Dairy-Free Keto Caramels -PrettyPies

Dairy-Free Caramels {Paleo, Vegan & Keto}

March 12, 2018 /
Unbelievably easy to make with just 5 simple ingredients. No cooking! These melt-in-your-mouth dairy-free keto caramels are buttery and delicious! 
Low-Carb Caramels (Keto, Vegan, Paleo) PrettyPies

Best Little Pick-Me-Up

You guys!! I can’t get over these! Who needs corn syrup, sugar and dairy when you can have much healthier LOW-CARB caramels?! Melt in your mouth deliciousness!!

These sweet bites are PERFECT for your drive-by fridge perusal. You know what I’m talking about? When you need a quick boost of energy and you head to the refrigerator for something to pop in your mouth. No time to cook anything, just-need-a-little-something-to-get-you-through type of thing.

Low-Carb Caramels (Keto, Vegan & Paleo) PrettyPies.com

5 Simple Ingredients

5 simple ingredients. No dairy/butter/cream and no sugar or any added sweetener! I still can’t believe it! The MAIN ingredients of traditional caramels aren’t even used in this recipe!

These are made with:

  1. cashew butter — silky, naturally sweet and caramel-esque! *key ingredient! don’t sub*
  2. coconut oil — buttery smooth healthy fats!
  3. stevia — Sweet Leaf brand Vanilla Creme drops for natural sweetness without the sugar!
  4. vanilla – use Mexican vanilla for an intense flavor. My FAV!
  5. salt — mineral-rich pink Himalayan salt for more complex taste

ps if you’ve never tried pink salt, it’s a MUST!! The flavor alone is incredible, but the benefits are a sweet bonus! It’s full of minerals including Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Iron. Woot!

Is Cashew Butter OK on a Low-Carb Keto Diet?

Update: I have had lots of comments from random people on the internet making claims to stay away from cashew butter. But I don’t share that opinion.

Yes, it is one of the higher-carb nuts compared to others, but in *moderation*, it’s perfectly acceptable.

The macros speak for themselves. 2.8 net carbs per caramel.

And one caramel is so satisfying and rich. That’s all I need. But if you can’t fit those 2 carbs in your daily allowance, they by all means, don’t eat one 😉

  • A low-carb diet is typically one defined as fewer than 100 (or even 150) grams of carbs per day. One caramel would then comprise 3% of your daily allowance.
  • By contrast, in the keto diet, which has 20 net carbs per day, one caramel would represent 15% of your daily allowance.

If it fits your macros, what difference does it make if it’s a peanut or a cashew? The difference is not greatly significant. All nuts contain beneficial nutrients, vitamins, and minerals and have a similar macro composition of high fat, moderate protein and low carbs.

But ultimately it’s up to you to decide. And don’t let strangers on the internet dictate what you put inside your body. 

Low-Carb Caramels (Keto, Vegan, Paleo) PrettyPies

How to Make No-Cook Caramels

Simple, healthy ingredients.. and SO simple to make!

How do you make them? Just Mix, Freeze, SAVOR. Whisk the ingredients together. Pour into molds and freeze. THAT’S IT folks! 😀

If you don’t have a silicone mold, don’t worry, you can also use parchment cupcake wrappers or just parchment paper lining a small baking dish (just make sure it’s super tiny since this makes a small batch).

I made one batch with softened coconut oil, and another with it fully melted and they work either way.  BUT the softened version freezes quicker, so you get to eat them sooner. However, you’ve gotta really add some elbow grease to get it fully incorporated.Low-Carb Caramels (Keto, Vegan, Paleo) PrettyPies

Ingredient Substitutes

  • For cashew butter, technically any other nut or seed butter will “work.” However, the flavor may be different. I would use a light-tasting nut butter such as almond.
  • For coconut oil, you can use refined coconut oil, palm oil, or possibly butter (dairy or dairy-free)

Sweetener Options

  • For stevia drops, you can use:
    • monkfruit drops (start with half the amount)
    • a pinch of pure stevia powder
    • 2 teaspoons powdered sweetener such as powdered monkfruit, (or powdered coconut sugar for non-low-carb) to taste
    • *do not use granulated sweetener unless it dissolves easily and stays dissolved when chilled
    • *liquid sweeteners are not recommended because they throw off the ratio of solid to liquid
Are you ready to make some super simple caramels? And can you believe how EASY, and healthy caramels could be?! 2 minutes!! Jaw-dropping taste. I’m still in disbelief myself lol. You’ve gotta try it!

Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest by clicking the image below:

Dairy-Free Keto Caramels - PrettyPies.com

Dairy-Free Keto Caramels -PrettyPies

Low-Carb Caramels {Paleo, Vegan & Keto}

Amazingly simple, deliciously dairy-free and full of vanilla caramel flavor--without the sugar!
4.24 from 13 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 1 hour 3 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Emily

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients together and whisk smooth.
  • Taste and adjust for sweetness.
  • Pour into 8 silicone molds, or mini parchment wrappers, or a small baking dish lined with parchment (for easy removal)
  • Freeze until solid, about 30-min to 1 hour. Enjoy!

Notes

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and Lakanto Affiliate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through referral links in this post (at no additional cost to you).
What I used:
Sweet Leaf Vanilla Creme Stevia Drops or Caramel flavor drops 
For alternative sweeteners, see post above.
Mexican Vanilla  this is my favorite!
To store: MUST be kept refrigerated (or frozen.) Melts at room temp. Store tightly wrapped for about 2-3 weeks. If frozen, set at room temp for a few minutes to soften.
Nutrition Facts
Low-Carb Caramels {Paleo, Vegan & Keto}
Amount per Serving
Calories
125
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
12
g
18
%
Carbohydrates
 
3
g
1
%
Fiber
 
0.2
g
1
%
Net Carbs
 
2.8
g
Protein
 
2
g
4
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Tag @emily.likes.food #prettypies!

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68 Comments

  • Lyn

    March 12, 2018 at 8:55 pm Reply

    My husband is on keto but does not like EV coconut oil because of the coconut flavor. Is the coconut flavor detectable in this recipe? I use organic expeller pressed coconut oil for most cooking since there is no coconut flavor or aroma. I also use NOW brand stevia glycerite which is like a syrup. Would that work or do I defintely need the Sweet Leaf Vanilla Creme drops? I am excited to try this recipe! Thank you so much!

    • Emily

      March 12, 2018 at 9:10 pm Reply

      I don’t taste it, but I LOVE coconut. You can use the refined coconut oil for no coconut flavor.
      I have not tried that brand of stevia, but it should work. The Sweet Leaf adds extra vanilla flavor.
      Hope you enjoy! Let me know how it turns out!

      • Lyn

        March 12, 2018 at 9:57 pm Reply

        Thank you for your prompt reply. I love coconut too so maybe I will use the EV so I will get more of the caramels! Blessings!

  • Mandy Metts

    March 19, 2018 at 10:07 pm Reply

    THESE ARE SOOO GOOD!
    I still can’t believe how easy it was to make them. This was maybe my 4th recipe to try from Pretty Pies but I think it’s my favorite. I keep going back to the freezer for more and then I start to feel guilty and then remember that I don’t have to! Even my boyfriend, who only started with a small bite because he didn’t think they’d be good, now makes me split each one with him. These are so yummy and help me with a candy craving when I get one.

  • Jane

    March 22, 2018 at 12:38 am Reply

    Genius! I used Swerve as the sweetener (what I had) but that was my only change. Just put a double batch in the fridge. I licked the bowl, the spatula, the drops on the counter! This recipe may be too good…

  • Mandy Metts

    March 27, 2018 at 6:37 pm Reply

    I just made this for the THIRD TIME! First time normal batch, 2nd and 3rd time I’ve tripled! So good I’m sharing with everyone I know. My Mom asked me to buy the sweetener and mold for her on Amazon so she can make them too.

  • PP

    March 31, 2018 at 3:05 am Reply

    I can’t get MyFitnessPal to give me the nutritional details. Can anyone post them here for me please? E.g. fat, protein and calories. Thank you

  • Janelle

    May 5, 2018 at 4:13 am Reply

    Calorie information (I ended up putting in a bit more salt just so you know it could be more or less for you)

    Calories 124
    Total Fat 12
    Sodium 147
    Sugars 3
    Protein 2

  • Tammy Schinhofen

    May 31, 2018 at 3:09 pm Reply

    I just made these with my grandkids. They were so easy and yummy. I used liquid Splenda to replace the Stevie and also added some maple extract. Thank you for the recipe!

  • Thea Depper

    June 4, 2018 at 2:21 pm Reply

    Cashews aren’t so keto friendly even if it’s not the same as cashew butter could you use almond butter instead.

    • Emily

      September 16, 2018 at 12:22 pm Reply

      You can buy it at most grocery stores next to the peanut butter 🙂 Target has a really yummy one with no added sugar. Or if you have a food processor, simply blend some raw cashews until it’s a drippy smooth butter. Hope you enjoy the caramels! One of my faves. If you try them, let me know what you think.

    • Emily

      September 19, 2018 at 3:36 pm Reply

      If it’s a no-cook/no-bake recipe, then Yes! 🙂 Like pouring it on shortbread and chilling it into a solid layer– That will work! But if you have to cook the bars afterward, this caramel will melt into a puddle.
      If you try it, let me know how it goes

  • Lauren Brown

    November 6, 2018 at 9:20 am Reply

    I wonder, can you make this without a sweetener? I am trying to do keto and need a few treats but I really can’t stand fake sweetener. Maybe I am doing keto paleo? I would love your thoughts on this without sweetener. Thank you!

  • Shanna

    December 31, 2018 at 12:44 am Reply

    These are amazing! I’ve been doing keto for 6 months and this is the best treat I’ve had so far, hands down! I actually used my silicone candy mold to freeze them and then melted some Lily’s chocolate chips with a teaspoon of coconut oil and dipped them to make chocolate salted caramels. Then refroze them and BAM sooooo good!

  • Maryam

    April 15, 2019 at 4:33 pm Reply

    My son is allergic to cashews and I dont want to bring them in the house. So I was wondering can I sub the cashew butter with anything?

    • Emily

      April 15, 2019 at 4:53 pm Reply

      Technically, any nut or seed butter will work, but it’s the cashew butter that gives it the most caramel like flavor. You can sub almond butter, macadamia butter or sunbutter.
      I had one reader use caramel flavored stevia drops for extra caramel flavor, so that may be a great option if you can’t use cashews 🙂

  • Ligia

    May 2, 2019 at 5:56 pm Reply

    Hi Emily!

    This sounds delicious! Do you think it is possible to use honey instead of Stevia? I´m on the SCD diet and no artificial sweetners are allowed. If so, will I have to use less coconut oil to balance the liquid ingredients? What do you suggest?

    • Emily

      May 2, 2019 at 6:01 pm Reply

      Stevia is actually not an artificial sweetener- it’s a plant not sure if it’s legal for SCD, but just wanted to let you know it’s natural. I recommend ones with just 1 ingredient & no fillers/additives.

      About the honey- I don’t think that would work unfortunately. The coconut oil is crucial to holding them together.

      If you can have any dry sweeteners, such as coconut sugar, monkfruit, maple sugar, those work when powdered.

      Another option (if ok for SCD) is pure monkfruit extract or drops. Again, it’s these are not artificial. Monkfruit is a real fruit grown in Asia

      Hope that helps!

  • Olia

    July 19, 2019 at 2:16 am Reply

    Hello!
    Excited to make these tomorrow! Question about storage. The recipe says: “Store tightly wrapped for about 2-3 weeks.” What does that mean? Candy foil? Vacuum sealing bag? Tinfoil?
    Thank you for all of the inspiration!

  • Brenda Biek

    October 13, 2019 at 2:13 pm Reply

    I would like to use this caramel for making sugar free turtles. Would it work? Would I have to keep the finished turtle in the freezer or can I keep it in the fridge.

  • Tove

    January 9, 2020 at 11:24 am Reply

    5 stars
    I LOVE these caramels! I believe you called them Magic Caramels the first time I saw this recipe. I have probably made them 15 times in the last few months. I keep them in the freezer and just take out 2 each time I have a craving.
    One time, I tried making them with MCT oil. It took them 4 hours to freeze and they melted quicker in my mouth, but they were still delicious.

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