Caramel sauce is a treat I love to make during the holidays. Or anytime really! When put into small jars with cute labels, it makes for a great food gift.
I love it folded into banana cream pie, baked into carmelitas, poured over fresh apple pie, or just for dipping apples! Look for a gluten-free, dairy-free carmelitas recipe here soon!
Caramel sauce is also another thing I wanted to recreate to be dairy-free and refined-sugar-free. This caramel sauce is as delicious as any I’ve ever had! You would never guess it’s dairy-free. It is smooth, rich, and creamy. Not to mention, it is a cinch to make. I love the taste of salted caramel, so I always put a good pinch of salt in it.
Caramel and apple just go together! This sauce was so delicious over a flat apple pie I made this weekend. Since it is a necessary ingredient for so many of my favorite things, I’m happy to have this caramel in my life!
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Easy, Dairy-Free Caramel Sauce {Gluten-Free, Paleo}
Ingredients
- ¾ cup coconut milk fat
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup coconut palm sugar
- ¼-1/2 teaspoon salt, depending on how salty you like it, I use ½
- 2 tablespoons ghee, butter, or palm shortening (I use ghee)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place a can of coconut milk in the fridge for at least 4 hours. This allows to coconut milk fat to separate from the liquid. After it is chilled, measure out ¾ cup of the solid part.
- Place the coconut milk fat, honey, palm sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the ghee and vanilla extract. The caramel will be dark in color, but will lighten up as it cools. Place in a jar and refrigerate until cool. The caramel will keep in the refrigerator for 1 week. Give it a good stir before serving. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Recipe adapted from Elana’s Pantry
Steph T says
I tried this using maple syrup instead of honey. After 24 hours of chilling the coconut milk, only half of the 3/4 cup coconut milk solidified. The flavor is nice, but didn’t thicken up. Will try again with coconut cream & honey.
Thanks for the great recipes!
Sarah says
Thought I’d let you know I’ve been using this recipe for years. I’ve tried many different paleo caramel sauces and yours is my favorite. I love the buttery flavor the ghee adds. Every other recipe just isn’t quiet there.
Erin Collins says
I’m so glad you like it! Thanks for the comment 🙂
Heather says
Can I please get the flat apple pie recipe!! That looks sooo yummy too!!!