Whip up the ultimate vegan caramel sauce with this easy recipe! With only 4 simple ingredients, in about 15 minutes, you’ll have a rich, sweet, and irresistibly smooth caramel sauce perfect for drizzling over ice cream, cake, apple slices, or a cozy mug of hot chocolate. No coconut milk required.
Craving a luscious, homemade caramel sauce without the dairy? Have I got just the recipe for you! This classic confectionery topping offers the perfect balance of deep brown-sugar richness and toasty buttery sweetness in a silky-smooth and thick sauce. Whether you drizzle it over your favorite vegan baked desserts or enjoy it by the spoonful, this quick & easy recipe for the best homemade vegan caramel sauce will help you add a little extra indulgence to any treat.
Why I love this recipe & think you will too
- It's simply scrumptious
- Requires just 4 basic ingredients
- Ready to enjoy in 15 minutes!
- No special equipment needed - like a candy thermometer
- So much better than store-bought caramel sauce
- 100% vegan & dairy-free
Table of Contents
Ingredient notes
- Brown sugar - I like light brown sugar in this recipe for a lighter golden colored caramel. Dark brown sugar is ok too but may give the caramel a deeper color and burnt-sugar taste.
- Vegan milk - the creamier the better, such as cashew, oat, or soy milk. Coconut milk works well for making caramel sauce, but I choose not to use it because I find the coconut flavor overpowers the caramel. That's just me.
- Vegan butter - use your favorite.
- Sea salt - if you don't have sea salt, use table salt instead.
See the printable recipe card below for quantities & details
Instructions
- You will need a 3-4 quart saucepan, preferably non-stick. If you are using a stainless steel or other type of saucepan, lightly coat the inside with butter to help prevent the caramel from sticking.
2. Pour all of the ingredients into the saucepan, stir to combine. The butter should still be solid. Place the pan over medium-high heat.
3. Gently swirl the pan as the caramel begins to bubble. Avoid stirring or the caramel could become grainy.
IMPORTANT: Once boiling, immediately turn the heat down to low or the caramel sauce could boil over and onto the stove. Allow the caramel sauce to simmer for 5 minutes, gently swirling the pan occasionally to prevent the sauce from burning.
4. Remove the pan from the heat and let the caramel sauce cool down to room temperature. Transfer the sauce to a mason jar or covered food-safe container and store in a refrigerator.
NOTE: This recipe yields about 1 cup of caramel sauce.
Caramel sauce thickness & texture tips:
- The sauce will get thicker the longer it simmers. Simmering too long risks making the caramel rock hard upon chilling.
- The caramel will get thicker as it cools.
- If the caramel hardens too much, reheat for 20 second increments in a microwave, stirring in between.
- If the caramel is grainy, reheat on medium in a pan on the stove and slowly add a tablespoon of water. Swirl the pan, do not stir.
Serving Suggestions
Here are just a few tasty ways to use this caramel sauce:
- Drizzle over ice cream (especially vegan vanilla, chocolate, or butter pecan)
- Top pancakes or waffles for a sweet breakfast treat
- Stir into coffee or lattes for a homemade caramel latte
- Dip apple slices for a classic caramel apple snack
- Drizzle over cakes or cupcakes as a glossy finish
- Drizzle over popcorn & sprinkle with sea salt for a quick caramel popcorn
If you’re in the mood for something comforting and downright delicious, don’t miss our easy vegan banoffee pie - a dreamy blend of buttery shortbread crust, rich caramel sauce, sweet bananas, and fluffy whipped cream. It’s the kind of treat that feels like a warm hug in every bite.
I do hope you enjoy this recipe! Please let me know by leaving a ★★★★★ rating & comment below. Thanks a bunch!🥕
Recipe
Easy Vegan Caramel Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- 1 3-4 quart saucepan preferably non-stick (see notes below)
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 6 tbsps vegan butter
- ¼ cup non-dairy milk oat, cashew, or soymilk
- ½ teaspoon sea salt or table salt
Instructions
- Pour all of the ingredients into the saucepan, stir to combine. The butter should still be solid. Place the pan over medium-high heat.
- Gently swirl the pan as the caramel begins to bubble. Avoid stirring or the caramel could become grainy.
- IMPORTANT: Once boiling, immediately turn the heat down to low or the caramel sauce could boil over and onto the stove. Allow the caramel sauce to simmer for 5 minutes, gently swirling the pan occasionally to prevent the sauce from burning.
- Remove the pan from the heat and place it on a heat proof surface. The caramel will be very hot. Let the caramel sauce cool down to room temperature.
- Transfer the cooled sauce to a mason jar or covered food-safe container and store in a refrigerator.
Notes
Caramel sauce thickness & texture tips:
- The sauce will get thicker the longer it simmers. Simmering too long risks making the caramel rock hard upon chilling.
- The caramel will get thicker as it cools.
- If the caramel hardens too much, reheat for 20 second increments in a microwave, stirring in between.
- If the caramel is grainy, reheat on medium in a pan on the stove and slowly add a tablespoon of water. Swirl the pan, do not stir.
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Connie says
Caramel sauce is one of those marvelous magical ingredients that can turn a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream into a lusciously decadent dessert. Buttery, rich, and sweet, this quick & easy recipe is all you need to make the best batch of your own homemade caramel sauce.