Condiments

Vegan Caramel Sauce (& Sugar-Free Date Caramel)

By Samira Kazan

updated March 28, 2025

A close up of a spoonful of vegan caramel - 1

Steps to making vegan caramel with dates - 2

Vegan caramel in a small heart shaped bowl - 3

Make vegan caramel sauce in minutes – using under 5 ingredients, you can make this caramel 2 ways – including a sugar-free caramel (with dates)! Perfect for serving with breakfasts, desserts, and drinks!

I have posted my recipe for simple classic homemade caramel sauce , but for those wanting to go a little lighter on the desserts, or even just dairy-free, this post contains my favorite recipe for an easy vegan caramel sauce, including a sugar-free caramel sauce option!

If you want to make a more traditional vegan caramel sauce, you can follow this caramel method , using coconut cream or coconut condensed milk . However, for a healthier option, then keep reading!

Salted caramel (and caramel in general) is definitely too good to give up. Whether you’re dairy-free or trying to reduce your sugar intake, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to eat something silky and rich and caramel-esque, but without all of the ‘forbidden ingredients’.

While these caramel sauce alternatives don’t taste exactly like their dairy counterpart, they are healthier and just as addictive! Plus, all you need is just a few simple ingredients and literally just minutes of your time.

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The Ingredients
How To Make Vegan Caramel Sauce
How To Store
How To Use
Recipe Notes
Related Recipes
Vegan Caramel Sauce (2 ways) Recipe

The Ingredients

Ingredients for healthy vegan caramel sauce - 8

The ‘sugar’ – for the sugar-free caramel sauce, you’ll need Medjool dates (or Date Paste) . For the other option, maple syrup. Brown rice syrup will also work but will obviously affect the flavor.
Nut Butter – unsweetened, natural peanut butter , almond butter , and cashew butter work particularly well. You can also make a nut-free version with tahini or seed butter. Be aware that certain nut/seed butter options have strong flavors, so they will overpower the caramel.
Coconut Oil – I use homemade virgin coconut oil .
Vanilla extract – use a high-quality (or homemade) vanilla extract for superior flavor.
Salt – Add a pinch of salt for normal caramel or more for vegan salted caramel sauce. I like to use coarse sea salt, Maldon salt flakes, or fleur de sel.

How To Make Vegan Caramel Sauce

Method 1: Sugar-Free Caramel Sauce (with dates)

For this date caramel sauce, you’ll need a blender. If your dates are nice and soft, you don’t need to pre-soak them, though I find it easier to blend soaked dates in general. To soak the dates, leave them in hot/boiling water for 30 minutes.

Then add all of the ingredients (dates, nut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and salt) to the blender and blend into a smooth consistency.

If you find the date caramel sauce too thick, you can either add a little of the date soaking water to thin it or even a little of your favorite dairy-free milk/cream.

Blending healthy vegan caramel sauce - 9

Be patient as this process can take time. Depending on how powerful your machine is, this date caramel sauce can take a full 10-12 minutes to become smooth and creamy.

Method 2: Refined Sugar-Free Vegan Caramel Sauce

In method two, we’ll be using unrefined maple syrup in place of traditional white sugar.

All you need to do is add equal amounts of maple syrup, nut butter, and melted coconut oil, and a drizzle of vanilla extract to a bowl and mix well. Optionally, add a pinch of salt too.

Gingerbread Salted Caramel Ice Cream - 11 of 11 - 10

How To Store

Store your homemade caramel sauce in a covered jar in the refrigerator for between 1-2 weeks.

You can also freeze the caramel sauce (though dates don’t ever fully freeze – so that version will remain softer). I’m not sure exactly how long it would last in the freezer, though I’d imagine a couple of months at least.

The vegan caramel sauces will thicken up as they chill. If you want it thinner, then reheat it lightly in the microwave (15-20 seconds to thin, 40-45 for a heated sauce) or over the stove, stirring frequently. If itâ€™s still too thick, add in an extra splash of dairy-free milk/cream and stir well.

How To Use

This vegan caramel sauce can be used in nearly all the same ways that regular caramel can. This includes:

Spooned over oatmeal or with overnight oats .
Drizzled over baked goodies like cupcakes, cakes, and brownies
Spooning into your favorite dairy-free yogurt – like this Homemade Dairy-free Coconut Yogurt , Homemade Dairy-Free Almond Yogurt , or Soy Yogurt . Or, for a dairy option, this Natural Yogurt/ Greek Yogurt .
Drizzling over sweet smoothie bowls .
As a dip for apples, other fruit, and pretzels, etc.
Drizzled over pancakes and French toast .
Add the caramel sauce as a filling for these Salted Caramel & Raspberry Vegan Magnum Ice Creams.
As a drizzle over ice-cream – like this Caramel Ice Cream .
Drizzled over mug cakes – like this One-Minute Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake
As a syrup within or drizzled over hot chocolate and within coffee drinks – like this Homemade Mocha Frappuccino
To fill these almond thumbprint cookies .
Serve alongside this Mixed Berry Crumble (With Streusel Topping) or warm Blackberry Cobbler .

Gingerbread Ice Cream with Gingerbread Cookies - 11

Recipe Notes

A High-speed food processor works best for creating this recipe, though a powerful blender should also work.
Try to avoid soaking the dates or adding water to the recipe if possible , as it will shorten the date caramel sauce’s shelf life. You should only need to do this if the dates are dry or if your machine isn’t very powerful.
Iâ€™ve found the main issue with making the date caramel sauce is making sure you add enough ingredients to the blender/processor jug . If you donâ€™t add enough, it simply wonâ€™t blend properly.
For an oil-free version, you can replace the coconut oil with full-fat coconut milk. However, the results won’t be quite as silky.
For a smoother caramel, you can strain the mixture. This definitely isn’t necessary, though.

Salted Caramel Overnight Oats
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Simple Homemade Strawberry Syrup (3 Ways)

IngredientsUS CustomaryMetric1x2x3x

▢ 5 dates Medjool
▢ 1.5 tbsp peanut butter or almond butter, cashew butter, tahini
▢ 1 tbsp coconut oil melted
▢ 1 tsp vanilla extract
▢ pinch sea salt
▢ water in case the caramel is too thick, or plant-based milk

Instructions

Method 1: Sugar-Free Caramel sauce (with dates)

For this date caramel sauce, you’ll need a blender. If your dates are nice and soft, you don’t need to pre-soak them, though I find it easier to blend soaked dates in general. To soak the dates, leave them in hot/boiling water for 30 minutes. Then add all of the ingredients (dates, nut butter, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and salt) to the blender and blend into a smooth consistency. If you find the date caramel sauce too thick, you can either add a little of the date soaking water to thin it or even a little of your favorite dairy-free milk/cream. Be patient as this process can take time. Depending on how powerful your machine is, this date caramel sauce can take a full 10-12 minutes to become smooth and creamy.

Method 2: Refined Sugar-Free Vegan Caramel Sauce

In method two, we’ll be using unrefined maple syrup in place of traditional white sugar. All you need to do is add equal amounts of maple syrup, nut butter, and melted coconut oil, and a drizzle of vanilla extract to a bowl and mix well. Optionally, add a pinch of salt too.

How To Store

Store your homemade caramel sauce in a covered jar in the refrigerator for between 1-2 weeks. You can also freeze the caramel sauce (though dates don’t ever fully freeze- so that version will remain softer). I’m not sure exactly how long it would last in the freezer, though I’d imagine a couple of months at least. The vegan caramel sauces will thicken up as they chill. If you want it thinner, then reheat it lightly in the microwave (15-20 seconds to thin, 40-45 for a heated sauce) or over the stove, stirring frequently. If itâ€™s still too thick, add in an extra splash of dairy-free milk/cream and stir well.

Notes

A high-speed food processor works best for creating this recipe, though a powerful blender should also work.Â
Try to avoid soaking the dates or adding water to the recipe if possible , as it will shorten the date caramel sauce shelf life. You should only need to do this if the dates are dry or if your machine isn’t very powerful.Â
Iâ€™ve found the main issue with making the date caramel sauce is making sure you add enough ingredients to the blender/processor jug . If you donâ€™t add enough, it simply wonâ€™t blend properly.
For an oil-free version, you can replace the coconut oil with full-fat coconut milk. However, the results won’t be quite as silky.
For a smoother caramel, you can strain the mixture. This definitely isn’t necessary, though.Â

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipes › Desserts

Almond Pistachio Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

By Samira Kazan

updated September 21, 2020

Delicious gluten-free, vegan bite-size almond & pistachio thumbprint cookies. Not only are they easy to make- they can either be baked or kept as a no-bake cookie recipe!

Delicious gluten-free, vegan bite-size snacks; almond & pistachio thumbprint cookies - 13

These almond pistachio thumbprint cookies are a delicious vegan and gluten-free cookies recipe using almond flour and pistachio butter. Unlike your generic shortbread thumbprint cookies, these vegan bite-size snacks have a delightful crumbly almond base and can be cooked or kept as a no-bake cookie recipe.

Depending on whether you want these as raw snacks or baked cookies, they are delicious. However, it’s worth noting that there will be some textural difference.

For the raw version, these pistachio thumbprint cookies are a little more gooey and moist. In comparison, when baked, these cookies are more crumbly.

Delicious gluten-free, vegan bite-size snacks; almond & pistachio thumbprint cookies recipe. Not only are they easy to make- they can either be baked or kept as a no-bake cookie recipe! - 14

I always love to switch up classic recipes and decided that rather than using the usual choice of jam filling for this thumbprint cookie recipe, I used some homemade pistachio butter .

Pistachio butter is one of the most delicious, decadent version of all nut butters and yet can be made at home with just pistachios, salt and a blender or food processor. Plus the pistachio flavour compliments the flavour of the gluten-free almond cookies.

These cookies are then an excellent healthier cookie snack option. They can also be displayed in mini cupcake cakes, in a gift box, for a delicious homemade edible gift at Christmas (or any time of the year!).

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’ll know that I’ve been cooking up a storm this festive period, with a new recipe posted every day. Honestly, I couldn’t wait for the day to share these pistachio thumbprint cookies though because they are one of my favourite treats so far.

One almond & pistachio thumbprint cookie with pomegranate seeds - 15

I’ve very recently compiled a post for the ultimate guide to homemade nut & seed butters, so I have spent a LOT of time this year in the kitchen blending up delicious nut butters and nut butter recipes. As much as I have a soft spot for good old almond butter, pistachio butter has taken my heart.

While it’s not a nut butter you’d want to eat by the spoonful every day (or rather you would – but your hips wouldn’t like it!), pistachio butter has an incredible luxury element that works well in so many different recipes. Check out my pistachio butter post for some inspiration.

two-ingredient Homemade pistachio butter in a jar - 16

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Variations on these thumbprint cookies
How To Make The Thumbprint Cookies
Other great snack recipes you may like
Pistachio Almond Cookies Recipe

Variations on these thumbprint cookies

Obviously, my filling of choice is my homemade pistachio butter. However, you can experiment with various fillings including a delicious vegan homemade Nutella , the classic choice of jam, or even some vegan chocolate chips (that will melt from the heat and be heavenly!).

For a sweeter pistachio creme style filling, melt some white chocolate in a heatproof bowl then mix in some pistachio butter with a dash of homemade vanilla powder .

You can also make a delicious chocolate version of these pistachio thumbprint cookies by adding some cocoa powder into the base almond cookies recipe. If the biscuit mix feels too crumbly after adding the powder, add another tsp of coconut oil to offset the powder.

Plus, you can experiment with additional toppings for the pistachio thumbprint cookies. For example, a drizzle of melted white chocolate is a lovely dessert-like touch.

Note* For vegan cookies use dairy-free white chocolate and chocolate chips.

How To Make The Thumbprint Cookies

This pistachio thumbprint cookies recipe is super simple and can be made in just five minutes if you’re keeping them raw. Or around 20 minutes, if baking- which means they’re an excellent option for a last-minute edible gift idea or to whip up on busy days when you don’t have much time to spare.

the ingredients for vegan, gluten-free thumbprint cookies - 18

The almond cookies base is made up of almond flour, coconut oil, maple syrup, coconut flour and cardamon.

Don’t fret if you don’t have almond flour to hand though as this can be whizzed up in a couple of minutes. Blitz some raw almonds in a high-speed food processor for a couple of minutes and you’ll get homemade almond flour, which is a great gluten-free flour to have to hand at all times.

This recipe is also a great way to use leftover almond pulp after making homemade almond milk . Simply allow the pulp to dry out, and it’s ready to use as almond flour.

Note* For this particular recipe the ground almonds don’t have to be too fine, which is why any of the above options will work fine for the almond cookies recipe.

The method

To begin, mix the almond flour with the other base ingredients and then form small, one bite-sized cookies. If you want you can measure these out and use around 1tbsp per cookie. However, I eyeballed it and made 14 of them.

To make them into thumbprint cookies, the process is precisely what it says. Roll each piece of dough into a ball, and then you can use a finger/ thumb to make the indentations. You could also use the rounded back of a spoon. In fact, I used a small 1/2 tsp measuring spoon for an even indentation in each cookie.

If you’re in a hurry to enjoy these delicious cookies, then you can have these as a no-bake cookie recipe by simply adding some pistachio butter to them now and decorating with some pomegranate seeds and chopped pistachios.

Note* Due to the gluten-free nature of these cookies and the lack of dairy, these cookies are more crumbly than general cookie dough so cracking around the edges when pressing your indentation is perfectly normal.

However, if you want to bake the cookies, then you can now bake them in the oven either in mini cupcake cups or on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

delicious thumbprint cookie recipe for gluten-free almond cookies - 21

These only take ten minutes to bake in the oven and will turn a lovely golden colour around the edges.

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If you want to use some chocolate chips as a filling, you’ll want to add these to the cookies while they’re still warm, so they melt into the thumbprint.

For the pistachio butter-filled cookies, allow the cookies to cool down a bit before filling them.

homemade two ingredient pistachio butter - 23

Again you can decorate the pistachio cookies with pomegranate seeds and ground pistachios or even a sprinkle of desiccated coconut. Also, feel free to experiment with other fillings and toppings of your choice.

For a sweeter, dessert-like version you can drizzle some white chocolate over the cookies at the end. Or, for a chocolate thumbprint cookie version, you can add some cocoa powder into the base almond cookie recipe.

Other great snack recipes you may like

For another delicious no-bake snack recipe, you may like these healthy cacao & almond protein balls or these coconut bliss balls . These 4-Ingredient Stuffed Dates: with home-made almond butter & Chocolate are always a winner too!