This sugar free caramel sauce is ooey and gooey and it stays pourable! Best of all, it tastes just like real caramel sauce. This is the only keto caramel sauce recipe you will ever need. I am excited to bring you this updated recipe and a new instructional video.
Want to hear something crazy? I just improved my keto sugar free caramel sauce recipe! It was always truly amazing and by far one of the most popular low carb caramel recipes out there, but now it’s even better.
And I attribute this improvement to two “secret weapon” ingredients: The new Swerve brown sugar replacement and Bocha Sweet. The combination of these two keto sweeteners results in the most perfect caramel that stays soft and pourable for days. It can even be refrigerated and still stays soft, with absolutely no recrystallization.
Creating a really good, true-to-life caramel sauce with erythritol has been one of my low carb goals for a long time now. Almost from the first moment I started baking and cooking low carb, I found myself wondering if it was possible and absolutely determined to find out.
Creating Keto Sugar Free Caramel Sauce
I’d tried a few store-bought sugar-free caramel sauces and they were simply awful. They were laden with chemicals and they tasted like it too. So I had to find a way to make homemade sugar-free caramel sauce from scratch, and I set my sights high.
It had to be:
- Gooey
- Smooth and creamy
- Have true caramelized-sugar taste
- Not harden and recrystallize upon cooling
Anyone who has ever worked with erythritol-based sweeteners will know that the last issue was the biggest challenge to overcome. I’ve made some great-tasting and great-looking sauces along the way, but they all had a tendency to harden up pretty quickly.
Even my previous recipe, which I considered almost perfect, did begin to solidify and get a bit grainy as it cooled. The addition of some Yacon syrup, molasses, or even coconut sugar definitely helped offset that reaction, but it also added a little to the carb count. Some people objected to these additions but I felt that they were worth it to get really good low carb caramel sauce.
But honestly, both Swerve Brown and Bocha Sweet have totally changed the sugar free caramel sauce game. Completely and utterly. How so?
- Swerve Brown gives the sauce a perfect caramel color without the addition of Yacon or molasses
- Bocha Sweet keeps it soft and inhibits the crystallization of the erythritol
- The combination of the two gives it the ideal caramel sweetness
I first tried a bit of Bocha Sweet in my caramel sauce a few months ago and was astonished to pull it out of the fridge the next day and still have it be perfectly pourable. And when the long-awaited Swerve Brown finally came out, I tried the two together and I knew I had perfected this recipe.
But please don’t worry if you can’t get your hands on these sweeteners. I am putting notes in the new updated recipe so that you can still make it the old way, with Swerve and a little Yacon syrup. It’s still amazing and delicious!
So put away all those awful store-bought, chemical-laden sugar free caramel sauces because this keto caramel sauce recipe will blow your caramel-loving mind. Check out the video in the recipe card!
I’ve actually been using this caramel sauce recipe in many of my other dessert recipes for a while now, like my maple pecan pie. But I use it so often and found myself rewriting it so frequently, I decided that it needed to be a stand alone recipe.
Believe me, it deserves it! It’s already part of some of my favorite keto dessert recipes and it will be part of many more to come. But it truly is good enough to be have its very own recipe post. Sometimes I just make some for the heck of it, just to keep in the fridge. It’s fantastic slathered on a piece of very dark chocolate with a little sea salt sprinkled on top. Or drizzled over low carb vanilla ice cream. Or simply licked from the spoon.
I really don’t think there is a better low carb caramel sauce out there. Back when I first wrote this post, I said if there was any way to improve on this recipe, I would find it. And I truly believe I just did. I can die happy now!
How to enjoy your keto caramel sauce
- Keto Caramel Cake
- Keto Salted Caramel Brownie Bites
- Keto Salted Caramel Cheesecake Bars
- Keto Turtle Cupcakes
- Keto Salted Caramel Butter Bars
- Keto Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
The Best Low Carb Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar replacement
- 3 tablespoon allulose or BochaSweet
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
- ¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
- 2 tablespoon water
For Salted Caramel Sauce:
- ½ teaspoon additional kosher salt or sea salt
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, Swerve, and Bocha Sweet. Bring to a boil and cook 3 to 5 minutes (be careful not to burn it).
- Remove from heat and add cream. Mixture will bubble vigorously.
- Sprinkle with xanthan gum and whisk vigorously to combine. Add salt.
- Return mixture to heat and boil 1 more minute. Let cool to lukewarm and stir in water until well combined.
- For salted caramel, simply stir in additional salt at the end.
- The sauce can be stored in the fridge for a week or so (I've actually stored mine for several weeks). Just gently reheat in the microwave or in a saucepan to make it pourable again.
Video
Notes
Kapu says
I’m on my second batch of this caramel crack in two days. This will be the death of me.
Kapu says
Okay! Finally made this, AND, OMGEE! Best sauce ever! One million times over. My dad who is visiting from home, Hawaii, is a lover of the other white crack. That being sugar. Well, gave him some Breyers Low Carb ice cream (hey it fills the void) drenched with sauce. He had two bowls and didn’t even now it was refined sugar free. This is a man who was born with a sugarcane stick in his mouth. I’m now needing to make another batch. First batch will be gone in 2.5 seconds. This is the next best thing to sliced bread.
Kapu says
“Know” not now. Oops.
Carolyn says
Wonderful! So glad he didn’t notice at all 🙂
Leigh Owens says
Hi Carolyn,
Well I have kept at it (making the caramel sauce). What I found today was that the granular Swerve DOES make a difference. I used the granular and it cooked right up just like you said! I thought I would let you know just in case anyone else has that same problem( not browning up). I am making your salted caramel brownie cupcakes & toffee recipes. Thanks for taking all the hard work out for the rest of us by coming up with these delicious ideas.
Carolyn says
That is VERY good information! Thank you for keeping at it.
Leigh Owens says
I must have done something wrong. I followed the directions exactly except I cooked it in the microwave instead of the stove. I was scared to “overcook/burn it” like the recipe warned so I just cooked about 2 minutes total. I guess just enough to melt the butter then i put the cream in. the end result is not thick or brown. It’s really runny and yellowish??
what did I do wrong?
Thanks
Carolyn says
Yes, well…caramel sauce like this requires the heat of a stove to caramelize. So what went wrong is that you cooked it in a microwave. Not really sure what else to say.
Leigh Owens says
Hi there, thank you for the response. Even though the caramel sauce did not turn out for me I made the salted caramel cream cheese frosting for cupcakes. OMG, they were SO good. so, thank you for that.
I tried again tonight (the caramel sauce) because I am making your pecan pie bars! I did it on the stove this time and and cooked it and cooked it (around 21 minutes). I was scared to cook any longer (swerve is expensive and I did not want to ruin it) but it never did get to the golden color of yours in the pictures. The pecan pie bars are cooling right now. I am excited to try.
I live in East TN. I wonder if we have different altitude issues than where you live? Would that make a difference in cooking times? I’m new to baking & eating low carb.
Carolyn says
I don’t think the altitude would be a problem. Did you use coconut sugar or molasses? That would give you the colour you want.
Leigh says
Well, one other thought. I bought swerve powdered instead of granular. Maybe that was it. I used coconut sugar instead of Molassas. When I made the bars I didn’t have vegetable glycerin so I used sf syrup. They came out more like cookie bar than what yours looked like. They tasted really good though and I guess that’s what matters. Thanks!
Carolyn says
Yes, taste wins in the end! I don’t think the powdered swerve would keep it from getting golden and caramelized but I could be wrong.
Meg says
I commented on your magic cookie bar recipe, but this caramel is so good I had to thank you here too. I didn’t think low-carb caramel was possible, but I am sooooo happy it is. Thank you Carolyn!
In case anyone is looking for substitutions, I used xylitol instead of Swerve and it turned out great (for my other sweetener I used coconut sugar). I put my bars in the fridge last night and the caramel hasn’t crystallised at all.
Vicki K says
Bravo Carolyn..
This is the first low carb caramel I have made looks and taste like caramel.
Come summer, caramel sundaes will be on the menu…
I hope your move is going well!
Carolyn says
Thanks, Vicki!
Kapu says
Will it work with regular molasses? Does it need to be the blackstrap? 🙂
Rebecca says
Kapu- I used regular molasses and think it turned out well.
Rebecca says
THANK YOU. I’m an espresso junkie looking for syrups that don’t use Splenda. Two tablespoons of this in my breve make me not miss my much mourned white chocolate powder. I used Swerve and molasses and skipped the Xanthum gum since I don’t have any. It works beautifully in coffee. I’ll be making this in bulk!
Betsy Stokes says
Wha??? In coffee? Why didn’t I think of that. I’m trying it TODAY! 🙂
Teresa says
Carolyn Carolyn Carolyn Carolyn
I “almost never” comment, but I could not not comment on this recipe
this is the best stuff that I have ever made in the world of sweet sauce/syrup
thank you thank you thank you thank you
5 stars
two thumbs up
Carolyn says
Thanks for the lovely feedback!
Anne O says
Carolyn-awesome sauce! Burnt my first batch badly. Electric stove……so second batch I used LOW heat and LeCreuset pot; start to finish 11.5 minutes. Total success. Went from almost crying to a happy dance. Making your pecan pie as a trial run today for Thanksgiving. Looking great now! Thanks for great recipes- good luck during your transition to the west coast.
Carolyn says
Yikes! I am so worried because our rental house will only have electric and I am so used to gas!
dee says
Just made this and I am in love….. thanks for such a yummy recipe. I have to stop my self from gulping it down.
Common Sense says
“this sauce will blow your caramel-loving mind.”
It sure the heck did! Just amazing!
I made it with the coconut sugar, which I had on hand from my early keto days but haven’t used since. Now I will! I do seem to have quicker cooking times, maybe because I’m at altitude, mine was about 2 minutes.
I used it for this:
http://www.averiecooks.com/2014/10/caramel-apple-cheesecake-crumble-bars.html
Lots of subs but it looks devine, it’s for tonight’s dessert.
Thanks for another great recipe Carolyn! Every recipe I make of yours comes out perfectly!
Louanne says
Marvelous recipe, as always! Can I sub this caramel sauce in your chocolate pecan bars?
Carolyn says
Yes, I think you could!
Barbara Sacco says
Hi Carolyn,
Just a quick question – if I wanted to make caramel candies with this, what would I need to alter? I’m looking to make something close to the wrapped caramels we used to buy by the bag. Thanks so much for all you do!
Barb
Carolyn says
I am not certain you can make this into caramel candies…at least not the really chewy kind that stick to your teeth. Because it’s not sugar, and it just won’t quite work that way. But you could try boiling it down further until it’s a little more gummy. Then it will begin to harden more as it cools and you might have something you can work with.
Nancy says
Hi, Carolyn. I made this sauce for your pecan pie recipe and although I burned it slightly, it still had a wonderful caramel taste. Do you have any tips to keep it from burning? I watched it very closely and stirred it often. I cooked it for 4 minutes. Do I need to stir it constantly and cut down on the time? Or is constant stirring the key? By the way, loved the pecan pie!!! I wasn’t a huge fan while it was still warm but after leaving it in the fridge overnight it was AMAZING! Thanks for all your low carb desserts that don’t leave us missing our high carb alternatives.
Carolyn says
It could be your pot or the heat of your stove. Is it electric? If so, turn it down a bit and do stir pretty constantly.
Betsy Stokes says
I found that the brand of butter mattered in the burning risk. Great Value did fine. Kerrygold burned when I blinked at it.
Carolyn says
Interesting!
Lisette R, says
Can I use Sukrin Gold instead of the Swerve? Seems to have the same ingredients. I also appreciate all your recipes! Have had success with several of them.
Carolyn says
Should be fine.
Dinah Cox-Moore says
this is the best danged caramel sauce!!! You rocked it Carolyn!!
Carolyn says
Thanks, Dinah. Based on your feedback, I may change the recipe for 1 tbsp blackstrap molasses instead of 2. I think it’s just too much .
Ana says
What is considered a serving???
Kapu says
I think it’s 2 tablespoons.
Ana says
If I double the recipe and then eat it ALL- is that considered a serving?!!!! Bwahahaha!!! AwEmAzInG!!!!
Abi says
LOVE THIS! I used Xylitol and Molasses as it’s all I had and it it turned out perfectly…could seriously not tell the difference in a normal caramel taste! I do grind my xylitol to a fine powder first before anything I cook with it, so maybe thats why it worked so well with the xylitol? Either way, thanks for the recipe! Even though the xylitol I used brought the carb count up, it is still a HUGE winner and healthier than a regular caramel. Cheers from Aus!
Carolyn says
So glad it worked out!
Evan says
Oh goodness, I can’t wait to make this! I’ve been using the Walden Farms caramel sauce because it was (until now) my only option– and it’s not even very nice-tasting, let alone all the chemicals in it!!!
I’m just curious Carolyn, have you ever tried tagatose? I’m told it caramelizes exactly like table sugar so it’s good for caramels and things that require browning. It’s so expensive and hard to find though!
Best of luck and speed with your move, and thank you so much for taking time out of this busy and stressful period to keep us supplied with new recipes. You’re the best!
Carolyn says
I haven’t tried it but I have heard of it. I am leery of things ending in “ose” as that denotes a sugar and I am suspicious of claims about low glycemic index. They said the same thing about agave and it spiked me as much as table sugar. I’d have to try it on my own blood sugar before I’d use it in recipes for readers.