How to Make Sugar Free Caramel Sauce

This recipe for Sugar Free Caramel Sauce is a guilt-free and decadent treat.

Made with just five ingredients, this no added sugar caramel sauce is buttery and rich, making it perfect for drizzling over your Sugar Free Vanilla Ice Cream or dipping your Sugar Free Brown Butter Cookies in!

Why this recipe works

Caramel sauce is that popular decadent creamy dessert topping (or dip) that has the perfect combination of sweet caramelized goodness balanced by creamy rich butter and cream with a dash of salt.

Here is what else you will like about this recipe.

• This is a simple five ingredient recipe.
• Caramel sauce is perfect for topping your ice cream with or dipping apples in to.
• Personalizing this recipe is as easy as swapping out your extract.
• Caramel sauce is perfect for serving with dessert or sharing with friends at a gathering or potluck.

Have you tried my recipe for Sugar Free Apple Streusel Coffee Cake?

Made with a filling featuring fresh apples and topped with a crunchy streusel topping, that cake this cake is moist, tender, and sweet, making it perfect for your next dessert or for sharing with others. This caramel sauce would go great when drizzled over that apple coffee cake.

This caramel sauce recipe works best when you use an Allulose sweetener. You can find Allulose Sweeteners here.

What you need to make Caramel Sauce without sugar.

• Butter Use unsalted butter if possible.
• Allulose Granular Sweetener. Use a sweetener that measures 1:1 with sugar. Brown was used to make my caramel sauce.
• Salt. Sea Salt can work well because of its size.
• Vanilla Extract Adds to the flavor depth.
• Heavy Cream Use a full-fat heavy cream for best results.

How to make Sugar Free Caramel Sauce

• Prep Time 5 minutes .
• Cook Time 10 minutes .
• Servings 1.5 cups or 6 servings .
• How to serve : Serve over ice cream or other dessert or serve this as a dip for fruit or cookies.
• Notes: To make this recipe you will need a heavy-bottom pot, rubber spatula or similar item, and a whisk.

1. Butter. In a heavy-bottom pot or saucepan on medium heat, melt your butter.
2. Sugar alternative. Once your butter has melted you can whisk in the sugar alternative (Allulose). Whisk the ingredients constantly until the sugar alternative has completely dissolved into the butter, creating a bubbly, thick liquid (about two to three minutes).
3. Simmer Once the mixture begins to bubble stop stirring and allow the mixture to simmer for about five to eight minutes. The mixture should deepen in color to a light golden brown and start to smell toasty.
4. Cream. Remove the mixture from the heat and carefully and slowly whisk in the heavy cream, whisking constantly. Keep whisking until it is smooth and uniform resembling a smooth syrup.
5. Finish. Lastly, stir in the vanilla extract and sea salt. You can taste the caramel sauce and add additional salt if desired.
6. Cool. Allow the ingredients to cool. You can serve the caramel sauce over desserts or portion it into jars for storing or gifting.

Tips for making the best homemade caramel sauce.

I mentioned that Allulose sweetener works best in this recipe. This is because some alternatives (such as pure Erythritol) crystallize and become grainy when heated and then cooled. Allulose, on the other hand, has the ability to dissolve well without crystallizing upon cooling. *The allulose should measure 1:1 with sugar. If yours does not, you will need to make adjustments in the amount that you use to make this recipe*

More helpful tips for you.

1. Melted butter really gives this sauce the color and flavor that makes it so special. While melting the butter it is important to whisk often if not continually, until it turns a deep golden brown (hazelnut color) and smells nutty. However, do not let the butter burn!
2. The sauce will thicken as it cools. You can reheat it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to loosen it back up. Another option is to reheat it on low heat and simmer for another three to five minutes, whisking occasionally. The sauce should thicken slightly and coat the back of your spoon.
3. Heavy cream works best in this recipe (or a full-fat coconut cream substitute) to make a creamy sauce. Heavy cream has a high fat content is what gives the sauce its signature rich texture. Lower-fat cream will result in a thin, watery sauce.

FAQ

• Which sweetener is best for making no added sugar caramel sauce? Allulose is my recommendation as it has the ability to caramelize, brown, and stay soft when it has cooled .
• Do I have to add the salt? A small amount of salt, such as sea salt, is added to this recipe to help bring out the flavors in the caramel sauce. You can omit the salt if you would like to.
• Can I use a liquid sugar alternative in this recipe? Granular (Allulose) sugar alternative is recommended. While liquid alternatives, such as a stevia product, can give the sauce a sweet taste, it cannot provide the thick texture that is needed to make a sauce.
• Why does my caramel sauce seem 'grainy'? The 'grainy' appearance is usually caused by crystallization. This is common with erythritol-based sweeteners. If this happens to your caramel sauce to can try gently reheating it with a splash of water or extra cream.

Variations.

• Instead of using vanilla extract, try another flavor such as maple extract.
• Whisk a teaspoon of instant espresso powder into your heavy cream before adding it to the recipe to create a "Macchiato" style sauce.
• You can try adding very small amount (a pinch or so) of xanthan gum as a thickener to the sauce and boiling it a bit longer to make it thick enough to hold up so that it can be used in another recipe such as a filling for candy.

How to Store Caramel Sauce

Once your caramel sauce has fully cooled, it can be stored in an airtight container such as a jar. Note that the sauce will thicken as it cools. When properly stored, caramel sauce should keep for about two weeks when refrigerated. You can gently reheat the sauce in the microwave or on the stovetop to make it pourable again.

You may also be interested in these no added sugar treats.

• Sugar Free Brown Butter Cookies
• Sugar Free Chocolate Tarts
• 45 of the best Sugar Free Cookie Recipes!
• Sugar Free Churro ‘Crack’ Candy
• No Added Sugar Homemade Eclairs
• No Added Sugar Chocolate Hummus