Healthy Caramel Sauce

Use better-for-you ingredients and whip together this Healthy Caramel Sauce in a matter of minutes. Plus lots of ideas for how to put this sauce to good use!

Caramel Sauce Healthy

This caramel sauce is amazing! And it couldn’t be easier to whip together. There are only five ingredients that get whisked briskly together to create a creamy, flavorful, caramel-reminiscent sauce.

And while nothing can truly replace a sugar-and-butter-laden Caramel Sauce, this healthy version is the perfect way to curb those cravings in a way that’s aligned with wholesome nutrition goals. It’s a treat I don’t feel bad about drizzling over my breakfast yogurt bowls or fresh fruit as an afternoon pick-me-up. 

Ingredients

• Coconut oil. Coconut oil is the only oil that works in this healthy caramel sauce because it thins out when melted and then firms up as it solidifies. This creates a thick caramel sauce consistency perfect for drizzling.
• Pure maple syrup. Not to be confused with pancake syrup, pure maple syrup is the sap from a maple tree that has been boiled down to a thicker consistency. It’s just one ingredient and a great nutritious natural sweetener.
• Almond butter. This is the main flavor of the healthier Caramel Sauce, so be sure to get a really tasty almond butter you enjoy straight out of the jar. If you don’t enjoy the almond butter straight out of the jar, it isn’t going to do a whole lot flavor-wise for this sauce. We enjoy slow-roasted creamy almond butter with sea salt. Another favorite is this cinnamon bun butter — so tasty!
• Fine sea salt and vanilla extract. These two ingredients add a depth of flavor and work to balance flavors. A little salt goes a long way and you may want to adjust how much you add, depending on how salty the almond butter you are using is.

How To Make Healthy Caramel Sauce

1. Preparation: Gather coconut oil (solid), maple syrup, roasted lightly salted almond butter, salt, and vanilla. Choose your favorite almond butter to ensure you love the flavor.
2. Melting: Heat coconut oil and maple syrup in a microwave-safe bowl until melted and smooth. Stir until the mixture is very smooth to prevent lumps.
3. Combine and Flavor: Whisk in almond butter until smooth, then add salt and vanilla. Continue whisking if the mixture initially seems uneven.
4. Thicken and Serve: Let the sauce stand at room temperature to thicken, then stir again before using. Taste and adjust the saltiness to suit your preference, especially based on the almond butter used.

How to use Healthy Caramel Sauce

• We’re obsessed with adding this sauce on top of this Healthy Ice Cream — in our book, there are few nutritious desserts better than that!
• Healthy caramel sauce for apples: Thinly slice apples to dip in the sauce, or make apple nachos: Lay out thinly sliced Fuji apples, drizzle with the sauce, top with dark chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds, coconut, etc.
• Drizzle on top of the cream cheese frosting on this Applesauce Cake for a healthy caramel apple cake.
• Drizzle over a fresh fruit and yogurt bowl (or see more ideas on this yogurt bowl post).
• Make this Chocolate Protein Shake and drizzle this sauce on top.
• Use in place of syrup on these Gluten-Free Banana Pancakes.

Healthy Caramel Sauce storage

• Store any unused caramel sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to use, microwave for 3-5 seconds, whisk briskly, and enjoy!
• Refrigerate for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

More Nutritious Dessert Recipes

• Healthy Banana Muffins with Greek yogurt
• Chewy Granola Bars with miniature chocolate chips
• Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding naturally sweetened and thickened pudding
• Healthy No-Bake Cookies with coconut and dark chocolate
• Healthy Pumpkin Bread with chocolate chips

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5 from 1 vote

Healthy Caramel Sauce

By Chelsea Lords

Use better-for-you ingredients and whips together this Healthy Caramel Sauce in a matter of minutes. Plus lots of ideas for how to put this sauce to good use!

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients 

USMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 3 tablespoons coconut oil (measured when solid)
• ▢ 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• ▢ 1.5 tablespoons roasted and lightly salted almond butter Note 1
• ▢ 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt Note 2
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions 

• MICROWAVE: Add the (solid) coconut oil and maple syrup to a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave for 20 seconds, stir and return for another 20 seconds or until melted and smooth.
• FINISH SAUCE: Add in the almond butter and briskly whisk until completely smooth. It may seem like it's not coming together at first, but keep whisking. Add in the sea salt and vanilla extract and whisk again to combine.
• LET STAND: Set bowl aside, leaving at room temperature, to firm up for about 20-30 minutes. Stir again and enjoy! (See Note 3 for serving suggestions.)

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Almond butter: This is the main flavor of the caramel sauce, so be sure to get a really tasty almond butter you enjoy straight out of the jar. If you don't enjoy the almond butter plain, it isn't going to do a whole lot flavor-wise for this sauce. We enjoy slow-roasted creamy almond butter with sea salt. Another favorite is this cinnamon bun butter -- so tasty!

Note 2: Salt: Reduce or omit, depending on how salty the almond butter is. Alternatively, add a bit more for a healthy salted caramel sauce.

Note 3: Check out the blog post for ways to use this healthy caramel sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

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

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