This Healthier Salted Caramel Sauce is made from maple syrup and coconut cream, is extremely smooth and takes just 30 minutes to make from start to finish.
Ok so none of these photos do this caramel sauce justice. You see, I’ve seen my fair share of caramel sauce recipes this fall. I knew I wanted to make my own and I knew I wanted it to be healthy, but I wanted it to be GOOD. Not like “oh that’s good for being healthy” good, like GOOD GOOD. You know I’m a huge date caramel fan so I definitely considered going that route, but ultimately decided that I wanted the real deal. So that’s where this healthier salted caramel sauce comes in.
I’ve made this caramel sauce at least 20 times, so you know it has to be good. It’s simple to prepare, and can easily be doubled if needed. Oh, and did I mention it tastes good when paired with practically any dessert? It’s true!
RECIPES WITH CARAMEL SAUCE INCLUDE:
HEALTHY CARAMEL SAUCE INGREDIENTS
- coconut cream
- maple syrup
- butter – regular or dairy free
- coconut oil
- coconut sugar
- salt
- vanilla extract
HEALTHIER SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE RECIPE
For this caramel sauce, I opted to use maple syrup and coconut cream as the base. I experimented with four other ways and liked this one the best. I tried using a ton of butter but decided that wasn’t the route I wanted to take, and I also tried using a ton of coconut sugar but thought it tasted a little too coconut-y for my liking. This recipe is simple as can be and takes approximately 30 minutes from start to finish. You’ll want to put the ingredients in the pan and stir occasionally, but you really don’t need to be attentive until the final five minutes or so.
- Let the mixture come boil–small bubbles will form–but be careful that the heat is on low so it doesn’t run over your saucepan.
- Use a wooden spoon or whisk to stir the mixture constantly for five straight minutes. Typically, I set my timer for 25 minutes to allow the caramel sauce to form, then once that goes off I attend to the caramel sauce and whisk away for 5 more minutes.
HOW TO STORE CARAMEL SAUCE
If you’re planning on using the caramel sauce right away, I recommend keeping it in a glass jar or cup at room temperature. If you’re making it ahead of time, store it in the refrigerator and simply heat it up before you want to use it.
Healthier Salted Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut cream
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp butter*
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar**
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a pot over the stovetop and bring to a boil, stirring so that everything is combined.
- Once mixture starts boiling, turn heat on low and simmer mixture for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- After 25 minutes, stir the caramel continuously for the remaining 5 minutes, allowing it to thicken.
- Pour caramel in a jar or container and allow it to cool; this will help the caramel thicken up a bit too.
- Enjoy!
Notes
**Can sub for regular sugar
In no way should this be considered healthy. It is very close to the same amount of sugar and adds a negligible amount of nutrients.
scrumptious :-*
This was absolutely delicious. I’m not sure it’s all that healthy but we can deceive ourselves that this puddle of gorgeousness is healthy
This was so yummy, reminded me of the base in the coconut frosting on a German chocolate cake.
Love this! I make a coconut caramel sauce as well but I need to try this one for sure, because you can never have too much caramel!!
So true! Let me know if you try it.
Hi, i messed it up 🙁 maybe my simmer was too hot because it separated oil from other stuff early on, and by the end of 30 minutes it was burnt. maybe next time i will get it right
Tried this recipe today – delicious! I used it in a banoffee recipe by Trish Deseine and it complemented the salty crackers and the dark chocolate extremely well. Thanks!
I’m so glad you tried it and liked it! Thanks for the feedback 🙂
I actually have the opposite problem with my dog because everyone always wants to pet her and she doesn’t like everyone (especially strangers) and while she’s never really hurt anyone, she’s a shepherd so she’s bred to jump after sheep’s faces and lower legs and not everyone likes that apparently so I never really allow random people to touch her yet whenever a restaurant or park says no dogs I get really offended even if she’s not with me which is not a lot but I’ll still not go because if they don’t want her they don’t want me. And last but not least that caramel sauce is everything that has been missing in my life
Hi..does this have to be stored one the fridge ? And how long does it keep ? Thank you
Hi! Yes, it should be stored in the fridge and reheated when you’re ready to use it and it should keep for up to 5 days.
Can you freeze it? Your caramel sauce may be the most scrumptious I’ve ever had, and to think that it’s healthier than the original! But it’s too much for me.
p.s. I didn’t rate the recipe because it wouldn’t let me give more than one star and this recipe deserves all of them!
Hi Dawn, I’m glad you like it! I’ve never tried freezing it, but I do know it can be refrigerated in a covered container for a couple of weeks at least, and reheated over the stovetop or in the microwave at your convenience.
T freezes just fine
Oh my gosh I have totally ran into that kind of situation with my dog! People always say he is beautiful but apparently just want to look at him from afar!
Yes! So rude.
First of all, these pictures totally did this caramel sauce justice. It looks amazing and I love that it’s made from wholesome ingredients!
Second, people are so freaking weird sometimes. He should have just walked inside and waited for you guys to leave if he wanted to avoid her. What a jerk. He’s not special enough to pet Layla anyways, pssh!
I was out walking Coco the other day and this old guy asked me if she was pregnant! She’s 13 years old! lol. She has a saggy belly from when she had her uterus removed as a puppy but she’s definitely not pregnant. Don’t people know better than to ask a lady that?! 😉
Exactly! Only nice people get to pet her 😀 And that’s so weird–people are so weird!! I don’t understand.
I love making homemade caramel and i usually use the Vegan 8’s sweet potato caramel, its amazing and this looks just as good! I have never seen a recipe that uses maple syrup and coconut cream, i gotta try this one 🙂
Duuuuuude you’re a genius! I’ve never seen a healthy caramel recipe that actually sounds like it would be good. I can’t wait to try this.
Also I hope that guy falls in a stinky mud puddle and smells 1000x worse than dog all day
AHAHHA me too 😀 And thanksssss lady let me know if you try it!
I’ve actually never tried making my own caramel sauce, but you’re making me want to give it a go. Usually I just go the date route, but I’m super curious to see how one like this would taste.
I love the date route–love love love–but sometimes you just need the real deal. I’ll keep my eyes out for a recipe on RWS 😉
LOVE this recipe! I just found your site – I’m from Pittsburgh, too! Nice to e-meet you! 😉
You too!! Thanks for commenting 🙂
So weird! I’m as duped as you – why did he walk towards yall then??? Now am sitting here wondering – and I don’t have this dairy free caramel sauce to keep me company! GAH! 🙂
I always say that people who don’t like/love dogs are not worth knowing anyway. Harsh? Maybe. But my dogs are my best friends/girlfraaaans/loves of my life.
This looks amazing and I think the pictures are pretty darn good at capturing that!
It’s so true!! Dog haters are just cranky people.
Ok so this is going to be making its appearance at many of my holiday meals. Pinning now, I have a feeling this will be super popular around my house, thanks for sharing!!
Yeahhhhh do it!! Thanks girl 🙂
Ha! That guy is just silly…doesn’t he know petting dogs is one of the best stress relievers ever? Le sigh..can’t win all the battles.
This SAWCE! Gaaah it looks so thick and perfect! I want to drizzle it on all the things!
EW to the dog hater. People like that piss me off. I don’t trust people who don’t like dogs and I generally assume they’re missing part of their souls.
HAHA I think the sameeeeee thing.
Oh my word girl you read my freaking MIND! Literally, I have some coconut cream in my fridge (that I’ve been putting in my coffee >> thanks to Georgie…) and I have been dreaming up a healthier caramel sauce this whole week. But I need to use up said coconut cream and this will be PERFECT! So excited 😀
I MADE THIS AND IT WAS SO GOOD! <3 On my pancake dinner, in my coffee… I had grander plans for said caramel, but they didn't pan out. Next time though (hopefully soon) you'll see what I had in store for this amazingness 😉
I LOVE THAT YOU MADE THIS. Seriously made my night 🙂 Excited to see said plans/recipe 😀