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    Home » autumn recipes

    Raw Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce

    SILKY SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE & STICKY TOFFEE SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE


    Silky Salted Caramel Sauce by Beautiful Ingredient

    Silky Salted Caramel Sauce by Beautiful Ingredient


    Sticky Toffee Caramel Sauce by beautiful Ingredient

    Sticky Toffee Caramel Sauce by beautiful Ingredient

    SILKY SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE & STICKY TOFFEE SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

    RAW | VEGAN | WFPB | REFINED SUGAR-FREE | GLUTEN-FREE | EASY

    Remember the Pear Spice Muffins from the last post?  Well, they are delicious.  They taste like autumn.  They disappear very quickly when I make them just as they are.  There are days, though, when I crave something extra sweet - ooey-gooey and rich kind of sweet.  Caramel sauce kind of sweet, to pour over these delish muffins.  Thankfully, my goal of eating more produce and less junk food doesn't mean having to turn away from an ooey-gooey sweet treat like caramel sauce.  Especially when that caramel sauce is made of only fruit, nutmeg, sea salt, and vanilla.  (For an "adult version" we have a bourbon option, too.!)  This caramel sauce recipe is super easy, with no actual cooking required!  

    I have two delicious versions for you.  Both caramels have a bite of salt, accentuated by finishing with a sprinkle of pink or sea salt.  Both have a smoky caramel-like flavor, brought forward with nutmeg.  The differences have to do with the texture you prefer, how you would like to apply the caramel, your mood, and your mixing method.  


    STICKY TOFFEE SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE by Beautiful Ingredient

    STICKY TOFFEE SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE by Beautiful Ingredient

    SILKY SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

    The silky caramel has the smooth, creamy appearance of a classic caramel sauce, yet is very light.  The flavor and texture makes an appearance and then almost seems to evaporate in the mouth.  Made using a high speed blender with more of the date soaking liquid, it makes a bigger batch than the sticky toffee version - a little less than 2 cups.  That light texture makes it very easy to stir into drinks or oatmeal, providing a kiss of that sweet and salty flavor in each sip or bite.

    The Silky Salted Caramel Sauce is pictured below on Pear Spice Muffins, providing a soft, sweet topping.  When using either of the salted caramels, a key to 


    Silky Salted Caramel Sauce, ideal for an autumn/winter treat.

    Silky Salted Caramel Sauce, ideal for an autumn/winter treat.


    Silky Salted Caramel Sauce drizzled over Pear Spice Muffins.

    Silky Salted Caramel Sauce drizzled over Pear Spice Muffins.


    Spreading a bit of caramel in the middle of the muffin makes a much less messy packed lunch.

    Spreading a bit of caramel in the middle of the muffin makes a much less messy packed lunch.


    Pear Spice Muffin with Silky Salted Caramel Sauce, a sprinkle of pink salt on top.

    Pear Spice Muffin with Silky Salted Caramel Sauce, a sprinkle of pink salt on top.

    STICKY TOFFEE SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

    While this may not be as sticky as traditionally-made caramel sauce, let's remember that there is no butter or processed sugar - or cooking for that matter - in this recipe to make it extra thick, heavy, and sticky.  Instead, I tried to create the essence of that caramel sauce in a more nutritious way.  That said, the texture and flavor brings to mind lovely sticky toffee pudding for me.   So the name sticks, so to speak.  A food processor is used instead of a blender for the Sticky Toffee version of this salted caramel sauce, allowing bits of caramel-ly dates to remain throughout.  There's less water in this version, so it's more flavorful and extra rich.  This caramel lingers in the mouth, and is delicious simply by the spoonful.  This version would be the choice if you're looking for something more like ribbons and chunks of caramel when you stir it into food and drink.  Also great as a frosting or dip.

    WHERE TO START

    The first step of making either version is soaking the dates in water.  Once soaked, the whole jar (below, left) is poured into a blender for Classic Creamy Caramel.  For Sticky Toffee Caramel, the dates are strained and placed in the bowl of a food processor while the soaking liquid is preserved to add by the tablespoon (below right). 


    Soak the dates for at least an hour; toss it all into a blender after for Creamy Caramel.

    Soak the dates for at least an hour; toss it all into a blender after for Creamy Caramel.

    CARAMEL AS FRUIT DIP


    Reserve the soaking liquid separately for Sticky Toffee Caramel.

    Reserve the soaking liquid separately for Sticky Toffee Caramel.

    A favorite way to use either caramel is as a fruit or bread dip.  Pictured below is the Sticky Toffee Salted Caramel Sauce being used this way.


    Sticky Toffee Salted Caramel Sauce by beautiful Ingredient

    Sticky Toffee Salted Caramel Sauce by beautiful Ingredient


    Sticky Toffee Salted Caramel Sauce as a fruit dip by beautiful Ingredient

    Sticky Toffee Salted Caramel Sauce as a fruit dip by beautiful Ingredient


    Dipping fruit in salted caramel sauce.

    Dipping fruit in salted caramel sauce.


    Pear dipped in Sticky Toffee Salted Caramel Sauce.

    Pear dipped in Sticky Toffee Salted Caramel Sauce.

    CARAMEL ON OATMEAL

    Have you ever tried caramel on oatmeal before?  No?  Get that oatmeal cooking and those dates soaked!  You don't know what you've been missing.  We're talking next-level oatmeal here.


    Sticky Toffee Salted Caramel Oatmeal and peanut butter stirred into oatmeal. The best. By Beautiful Ingredient

    Sticky Toffee Salted Caramel Oatmeal and peanut butter stirred into oatmeal. The best. By Beautiful Ingredient


    Oatmeal loves salted caramel sauce. By Beautiful Ingredient

    Oatmeal loves salted caramel sauce. By Beautiful Ingredient

    RAW VEGAN CARAMEL SAUCE, TWO WAYS

    RAW | VEGAN | WFPB | REFINED SUGAR-FREE | GLUTEN-FREE | EASY

    PRINT RECIPE


    Sticky Toffee Salted Caramel Sauce. Store it in a container in the fridge for up to a week.

    Sticky Toffee Salted Caramel Sauce. Store it in a container in the fridge for up to a week.

    SILKY SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE:  Makes a bit under 2 cups (16 oz container)
    STICKY TOFFEE SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE:   Makes a bit over 1 cup (8 oz container)

    SOAK TIME:  At least one hour
    PREP/BLEND TIME:  10 minutes or less for each caramel sauce

    PRIMARY TOOLS:  Blender and/or food processor


    Silky Salted Caramel Sauce

    Silky Salted Caramel Sauce

    INGREDIENTS

    1 cup medjool dates (about 10)

    1 cup filtered water

    1 ½ teaspoons vanilla powder

    ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

    ¼ teaspoon course sea salt (I used fleur de sel) + a pinch (optional)

    1 tablespoon bourbon (optional for grown-ups)

    METHOD

    1. SOAK THE DATES:
    In a mason jar or other container, place the pitted dates, then cover with the water. Seal and place in the fridge for at least one hour to soften.

    2. BLEND INGREDIENTS:
    FOR SILKY SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE: Place all ingredients, including the soaking water, in a high speed blender and blend until smooth. FOR STICKY TOFFEE SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE: Strain the dates, reserving the soaking water. Place the dates in a small food processor and add four tablespoons of the soaking liquid. Process, adding more water until you achieve the desired consistency. (I used 7 tablespoons of liquid.) Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the remaining ingredients, processing just long enough to incorporate.

    3. SERVE & STORE:
    Drizzle over anything you like, such as pancakes, toast, oatmeal, muffins/cupcakes, cookies, chocolate, ice cream, fruit, nuts, etc. Sprinkle the additional pinch of salt on top if desired. To store, place in a mason jar or other sealed container and store in the fridge. Keeps up to a week.

    4. ENJOY
    This stuff really adds another level of deliciousness to so many things. Experiment and have fun with it!

    Goes great with these recipes:


    PEAR SPICE MUFFINS, WHOLE FOOD VEGAN STYLE

    PEAR SPICE MUFFINS, WHOLE FOOD VEGAN STYLE


    SPICED APPLE OATMEAL

    SPICED APPLE OATMEAL

    More autumn recipes

    • Toasted Polenta Rounds (air fryer or oven)
    • Vegan Sour Cream (oil-free)
    • Vegan Instant Pot Chili with Greens (oil-free)
    • Easy Pasta Bolognese with Red Lentils (vegan)

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    Welcome to a world of beautiful food!

    I'm Kari, and this is where I celebrate beautiful ingredients and focus on ways to make eating more plants easier. Recipes are centered around whole foods and are vegan, oil-free, refined sugar-free, and mostly gluten-free. And so delicious!



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