Coconut Caramel Sauce Recipe (Vegan Caramel) - The Yummy Bowl (2024)

· Modified: by Julia | The Yummy Bowl · 3 Comments

This Coconut Caramel Sauce is the easiest caramel recipe out there, you’ll never want store-bought again. It comes together with only 5 ingredients that are all cooked in one pot until thickened to desired consistency.

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Let’s take a look on how easy this coconut caramel sauce recipe is.

Coconut Caramel Sauce Recipe (Vegan Caramel) - The Yummy Bowl (1)
Coconut Caramel Sauce Recipe (Vegan Caramel) - The Yummy Bowl (2)

If you haven't tried my Pineapple Pancakes yet, what are you waiting for? They are delicious! Feeling Tropical Vibes yet?

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  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Easy Dessert Sauce Recipes
  • Tips and Variations
  • Storing
  • Serving suggestions
  • Recipe
  • Comments

We have a great collection of different sauces, condiments, and dips. In my opinion, homemade should mean: easy, healthy, and quick. And this Homemade Caramel Sauce recipe ticks all the boxes!

Ingredients

  • Vanilla paste- you can use both paste or extract, but if using a paste, ½ teaspoon is enough for this recipe as it is stronger than the vanilla extract. I prefer paste but it is not a big deal if you don’t have this on hand.
  • Milk- I used coconut milk in this recipe, it is hands down, the best substitute for heavy cream or any cream I’ve found so far. But I understand not everyone is a fan. I have yet to try this recipe with cashew, soy, and almond milk. As I have researched so far, these alternative milk may require longer simmering times (unless they’re homemade and thicker in texture).
  • Sugar- All-natural sugar of your choice. That can be coconut sugar, cane sugar, organic brown sugar, date sugar.
Coconut Caramel Sauce Recipe (Vegan Caramel) - The Yummy Bowl (3)

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Instructions

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.

Coconut Caramel Sauce Recipe (Vegan Caramel) - The Yummy Bowl (4)

Combine all the rest ingredients in the saucepan and simmer over low heat, whisking constantly or until thickened and no longer watery.

The sauce will reduce in volume and start thickening after about 30 minutes. Remove from heat once you’ll see this result, usually in between 30-50 minutes, and set aside to cool. Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken even more as it cools.

Easy Dessert Sauce Recipes

  • Berry Banana Jam (Without Pectin)
  • Homemade Lingonberry Sauce (Easy Berry Meat Sauce)
  • Homemade Mixed Berry Dessert Sauce for pancakes!

Tips and Variations

  • If you like this caramel try this next: Pumpkin Caramel Sauce.
  • The texture- When you’ll start cooking the sauce (especially if you haven’t made any caramel sauce before) you won’t see that much of a difference in the texture. But be patient, it requires a little time (about 30-50 minutes) to start seeing the result and when everything comes together.
  • Store- transfer the sauce to specialty store-bought kitchen squeeze bottles and refrigerate.
  • Vanilla- is optional but does enhance the flavor quite a bit!
  • Make it a Salted caramel (coconut) sauce - a little bit of salt is added to the recipe anyway but for that salted caramel-like taste feel free to increase the salt at least double.
Coconut Caramel Sauce Recipe (Vegan Caramel) - The Yummy Bowl (6)

Storing

Best to keep this caramel sauce refrigerated in an airtight container as it has butter in it.

It will keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks, or freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature, before using.

You can also reheat the sauce very briefly once ready to serve, and will help to thin out the caramel a bit. Hot caramel sauce is THE BEST thign in this worlds to be served over pancakes, ice cream and waffles.

Serving suggestions

This coconut caramel sauce recipe can be used in:

  • Pancakes, waffles, ice cream
  • Transfer to a little cute sealed glass jar and give as a gift!
  • Drizzle over Porridges
  • As a fruit dip
  • Drizzle over brownies
  • Drizzle over cookies or add to batter as a sweetener
  • As a sweetener in the batter for brownies, muffins, bread, pies
  • And well, anything you’d like!

Recipe

Coconut Caramel Sauce Recipe (Vegan Caramel) - The Yummy Bowl (7)

Vegan Coconut Caramel Sauce (Vegan Caramel)

Julia | The Yummy Bowl

This coconut caramel sauce is the easiest vegan recipe out there, you’ll never want store-bought again. It comes together with only 5 ingredients that are all cooked in one pot until thickened to desired consistency. Easy, creamy, and healthier - made with all-natural ingredients, and goes with everything you pour it over!!

5 from 1 vote

Print Save Pin

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 7 oz

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INGREDIENTS

  • 13.5 oz can of coconut milk, unsweetened
  • cup muscovado or coconut sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, I used lactose-free or sub with coconut oil or vegan butter
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla paste, or sub 1 teaspoon vanilla extract*

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.

  • Combine all the rest ingredients in the saucepan and simmer over low heat, whisking constantly or until thickened and no longer watery. The sauce will reduce in volume and start thickening after about 30 minutes. Remove from heat once you’ll see this result, usually in between 30-50 minutes, and set aside to cool. Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken even more as it cools.

NOTES

  • Makes about ½ cups of sauce.
  • The texture - When you’ll start cooking the sauce (especially if you haven’t made any caramel sauce before) you won’t see that much of a difference in the texture. But be patient, it requires a little time (about 30-50 minutes) to start seeing the result and when everything comes together. Plus as soon as it is already reduced twice in size and started to thicken it already means that you may finish the simmering and let the sauce cool. It will thicken even more once cooled and will turn thicker overnight.
  • Store - transfer the sauce to specialty store-bought kitchen squeeze bottles and refrigerate.
  • Vanilla paste - you can use both paste or extract, but if using a paste, ½ teaspoon is enough for this recipe as it is stronger than the vanilla extract. I prefer paste but it is not a big deal if you don’t have this on hand.
  • Milk - I used coconut milk in this recipe, it is hands down, the best substitute for heavy cream or any cream I’ve found so far. But I understand not everyone is a fan. I have yet to try this recipe with cashew, soy, and almond milk. As I have researched so far, these alternative milk may require longer simmering times (unless they’re homemade and thicker in texture).
  • Sugar - All-natural sugar of your choice. That can be coconut sugar, cane sugar, organic brown sugar, date sugar.
  • Vanilla - is optional but does enhance the flavor quite a bit!
  • Storing: Store Caramel Sauce refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks. You will need to heat it up on the stovetop or microwave as it will be very thick.
  • Freezing: You can freeze Caramel Sauce in a ziplock bag (glass containers not advised as the cream may expand and break the glass) for up to 2-3 months.

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Note:Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.

Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be foundhere.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Julia

    Coconut Caramel Sauce Recipe (Vegan Caramel) - The Yummy Bowl (8)
    A delicious alternative to a traditional Caramel sauce.

    Reply

  2. an actual vegan

    why describe this as "Vegan" and include butter in the recipe? How insulting to vegans...
    this makes me unlikely to trust any other recipe from this site.

    Reply

    • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

      I've explained this in the ingredients tips!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Coconut Caramel Sauce Recipe (Vegan Caramel) - The Yummy Bowl (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between caramel and vegan caramel? ›

Like regular caramel, this vegan caramel is made from a base of sugar, cream, and butter. We'll be using coconut cream instead of regular cream, and dairy free butter to keep it all dairy free since most caramel is not vegan. Then you'll need some salt and vanilla for extra flavor and that's it!

How is caramel sauce made from scratch? ›

Combine brown sugar, butter, and milk in a saucepan and bring ingredients to a boil. Remove thickened mixture from heat before adding (optional) vanilla extract. Let the caramel cool slightly before using. The result is an impossibly rich sauce that is guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Why is my vegan caramel grainy? ›

Grainy caramel is caused by crystallization, which is easy to avoid (and can also be fixed). Caramel becomes grainy when the sugars crystallize, a process that happens when the melted sugar splashes up onto the cold sides of the pan. It loses its moisture and turns back into a sugar crystal.

Why is caramel sauce not vegan? ›

Is caramel vegan? Because caramel is essentially just sugar, in its purest form, it is vegan. However, it is often mixed with dairy cream, butter, or milk, which is why it's important to always check the back of store-bought caramel candy.

Can you substitute condensed milk for caramel? ›

Most of the time, people cook caramel by heating up regular or brown sugar until it turns into a smooth and creamy substance. However, you can also make caramel out of sweetened condensed milk, creating the same great sauce with a unique, extra-sweet kick.

What are the three types of caramel? ›

Caramel can be produced in so many forms such as, sauce, a chewy candy, or a hard candy because of how much of an ingredient is added and the temperature it is being prepared at.

Why is Starbucks caramel not vegan? ›

The only vegan sauce option is the mocha sauce — all the other sauces are made with dairy. There is a difference between the caramel sauce and syrup — while the sauce (aka drizzle) has animal ingredients, the syrup does not.

Why is my homemade caramel so runny? ›

Add more sugar to the sauce.

Most caramel sauces are made by caramelizing sugar and adding milk and a little salt. If you increase the amount of sugar in the recipe you'll end up with a thicker caramel. Try increasing the sugar by about 1/3.

Why do you put butter in caramel sauce? ›

Caramel made by heating sugar in fat (oil or butter) will never completely harden like caramel made in water or just melting sugar and will get very soft again when reheated. Also, it is much easier to control the color of the caramel when made in fat.

Which McDonald's sauce is vegan? ›

Modified Big Mac

Order the Big Mac without the beef patty and cheese. Swap the Big Mac sauce (which is not vegan) for one of the two vegan sauce options: Tangy Barbeque Sauce or Sweet 'N Sour Sauce. The Big Mac sesame seed bun and all the other toppings (lettuce, pickle slices, and onions) are vegan.

What is dairy free caramel made of? ›

How do you make Vegan Caramel Sauce? Add 1 cup of coconut cream, 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch to a small pot or pan. NOTE: I buy coconut cream for this recipe, but you can also use full fat coconut milk. Simply scoop out all the white, thick parts until you have a cup.

Is Smucker's caramel vegan? ›

This product is not vegan as it lists 4 ingredients that derive from animals and 1 ingredient that could derive from animals depending on the source.

What is natural caramel made of? ›

The main ingredient in caramel is sugar. However, depending on the recipe you use, you may have to incorporate butter, heavy cream, water, or corn syrup as additional ingredients. High-quality, real caramel is always made with three basic ingredients and those are sugar, heavy cream, and butter.

Is the caramel at Starbucks vegan? ›

However, not all Starbucks syrups and sauces are dairy-free, and it can be confusing. Case in point: the caramel syrup is vegan but the caramel sauce is not. Here is everything you need to know about these flavor-enhancers so you can order with confidence the next time you stroll up to a Starbucks.

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