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    Home >> Candy

    Dairy-Free Caramels {Paleo, Vegan & Keto}

    Published: Mar 12, 2018 · Modified: Jun 28, 2021 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · 68 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    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!
    4.27 from 15 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
    • â…“ cup cashew butter
    • ¼ cup coconut oil - melted or softened
    • 15-20 drops vanilla or caramel stevia - to taste
    • Dash of pink salt
    • ½ Tbs vanilla

    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!
    « Grasshopper Pie {Vegan & Paleo}
    Easy, Healthy Homemade 'Starburst' (Paleo, Vegan, No Refined Sugar) »

    Filed Under: Candy, Low-Carb Tagged With: bites, cashew butter, keto, low carb, stevia

    About Emily

    Emily is the creative force behind the food blog, Pretty Pies, a destination for people interested in healthier eating, and for those with dietary restrictions and preferences, such as dairy-free, gluten-free and egg-free.

    Emily specializes in healthy desserts that are low-carb, keto, and made with plant-based natural ingredients. She is the author of two cookbooks in the low-carb sweets niche, "PS It's Healthy," and "Yay It' Sugar-Free!"

    Her recipes have reached millions of people across the globe over a 7-year time span, and helped countless readers enjoy delicious desserts without detriment to their health.

    When she's not creating in the kitchen, she loves spending time with her family and petite Goldendoodle, Eevee, spending time in nature, and eating Tex-Mex.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Erin

      March 12, 2018 at 6:01 pm

      I would love to see you go live with this recipe! It looks so yummy 🙂

      Reply
      • Emily

        March 12, 2018 at 6:02 pm

        Great idea Erin! I will plan on doing that soon! Thanks!!

        Reply
    2. Lyn

      March 12, 2018 at 8:55 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Emily

        March 12, 2018 at 9:10 pm

        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!

        Reply
        • Lyn

          March 12, 2018 at 9:57 pm

          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!

          Reply
    3. Beki Sciacca

      March 12, 2018 at 10:06 pm

      We have a cashew allergy in our family...any thoughts on what this would be like if made with peanut butter? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emily

        March 12, 2018 at 10:19 pm

        It doesn't taste like caramel flavor, but it's delicious!! sort of like pb fudge!

        Reply
    4. Lisa Marc

      March 13, 2018 at 9:30 am

      Is there any substitute for the stevia? I am not a fan of it..

      Reply
      • Emily

        March 13, 2018 at 9:34 am

        If you're not low carb, you could use powdered coconut sugar. 1-2 Tbs, to taste.
        Stevia is the only low-carb sweetener I have tried, so I can't speak for the others. If you try it with a sub, I'd love to hear how it goes

        Reply
        • Tonya Morgan

          March 24, 2018 at 11:21 am

          Truvia is wonderful!!!!

          Reply
    5. Angela

      March 17, 2018 at 5:06 pm

      I was just curious want the nutrition is on these...carb count?

      Reply
      • Emily

        March 17, 2018 at 7:33 pm

        You can paste the URL to the recipe into MyFitnessPal.com in the food tab and it will give you a quick calculation

        Reply
        • cher

          March 27, 2018 at 10:46 pm

          I came up with 3 g carb and 0.2 fiber.

          Reply
    6. Mandy Metts

      March 19, 2018 at 10:07 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Emily

        March 19, 2018 at 10:13 pm

        Woohoo!! So happy to hear that, Mandy! These are my current favorite too!
        Easy guilt-free treats make the *best* kind of treats, right? Enjoy!!

        Reply
    7. Jane

      March 22, 2018 at 12:38 am

      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...

      Reply
      • Emily

        March 22, 2018 at 7:19 am

        Haha! They're "Lick the bowl good!" (New slogan, lol) I do the same thing.
        Sounds like you liked them as much as I do! Yay! Enjoy

        Reply
    8. Robin

      March 22, 2018 at 10:12 pm

      Thanks for this terrific recipe. Do you happen to know how many net carbs per serving?
      Thanks in advance!

      Reply
      • Emily

        March 22, 2018 at 10:15 pm

        About 3g net carbs per piece, if I remember correctly
        You can make them smaller if you want, and they'll be 1.5-2g 🙂

        Reply
    9. Tori

      March 24, 2018 at 11:59 am

      What would you use as a coconut oil replacement if you have a coconut allergy? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emily

        March 24, 2018 at 12:13 pm

        I would try palm oil or maybe butter

        Reply
    10. Diane

      March 27, 2018 at 2:25 pm

      Can you post the nutritional info?

      Reply
      • Emily

        March 27, 2018 at 4:50 pm

        I don't have it handy, but it's roughly 3 g net carbs each piece. You can paste the URL into MyFitnessPal.com for a quick calculation

        Reply
    11. Mandy Metts

      March 27, 2018 at 6:37 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Emily

        March 27, 2018 at 6:52 pm

        Omg yay!! So glad you liked them! Thanks for sharing too

        Reply
    12. PP

      March 31, 2018 at 3:05 am

      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

      Reply
    13. Janelle

      May 05, 2018 at 4:13 am

      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

      Reply
      • Emily

        May 05, 2018 at 2:28 pm

        Thanks for calculating that and sharing 🙂

        Reply
      • Gini

        September 22, 2018 at 10:08 am

        What about carbs?

        Reply
    14. Tammy Schinhofen

      May 31, 2018 at 3:09 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Emily

        May 31, 2018 at 3:50 pm

        You are welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed them Maple sounds amazing - yum!

        Reply
    15. Thea Depper

      June 04, 2018 at 2:21 pm

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

      Reply
      • Emily

        June 04, 2018 at 3:13 pm

        Almond works too - just has a different flavor 🙂

        Reply
    16. Krista Van Houten

      September 16, 2018 at 4:55 am

      Where do you get cashew butter? Can you use something else? The recipe sounds delicious, can’t wait!

      Reply
      • Emily

        September 16, 2018 at 12:22 pm

        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.

        Reply
        • Krista Van Houten

          October 13, 2018 at 2:40 am

          These are delicious! It took me a bit to get back to you as I had to order the cashew butter as no stores around me carry it. They are super easy to make and very yummy! Thanks for sharing.

          Reply
          • Emily

            October 13, 2018 at 5:42 am

            Yay!! You are welcome. So happy you liked them 🙂

            Reply
    17. Sharon

      September 19, 2018 at 3:31 pm

      I have a recipe for making millionaires. Could these caramels be used in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Emily

        September 19, 2018 at 3:36 pm

        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

        Reply
    18. Kipi

      October 03, 2018 at 3:58 pm

      What are the macros and nutritional info on these?

      Reply
      • Emily

        October 03, 2018 at 4:07 pm

        updated the recipe card above with macros 🙂

        Reply
    19. Lauren Brown

      November 06, 2018 at 9:20 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Emily

        November 06, 2018 at 9:29 am

        I think it might still be good. Especially since it has vanilla that adds some sweetness.

        BUT have you tried monk fruit? That's my new favorite low carb sweetener. I like it better than stevia. It does not taste fake. Since it's made from a fruit it tastes really natural.

        The vanilla monk fruit drops would work perfectly in this recipe:

        https://www.lakanto.com/products/liquid-monkfruit-sweetener-original-flavor?variant=48129214223&aff=94

        (Use code PRETTYPIES for 20% off)

        Reply
    20. Shanna

      December 31, 2018 at 12:44 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Emily

        December 31, 2018 at 10:00 am

        Awesome! I'll have to try your salted caramel Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    21. Maryam

      April 15, 2019 at 4:33 pm

      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?

      Reply
      • Emily

        April 15, 2019 at 4:53 pm

        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 🙂

        Reply
    22. Janet

      April 29, 2019 at 4:59 pm

      Stevia is added sweetener...

      Reply
      • Emily

        April 29, 2019 at 5:01 pm

        It’s not added sugar though. Sorry if I was unclear.

        Reply
    23. Pam Hagenston

      April 30, 2019 at 3:47 pm

      Low carb caramels - I am not finding carb count. How many carbs per serving.

      Reply
      • Emily

        April 30, 2019 at 3:49 pm

        According to MyFitnessPal they’re about 2.5 net carbs each

        Reply
    24. Ligia

      May 02, 2019 at 5:56 pm

      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?

      Reply
      • Emily

        May 02, 2019 at 6:01 pm

        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!

        Reply
    25. Olia

      July 19, 2019 at 2:16 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Emily

        July 19, 2019 at 6:49 am

        I keep mine in the silicone tray I made them in (covered in plastic or foil) until I pop one out to eat it You can also just keep them in any type of sealed container. Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
        • Olia

          July 19, 2019 at 2:34 pm

          Great! Thank you so much!!

          Reply
    26. Mj

      September 06, 2019 at 3:46 am

      Hello. Can I Use dates instead os stevia? I am from Portugal and I dont haver that product here...

      Reply
      • Emily

        September 06, 2019 at 7:01 am

        You can 🙂 Maybe 2 or 3 medjool (large) dates. Blend them really well in a food processor then add the other ingredients. Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    27. Brenda Biek

      October 13, 2019 at 2:13 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Emily

        October 13, 2019 at 2:26 pm

        Yes it should work. I would only soften the coconut oil, not melt it, so it’s thicker.

        This caramel only needs to be refrigerated, not frozen.

        Another option is to use silicone molds and add pecans and chocolate with this caramel or use this turtle bark recipe: https://prettypies.com/caramel-pecan-clusters/

        Let me know how it goes 🙂

        Reply
        • Erika

          August 22, 2020 at 2:56 pm

          This sound delicious! I am allergic to coconut, so you recommend something else instead of the coconut oil? Could ghee work?

          Reply
          • Emily

            August 22, 2020 at 2:57 pm

            Ghee could probably work!

            Reply
    28. Tove

      January 09, 2020 at 11:24 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Emily

        January 09, 2020 at 11:25 am

        Awesome!! So happy to hear you love them Thank you for taking the time to comment.

        Reply
    29. Suzanne

      February 04, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      This looks so good! What a simple recipe to throw together when you're craving something sweet and healthy!

      Reply
      • Emily

        February 04, 2020 at 3:24 pm

        Thanks, Suzanne! So simple, right??

        Reply
    30. Vanessa

      February 04, 2020 at 3:00 pm

      Thanks for sharing! Can I make other candies with this base recipe?

      Reply
      • Emily

        February 04, 2020 at 3:24 pm

        Absolutely!

        Reply

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