thicken enough to hold in place with a layer of chocolate on top. Thanks.