Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
Get It Now- Why You’ll Love This Homemade Keto Caramel Sauce Recipe
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Sugar Free Caramel Syrup
- Tips For The Best Sugar Free Caramel Sauce
- Storage Instructions
- What To Serve With Sugar Free Caramel Syrup
- More Sugar Free Toppings
- Recommended Tools
- Sugar Free Caramel Syrup & Sauce (Keto!) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
Making your own sugar free caramel syrup (a.k.a. sugar free caramel sauce) is easier than you might think! This rich and decadent caramel flavor is perfect for topping your favorite keto desserts or drizzling over sugar-free whipped cream on hot drinks (like bulletproof coffee). Plus, just like sugar-free chocolate syrup, this keto caramel sauce tastes just like the real deal with only a few basic ingredients.
Sugar free caramel sauce depends on a special ingredient for its thick and buttery consistency: Besti Brown Monk Fruit Allulose Blend. Unlike other sugar-free sweeteners, this one dissolves and caramelizes just like real sugar… so the caramel takes on a smooth and silky consistency, with no added calories, sugar crash, or gritty texture.
This recipe has been so popular that I included it in my Easy Keto Carboholics’ Cookbook!
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Keto Caramel Sauce Recipe
- Perfect sweet and buttery flavor
- Smooth, gooey, and thick texture like traditional caramel
- 4 simple, natural ingredients (no corn syrup, artificial flavors, or preservatives!)
- Made in 10 minutes
- 0g net carbs and naturally gluten-free
- Perfect for dipping, beverages, and desserts
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for sugar free caramel sauce, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Butter – For the best flavor, use salted butter. However, if you are watching your salt intake, you could use unsalted butter instead.
- Besti Brown Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – I opted to use the brown version of Besti because I love the flavor of brown sugar. If you prefer, you could make it with crystallized or powdered Besti instead — both will dissolve just like sugar does, and they caramelize beautifully. If you want to use a different keto sugar substitute, keep in mind that most other brands (including erythritol, and most brands of monk fruit or stevia, which typically contain erythritol) will not dissolve well and crystallize upon cooling, leading to a gritty texture and you won’t get the same gooey mouthfeel. If you still want to try it, see my sweeteners conversion chart for exact substitute amounts.
- Heavy Cream – A necessary ingredient for caramel. Do not substitute any type of milk (including dairy milk, almond milk, and coconut milk), as these will not thicken properly. It would probably work to substitute coconut cream if you need to.
- Vanilla Extract – Use higher quality vanilla for best flavor.
How To Make Sugar Free Caramel Syrup
This section shows how to make the best sugar free caramel recipe, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Melt. Heat butter and Besti Brown together in a large saucepan over low heat. Cook until golden brown.
TIP: Watch the sauce carefully.
Stir occasionally and watch carefully to avoid burning on the bottom of the pan.
- Thicken. Stir in cream and simmer until darkened in color and sauce coats the back of a spoon.
- Flavor. Turn off the heat and use a whisk in vanilla extract.
- Finish. Transfer homemade keto caramel sauce into a jar.
Tips For The Best Sugar Free Caramel Sauce
Making a sugar free caramel sauce may seem like a daunting task, but with a little patience and the right ingredients, it’s actually quite easy! Here are a few tips and tricks:
- Use a large pan. The larger the surface area of your pan, the faster your sauce will caramelize and thicken. I used a large saucepan, but you could even use a skillet with tall sides to make the process faster.
- Use the right sweetener. I typically recommend Besti in all my recipes, but it’s more crucial for some than others. This sugar free caramel syrup recipe is one where it makes a huge difference. You won’t get the same smooth, gooey texture using another sweetener.
- Be careful not to overheat. If the heat is too high, your sauce will “split”, meaning you’ll have oil separated from the other ingredients. If this happens, sometimes you can bring it back together in a blender.
- Add vanilla last. Adding the vanilla extract last, after removing from heat, ensures that it maintains its potency. If you add it while cooking, some of it will evaporate, reducing its flavor.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep low carb caramel sauce in the refrigerator. I’ve made a double batch before and had it last for weeks that way without a problem.
- Reheat: Caramel will solidify in the fridge, so you’ll want to reheat it before serving. The best way to do this is on the stove over low heat, stirring frequently. It’s important that the temperature rises gradually when you reheat the sugar-free caramel sauce. Otherwise, you run the risk of “shocking” it, leading to separation of the oils.
- Freeze: Add sauce to a freezer-safe container and pop it in the freezer. When you’re ready to use it, let it thaw in the fridge or at room temperature. After thawing, reheat gently to get the right consistency.
What To Serve With Sugar Free Caramel Syrup
This low carb caramel sauce is a delicious and versatile topping that can be used on a variety of desserts or added as a sweetener. Here are some ideas!
- Dipping – Sugar free caramel syrup is perfect for dipping keto fruits (or any fruit), keto churros, and even cookies like almond flour shortbread and keto oatmeal cookies.
- Topping – Pour this sauce on classic desserts like keto cheesecake, keto apple pie, or keto lava cake.
- Breakfast – Transform keto cinnamon rolls, coconut yogurt, or low carb French toast into a special treat. Don’t miss how I use it for keto monkey bread in my Easy Keto Carboholics’ Cookbook!
- Ice Cream – Caramel always pairs well with classic keto ice cream, but you can also try coconut milk ice cream, almond milk ice cream, or mason jar ice cream.
- Drinks – Top your favorite hot or cold drinks (like sugar-free hot chocolate, keto iced coffee, or a low carb milkshake) with sugar-free whipped cream, then drizzle the caramel on top. You could also stir it right into hot drinks.
More Sugar Free Toppings
Level up your healthy desserts with these sugar free toppings:
Recommended Tools
- Large Saucepan – This cookware set includes a large saucepan that works great for making this low carb caramel sauce.
- Whisk – You will need a whisk when you add the vanilla extract to the caramel sauce. This one is the perfect choice.
This reader favorite recipe is included in The Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Carboholics’ Cookbook! Inside this beautiful hard cover keto recipe book, you’ll find 100 delectable, EASY keto recipes to replace all your favorite carbs: bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, desserts, and more… each with 10 ingredients or less! Plus, a photo, macros, & tips for every recipe.
Sugar Free Caramel Syrup & Sauce (Keto!)
This easy sugar free caramel syrup needs just 4 ingredients and 10 minutes. Sugar free keto caramel sauce is gooey and sweet, like the real deal!
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Melt the butter and Besti Brown together in a large saucepan over low heat. Once melted, cook for about 3 to 4 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until color turns more golden brown. (Watch it carefully to avoid burning.)
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Stir in the cream. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 7 to 10 minutes, continuing to stir occasionally, until the mixture is a dark caramel color and coats the back of a spoon.
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Remove sugar-free caramel syrup from heat. Whisk in the vanilla extract.
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The sauce will thicken more as it cools from hot to warm.
Did You Like It?
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© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
365 Comments
Michelle Lampkin
1Amazing!!!! That’s all I can say! Thanks. I’ve made other ways but this way is better and doesn’t burn quick! Thanks so much!
Kenneth
1MAYA this receipt was great for filling cored holes in muffins. Please tell me in making a receipt for soft chewy caramel receipt calls for 2 c granulated sugar to sub. would 2 c of besti be equal trade off? OR do you have a soft chewy receipt?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Kenneth, I do not currently have a recipe for chewy caramels.
Dian Matthews
0I have made this 3 times. The first time, it came out the right color, but when it cooled it became pretty solid. Not “sauce” at all. The next two times it was thinner, but it has NEVER come out caramel colored. It’s always light. The only thing I am doing differently is I am using Swerve Brown instead of the Besti. Could that be the issue? I love caramel and this has the taste, but it does not have the correct texture.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Dian, I highly suggest trying Besti Brown to get the best results.
Ronni
0Delicious!!!!!!! I recently had to give up sugar and very restricted on carbohydrates due to a pretty extreme health issue. I have tried a store-bought sugar-free caramel sauce in the past, so it was a little bit leery, but this recipe delivers. I do not feel deprived. Quite the opposite in this sauce is very satisfying.
Lisa
0Mine didn’t brown like yours did, it was more creamy colored. Never re-browned once the cream was added. Still 5 stars because the flavor was amazing!! I’ll try browning the sugar and butter a bit more before adding the cream next time. I think I was to concerned about burning it.
Laurie warren
0This caramel sauce is delicious! Buttery, rich, flavorful it is a mouthful of yum! Thank you so much for sharing!
Susan
0Wowza!! This has to be the BEST recipe of anything that I’ve tried since going low carb! I dip choyote squash in it, and yummo!! Its like I’m dipping apples in caramel! This is a game changer for all the recipes I’m trying to convert to low carb.
Patti Moore
0Best recipe for caramel, easy to follow. Came out perfect! Thanks
Abril
0Adding that I personally liked it better without the vanilla.
Abril
0I don’t usually comment on recipes, BUT this recipe blew me away. There’s nothing I hate more than a fake tasting sugar free syrup or sauce. This is top notch. And will be delicious in my morning coffee!!! Absolutely amazing. Thank you for this recipe and for helping me find Besti!
Cristal
0I was craving a sweet so I made this- absolutely Loved it!!! I had bought all the ingredients in the recipe so will always keep them on hand for when I am wanting caramel.
Elizabeth
0This caramel recipe sounds divine. I am making this tomorrow and will post a review. All of your recipes are stellar. Thank you for sharing.
Nancy
0This is by far the best sugar-free caramel sauce recipe I’ve tried!!! I first made it several years ago, and then made it again last night after recently restarting keto. Wholesome Yum’s Besti sugar is just awesome (I used the powder because I don’t have the brown yet). I couldn’t believe how smooth and creamy the caramel came out! It’s all I can do not to run to the fridge and eat the rest with a spoon, lol. Make sure to follow the directions closely–don’t get impatient and turn the heat up too high.
Maya, I really appreciate your detailed recipes, hints, and videos. Thanks so much!
Kaycee
0Hello! I made this and it seemed to be going great. Then at the very end, the butter began to separate in the pan and even more so while it was cooling. It was impossible to drain out the butter and also didn’t taste great. I’m wondering if maybe I cooked it too long? I didn’t exactly keep track of time (was more going by color), but I probably went over the suggested 7-10 mins. I’m absolutely not suspecting this is a recipe fault because this is how caramel is made! And everyone else say it was amazing. Just wondering how I went wrong 😅
Wholesome Yum D
1Hi Kaycee, If the heat is too high, your sauce will split. Sometimes, you can bring it back together in a blender if this happens.
Lynn
0I wouldn’t call it “gooey”, but it sure is goody!
Laurie C.
0I made a double batch of this so I could keep some in the fridge for use later. Don’t recall how long I’ve had it in my fridge but tonight when I used it it smelled kind of fishy. Does this mean it’s not safe to eat even though it did taste ok?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Laurie, I can’t say for sure but if you are questioning it I wouldn’t use it.
Lori M.
0Wonderful sauce with great flavor! But this isn’t caramel – its butterscotch. The number one distinction between the two is starting with a brown sweetener as caramel starts with a white that goes brown by cooking. The second hallmark is having as much or more butter than sweetener. The third is the necessary inclusion of dairy. I’m so glad allulose was added to the cadre of alternative sweeteners a couple of years ago; its behavior is so like sucrose under many circumstances. As butterscotch, this recipe can get away with less vanilla and more salt, to taste. I just made some to add to my homemade keto ice cream for an old fashioned butterscotch ripple that hasn’t been available in grocery stores for decades and will be fabulous on newfangled pumpkin pie ice cream. Fabulous!
Dottie Bacon
0Is there a way to turn this into toffee? I’d love to be able to make a keto version of toffee…
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Dottie, I have not tried that yet but let me know your results if you do.
Lori M.
0I’ve tried to make sesame brittle using allulose, and due to the nature of allulose staying soft, it came out a wonderful sesame toffee. There isn’t cream in toffee but the rest of the ingredients are or can be used, so you are right in that this recipe is close and a similar one should work for you. Search for keto, allulose, toffee and a bunch should come up for you in a browser! Yum.
Carol l
0Maya, have you heard of Bocha Sweet from the kabocha plant? I have been using it a lot, as there is no aftertaste. I also found (but don’t use a lot so far) Wondrose, which is Erythritol, soluble corn fiber, inulin and monkfruit. Then there is plain allulose, Bettersweet: monkfruit and erythritol. Swerve, which is erythritol. Monkfruit alone, and now Besti: monkfruit/allulose blend. I dislike plain monkfruit as, for me, it tastes exactly like stevia, too too sweet and bitter aftertaste.
Do you use Besti for all your recipes, or do you use different sweeteners and which do you like best overall….?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Carol, I will have to look into that sweetener. I only use Besti in my recipes because it tastes, measures and bakes just like real sugar. It also dissolves completely and never leaves a gritty feeling while having 0 net carbs.
Jasmine
0Could I use coconut milk instead of heavy cream?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Jasmine, Yes, that will probably work if you use the full-fat thick kind from a can.
Samantha Whitson
0Maya, I’ve tried so many different caramel sauce/caramel candy recipes, & have been satisfied but not thrilled with any of them. I have yet to try using your “Besti” Brown blend, but I sure will be doing so now, after watching your video tutorial today. It’s so true that the right ingredients are critical to the finished product, & I think a great caramel really does require a specific “blend”. * Also really appreciate the photos you included here, in the step-by-step, printed recipe~ super helpful so people have a visual on what to look for along the way. =) Thank you so much!
Kelly
0Unfortunately I did not like the taste of it it just tasted like cream. I bake a lot and I found your directions to the t I just didn’t get a caramel taste out of it
Teresa Harris
0This caramel sauce is so good! Please suggest best way to store. Countertop or refrigerator?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Teresa, Store the caramel sauce in the refrigerator.
Joy Campbell
0Just made the caramel sauce and love it poured some warm over my keto pumpkin cream cheese filled muffin , so yummy!! Thanks for this recipe, satisfied my sweet tooth.
diane
0I have tried a few keto caramel recipes but this definitely the best
Journa Liz Ramirez
0I love your recipes Maya! Aside from they’re healthy and easy to make, it always satisfies my family’s cravings just like this sugar free caramel syrup and sauce. Highly recommended!
Lisa
0No one even knew this was a sugar free sauce! Taste and texture was spot on.
MLC
0Do you think an erythritol/monk fruit blend or 100%Stevia would work?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I don’t recommend erythritol-based sweeteners for sauces, as they will crystallize and not dissolve fully, resulting in a gritty texture. 100% stevia (not most brands of stevia, which usually contain either erythritol or maltodextrin) could work, but you’d likely have an aftertaste and it won’t caramelize the way Besti does.
Michelle norman
0This was quick, easy, and delicious I’ve used it in coffee, over keto cheesecake, And my new favorite keto treat that sounds crazy but could not be more delicious, keto cracker jacks using pork rines and pecans. Tastes amazing. I urge you to give it a try. I’m addicted. thanks for all recipes. Always good.
Dawn
0I have never made a carmel sauce before and all I had to cook in was a small electric frying pan…I am ecstatic to report it turned out remarkably good.
Laura
0Made this last night. Not sure what I did wrong, cooked it longer than suggested. The butter wanted to separate from the cream. Put it on ice cream & it becam.e really solid & more like eating a.chunk of butter.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Laura, Sorry to hear you had issues with it. If it was separating, then it means the heat was too high, so that’s probably the first problem. Also, if you cooked it longer than suggested, this may have also reduced it too much and caused it to become too hard when cooled. It is pretty normal for caramel to firm up when it hits something very cold, like ice cream, but it shouldn’t become totally solid or like butter. Hope this helps!
Joseph
1“Not sure what I did wrong, cooked it longer than suggested”. There you go, you just explained what you did wrong. Maybe next time don’t complain to the recipe makers if you’re not following the recipe. lol. I tried the recipe and it turned out great
Reta Cates
0This caramel sauce is so easy and just delicious. No one believes it is carb and sugar free. Thank you very much for posting it.
Jenn
0Was really good. I put the sauce into heart shaped ice tray and kept it in the fridge for a nice little fat bomb!
Jeff
0Hello. I tried to make the caramel sauce to put on the cheesecake recipe you have also. The cheesecake came out really good. But I must have done something wrong with the caramel. It was very grainy. I used fruit monk with erythritol cuz it was all I could find in my little town. The sauce tasted really good honestly but it was just grainy. I’m sure I did something wrong and hoping someone could help me out. Thanks in advance!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Jeff, I don’t recommend using erythritol-based sweeteners for sauces, including caramel. Like you experienced, the result will be gritty. Try Besti sweetener instead — it will dissolve completely with no gritty texture, and won’t crystallize.
Jessica
0I added just a tiny bit of molasses to make butterscotch for keto butter beer At a Harry Potter party. No one knew it was sugar free and it was amazing. So good that I sent home the batch with our friends and made a new one for my house for coffee and butter beer the next day! Lol
Carol L
0Jessica, could you give the recipe for the butter beer? I have been trying for a few years to come up with a butter beer recipe I can drink that is low/no carb/ no sugar!!!
Maya, thank you for the great recipe! I have looked up many of your sauce recipes as I’m finding that I really miss sauces on my food!
Laura J
0What a great caramel sauce! The texture and flavor was identical to traditional sugar based caramel. I’m thrilled with your recipe 😍
Thank you!
Christine Mitchell
0I’ve tried this twice now, exactly following the recipe, and it won’t thicken enough for the pie, even overnight in the fridge. The second time I simmered for 45 mins. It seemed like it was thickening. I used a large pan. How long should it boil in step 2? I’m not sure what’s going wrong.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Christine, What pie are you attempting to make… I have a recipe for Pecan Pie that you might want to check out.
Suzanne Wynn
0When I see a recipe by Wholesome Yum, I KNOW it’s a good one. I make it with total confidence. Not that I needed it but this was a fantastic reminder! Good GAWDS this is amazing! Thank you!!
Deee
0Can I use this on popcorn as caramel corn?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Deee, I have not attempted that, but if you try please let me know!
Ellen
0How about drizzled or tossed over pork rinds for a lower crb alternative to popcorn?
Wholesome Yum D
0HI Ellen, I have never tried that but I think that would work. Let me know your results.
Melissa
0I’ve drizzled it over popcorn and it’s great!
Rachael Charbonneau
0This caramel sauce is very good. It’s such a surprise to see how low the sugar can be in caramel! (I’m not doing keto yet, just low carb.) And it’s so buttery! I just love the ratio of butter to lightly sweet! Have you ever tried cooking this to harder stages? I’m curious if this higher fat version can get to the harder stages?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Rachael, I have never tried that but it sounds like a great experiment. If you try it, let me know your results!
Fredrika
0Awesome recipe. I made this a double batch. Like you said it took a bit longer but oh my god. The result is spectacular. I used granulated erythritol instead of the sweetener of your choice and it worked just fine. I also added in some salt to make it salted caramel but it didn’t blend in very well so should’ve added this at the beginning when melting the erythritol and butter.
Fredrika
0I also wanted to add that when it had cooled down in the fridge it went rock solid. I ended up reusing the batch a few times by melting it in a pan again on low heat. It will split completely because of the butter but just gradually add a bit more cream and whisk, add a bit more, whisk etc until it all comes back together. I ‘remelted’ the batch 3 times doing this because it turned out that the batch I made was too much.
I made this again from scratch again and added the salt at the beginning. Incredible. I love this recipe more than normal caramel.
Judith Williams
0Hello.
Can I use this sauce for Caramel apples? I wan to do a healthier version for my daughter.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Judith, Yes, you can dip apples in this recipe. Keep in mind that it will not harden to a solid at room temperature like traditional caramel, it will remain soft. Store your caramel apple in the fridge and it will harden some, but will still have a chewy consistency. I hope this helps!
Candice
0Has anyone tried to make this “vegan” with ingredients like coconut cream and coconut oil (or other vegan ingredients)? If so, was it successful? I am not “vegan” but have to watch my cholesterol.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Candice, I have not done that but if you try let me know your results!
Julie
0Hi, is it possible to can this caramel sauce? Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Julie, No, I don’t recommend canning this recipe.
Julie
0Hi, I’m Diabetic and I have a weakness when it comes to caramel popcorn. Can this caramel sauce be used for caramel popcorn?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Julie, This caramel sauce doesn’t harden like it would on traditional popcorn. It will remain soft and sticky. You could probably drizzle it over individual servings and enjoy it right away, but I don’t recommend making a full batch and attempting to save for later. I hope this helps!
Brenda Campagna
0This is scrumptious! I have recently become obsessed with caramel in my coffee so decided to try my hand at this recipe. It turned out amazing. I think I am going to try a version of it more like cinnamon dolce as well. I think that would be easily adapted from this sauce.
Carol Jo Quick
0Can it be made with stevia? How much sodium is in it?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Carol, Sorry this recipe cannot be made with stevia. Feel free to enter the recipe into an online recipe calculator to get an accurate sodium count.
Tamny
0Hi. I made this caramel sauce as a mason jar ice cream topping. My problem is that when I heated it in the micro and spooned over the ice cream my caramel turned to clumps of what I can only describe as sweetened butter…like eating butter from the stick. I have no idea what I’ve done wrong but I must say that it still tasted good but has awful texture.
Thanks for the reply and I look forward to more of your recipes! I have tried MANY and you never disappoint.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Tamny, How did you reheat your caramel sauce? If possible you will want to reheat on LOW power in 10 second intervals. The microwave can shock your caramel, which would cause it to become clumpy or possibly separate.
Lyn
0Try reheating in a double boiler or in a bowl over simmering water. It is like cheese sauce that separates when reheated to fast
Emma
0Absolutely the best sauce ever and it’s super easy to make.
Tonya Frye
0I must say this is really good! I did try it first with monkfruit erythritol brown sugar substitute. You were right. It did not turn out. I used my besti powdered sugar substitute and put caramel extract instead of the vanilla. Amazing the difference it made. One thing I will add. I tried to reheat it on the stove on the lowest heat I have. It did separate. However, I found out that if you just tilt it under running hot water and stir vigorously it softens right up.