Make a delicious caramel sauce in minutes with this salted tahini caramel. It’s a harmonious blend of creamy tahini and sweet maple syrup, creating an unbelievably luxurious combo perfect for drizzling over desserts, fruit, or simply savoring it straight from the spoon!
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Tahini as caramel? It may come as a surprise that this nutty spread made from sesame seeds could somehow turn into a rich and delicious caramel sauce.
When you think of tahini, you probably initially think of hummus, but tahini is shockingly just as good in sweet recipes too! It’s the nut-free version of peanut butter—great in a variety of dishes!
Ingredients Needed
To make this tahini caramel, you don’t need any heavy cream, butter, or even sugar. That’s right, there’s no need to make caramelized sugar to achieve the perfect smooth caramel texture! This tahini caramel recipe only requires 4 simple ingredients that can be combined at room temperature for a quick and easy sauce! Here’s what you need:
- Tahini: The heart of this sauce, creamy tahini lends its distinctive nuttiness and smooth texture, providing a delicious base for the caramel notes to shine. Make sure your tahini is well mixed and has drippy consistency before using. Store-bought or homemade tahini both work well. If using homemade tahini, keep in mind that it doesn’t last long. Here’s how to tell if tahini has gone bad.
- Maple Syrup: Sweetness with depth, this natural sweetener adds a luscious caramel-like flavor while keeping our sauce free from refined sugars. Make sure you’re using pure maple syrup and not pancake syrup. Agave syrup also works well. For a whole food option, try using date paste or date syrup to make a tahini date caramel.
- Vanilla Extract: A tiny bit of pure vanilla extract enhances the complexity of the sauce.
- Salt: Balancing the sweetness, a pinch of salt brings out the rich flavors. Don’t skip the salt!
Variations
This sauce is amazing with just the four main ingredients, but you can easily change up the flavors to create a whole new sauce! Here are some possibilities:
Chocolate tahini caramel: Add 2-3 teaspoons of cocoa powder.
Cinnamon tahini caramel: Add a dash or two of ground cinnamon.
How To Make Tahini Caramel
- In a mixing bowl, combine the tahini, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Whisk the ingredients together until they form a smooth and creamy consistency. Ensure that all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
- Taste the mixture and adjust the sweetness by adding more maple syrup if desired.
- If you prefer a thicker caramel sauce, store it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Otherwise, use it immediately as a dip for fruit or drizzle over your favorite treats!
Sprinkled a little sea salt on top if desired!
How To Use This Vegan Caramel Sauce
Use it as a dip for apples, berries, pretzels, or marshmallows. For a party you can create a tahini caramel bar with a variety of dippable items to enjoy it with!
Drizzle over brownies (these brownie blondies are amazing with this caramel sauce!), mug cakes, or a big bowl of ice cream! While vanilla ice cream is a classic, you could serve it with easy banana nice cream for a healthy and satisfying treat.
For breakfast options, drizzle over a warm bowl of cinnamon apple oatmeal or cream of wheat. Or use it as the caramel in this vegan snickers overnight oats! It’s even great over pancakes!
Tahini Caramel Storage
To maintain its freshness and consistency, store your vegan tahini caramel sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When properly stored, it can typically last for at least two weeks, possibly longer. I used mine within two weeks, but considering the amount of sugar, I think it would be fine for longer.
Before each use, give it a gentle stir to soften it up since it will thicken in the refrigerator. If you want it thinner, you can gently microwave it for 15-second intervals until it warms up and softens to a drizzly consistency.
FAQ’s
Tahini sauce is primarily made from ground sesame seeds. It typically includes additional ingredients such as oil (often sesame oil), water, lemon juice, and sometimes garlic, salt, or other flavorings. It’s a versatile condiment used in various cuisines, particularly in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes.
Tahini has a rich, nutty flavor with a subtle bitterness and a hint of sweetness. Its texture is smooth and creamy, similar to natural peanut butter. The taste can vary slightly depending on factors such as the type of sesame seeds used and whether any additional flavorings are included in the sauce.
Tahini pairs exceptionally well with a wide range of foods. It’s commonly used as a dip or sauce for falafel, grilled vegetables, and salads. It also complements dishes like hummus, baba ganoush, and shawarma. Additionally, tahini can be incorporated into sweet treats like cookies, brownies, and dressings for desserts like this tahini caramel sauce. Its versatility makes it a favorite ingredient in both savory and sweet recipes!
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Tahini Caramel
Ingredients
- ¼ cup tahini
- 4-5 tablespoons maple syrup depending on preferred sweetness
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the tahini and maple syrup until they form a smooth and creamy consistency.¼ cup tahini, 4-5 tablespoons maple syrup
- Then stir in the vanilla extract and salt until evenly distributed.¼ teaspoon vanilla, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Taste the mixture and adjust the sweetness by adding more maple syrup if desired.
- If you prefer a thicker caramel sauce, store it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Otherwise, use it immediately as a dip for fruit or drizzle over your favorite treats!
