Vegan Peanut Butter Caramel

This vegan peanut butter caramel is made with just 3 ingredients (and no cream!) in just 3 minutes. A dairy-free, refined sugar-free, healthier, and even optionally nut-free vegan caramel sauce!

3 Ingredient, 3 Minute Creamy Vegan Caramel sauce

If you love caramel sauce as much as I do (aka you eat it directly from the jar with a spoon), this healthy vegan peanut butter caramel is a must. This recipe swaps out traditional caramel ingredients for all-natural, pantry-friendly ingredients that are more nourishing for the body and will still satisfy your sweet tooth.

In fact, this easy dairy-free caramel sauce recipe requires just 3 ingredients (plus salt): coconut oil, maple syrup, and peanut butter. This combination is salty, creamy, silky, sweet, and healthier than other vegan caramel sauce recipes (that often combine coconut milk with sugar and vegan butter).

Even better, though this base recipe for vegan caramel sauce uses peanut butter, there are options below for nut-free (and oil-free) versions. Best of all, it takes just minutes to prepare in two fuss-free, mess-free steps (with no saucepan/simmering required) and makes for a simple vegan caramel sauce or salted caramel sauce, plus several flavored variations listed below.

Is Caramel Vegan?

While caramel, which caramelizes sugars on the stove, is vegan, caramel sauce, which combines the caramelized sugar with dairy-based cream and sometimes dairy-based butter, is not.

However, for this recipe, not only is there no dairy cream, but we've swapped out refined sugar for maple syrup. In fact, this naturally sweetened dairy-free caramel sauce is great for those trying to reduce sugar and make healthier ingredient swaps.

Even though it obviously doesn't taste identical to dairy-based caramel, this coconut oil caramel still has a permanent place in my fridge. Once prepared, enjoy this healthy vegan caramel sauce over desserts, drinks, mixed into oatmeal, dipped with fruit, and more!

The Ingredients

This easy vegan caramel sauce recipe requires just three ingredients, plus salt.

• Coconut oil: Coconut oil caramel still has a wonderfully silky mouthfeel, even as a non-dairy caramel sauce. Vegan butter would work as a coconut-free alternative.
• Maple syrup: I particularly love the flavor of maple in this healthy vegan caramel sauce. However, brown rice syrup would also work.
• Peanut butter: Use natural, drippy peanut butter (with just peanuts and optionally salt as the ingredients). Instead of peanut butter, you could also use almond butter or cashew butter. Read FAQs for a nut-free, dairy-free caramel sauce option.
• Salt: I recommend using sea salt. Just a tiny pinch will enhance the flavors in regular dairy-free caramel sauce. Add more for a delicious vegan salted caramel.

What Can I Add To Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce?

Along with enhancing the flavor of the vegan caramel recipe, there are several ways to flavor this healthy caramel sauce, including:

• Vanilla extract: Use natural vanilla extract to avoid a nasty artificial flavor. Vanilla paste will also work.

You could also experiment with other flavor extracts, like coconut, lavender, etc. Add them right at the end, as the microwave's heat can affect the flavor of the extract.

• Dates: Use Medjool dates only (the softest, sweetest dates) to replace some or all of the maple syrup for a delicious, naturally sweetened, healthy caramel sauce. Date caramel sauce is perfect for spreading and thicker applications.
• Other spices: You can also easily change the flavor of the easy vegan caramel sauce with spices like cinnamon, pumpkin spice, gingerbread spice, etc. Add to taste.
• Miso: This may sound a little strange, but a small amount of miso added to the vegan caramel sauce creates delicious depth.
• Melted vegan chocolate: Melt a small amount of dairy-free chocolate for a delicious vegan chocolate caramel sauce.
• Mini vegan chocolate chips: I like to sprinkle in some dairy-free mini chocolate chips when serving this vegan caramel recipe as a dip.
• Aquafaba: For a fluffier dairy-free caramel sauce dip, fold in some whipped aquafaba to the sauce.

How To Make Vegan Caramel Sauce with Peanut Butter?

This fuss-free vegan caramel sauce recipe requires just TWO steps and several minutes to prepare.

• 1) Combine all the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds.

• 2) Mix/ whisk well until thoroughly combined. Then taste and adjust the salt to taste—Enjoy!

FAQs

Top Tips and Notes

• To adjust the consistency: If you want a thinner sauce, add a small amount of dairy-free cream or milk (or water). I prefer to use full-fat canned coconut milk for the creamiest results, but any should work.
• Tweak the ingredients to taste: Particularly the amount of salt, based on if you want a simple caramel or a vegan salted caramel sauce.
• If using dates: Note that the vegan peanut butter caramel sauce will be thicker unless more liquid is added. You'll also need to use a food processor for this method to ensure everything blends into a smooth caramel paste. Note that you need to ensure you make a large enough batch. Otherwise, your processor won't be able to blend properly. This version works best for spreading rather than drizzling.

Storage Instructions

You can store the healthy peanut butter caramel sauce in a jar in the refrigerator for between 1-2 weeks. It will also freeze for around a month.

The healthy caramel sauce will thicken when chilled, so bring it back to room temperature naturally or in the microwave in 10-second increments. You could also add a splash of dairy-free milk if needed/preferred.

How To Use Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce?

I use this homemade non-dairy caramel in place of dairy caramel in most ways. Some of my favorite uses include:

• Drizzle the vegan peanut butter caramel sauce over plant-based cakes, cheesecake, cupcakes/muffins, and brownies
• Enjoy it with vegan pancakes, waffles, and French toast
• Drizzle over popcorn
• Use to fill thumbprint cookies
• Use it as a sauce for vegan ice cream
• Stir it into oatmeal and dairy-free yogurt bowls for breakfast (or dessert)
• Make this as a dip for apples, pears, and other fruit
• Enjoy a vegan dessert salted caramel fondue + fruit, brownie squares, pretzels, etc.
• Garnish hot cocoa and coffee drinks

How else do you enjoy this peanut butter caramel sauce? Let me know in the comments below.

More Vegan Sauce & Dip Recipes

• Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce
• 2-Ingredient Raspberry Syrup
• Easy Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip

If you try this easy vegan peanut butter caramel sauce recipe, I'd love to know what you think in the comments below. I'd also really appreciate a recipe card rating!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla