Easy 2-Ingredient Nut-Free Vegan Caramel Sauce: Your Instant Pot Secret for Allergy-Friendly Sweetness

Yes, it’s true! Prepare to be amazed: a luxurious vegan caramel sauce that’s not only nut-free but also requires just two simple ingredients and your trusty Instant Pot. This rich, golden sauce is an absolute game-changer. Imagine it drizzled over warm brownies, spooned generously onto ice cream, or perfect for dipping crisp apple slices. Best of all, it’s incredibly easy to make and free from common allergens: gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts – truly top-8-free! Read on to unlock the secret to this crazy easy, utterly irresistible condiment.

This post was sponsored by Nature’s Charm Vegan Products. All opinions are my own.

This post contains affiliate links.

The Quest for Allergy-Friendly Caramel: A Sweet Dream Come True

Caramel holds a special place in my heart – it’s truly a divine nectar of the gods! For years, however, the joy of caramel felt out of reach. With a child severely allergic to all dairy products, traditional caramel, made from cow’s milk and butter, was simply an impossibility. He had never experienced the glorious sensation of sweet, sticky caramel dripping from a freshly sliced apple. For us, autumn felt incomplete without this classic treat. But this year, I vowed to change that, and I did, with what started as a quest for a “1-ingredient” (which later became a 2-ingredient wonder!) nut-free vegan caramel sauce.

I had often seen online tutorials showcasing how to transform sweetened condensed cow’s milk into rich caramel using an Instant Pot. And if you know me, you know my obsession with the Instant Pot is real! (For those who don’t, I even have an entire cookbook dedicated to allergy-friendly Instant Pot recipes, which came out in spring 2019!) The big question was: could this magical transformation still happen without using any cow’s milk products?

Many of the Instant Pot caramel tutorials also suggested using canning jars, which immediately raised concerns for me. The thought of glass under high pressure in the Instant Pot made me hesitant, and frankly, I didn’t have the specific canning jars and lids required. I worried about them sealing properly, even if I did. So, my mission was clear: create a truly vegan caramel, ensure it was safe for severe nut allergies, and make it using common kitchen items I already had on hand. No fancy equipment, no rare ingredients – just pure, delicious simplicity.

The Nut-Free Challenge: Finding the Perfect Vegan Condensed Milk

Beyond just being vegan, this recipe absolutely had to be nut-free. This is a critical distinction, as many vegan products, especially dairy substitutes, often rely heavily on cashews or other tree nuts to achieve their creamy texture. With my son’s severe allergies to milk, peanuts, and tree nuts, nuts are simply not an option for our family. This meant carefully selecting the right sweetened condensed milk alternative.

But Megan, You Use Coconut… Isn’t That a Tree Nut?

This is a common and very valid question! It’s important to clarify the distinction. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently labels coconut as a tree nut, scientific and medical communities generally agree that coconut is botanically a fruit (a drupe, to be precise) and not a true nut. More importantly, the vast majority of individuals with tree nut allergies tolerate coconut without any difficulty. The proteins in coconut are different from those found in actual tree nuts, meaning cross-reactivity is rare. Source: AAAAI (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology).

Given this, the brand I confidently chose for this recipe was Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk. And let me tell you, when an ingredient is already delicious straight from the can, you know you’re onto something good! I was seriously tempted to just grab a spoon and enjoy it as is. Nature’s Charm has been a heaven-sent company for our allergy-conscious household. Not only do they offer this fantastic sweetened condensed coconut milk, but they also have a wide array of other vegan coconut products, making allergy-friendly cooking so much easier. The mastermind behind this company is even the daughter of Thailand’s first coconut milk manufacturer, bringing a rich history and legacy of fine coconut milk to their products. Plus, Thai coconuts are renowned for their quality – it’s on my bucket list to visit Thailand and try some fresh coconuts for myself!

Mastering Your Instant Pot Vegan Caramel: Tips for Success

Crafting this incredible 2-ingredient vegan caramel sauce in your Instant Pot is surprisingly straightforward. Here are some key tips to ensure your success and achieve that perfect, gooey consistency:

Sourcing Your Key Ingredient

I found Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk at my local Sprouts and Good Earth stores. If you’re having trouble finding it locally, don’t worry! It’s readily available online at Vegan Essentials, Yummy Bazaar, and of course, my favorite online shopping destination: AMAZON.

Choosing the Right Cookware

For cooking the caramel in the Instant Pot, I opted for a 6-inch cake pan. This size fits perfectly inside most Instant Pot models and is designed to withstand high heat, making it an ideal choice. Once the condensed milk is in the pan, simply cover it tightly with trusty aluminum foil to create a good seal, preventing any water from getting in and ensuring even cooking.

Perfecting the Cooking Time

After a bit of experimentation, I found that 50 minutes on high pressure yields a wonderfully rich caramel. However, cooking times can sometimes vary slightly depending on your elevation. If you live at a higher altitude, you might need to increase the cooking time by an additional 5-10 minutes, up to a maximum of 60 minutes, to achieve the desired depth of color and thickness.

The Secret Ingredient: Patience (and a Pinch of Salt!)

Beyond the sweetened condensed coconut milk and your Instant Pot, the only other crucial ingredient for truly spectacular caramel is patience. When the cooking cycle is complete and the pressure has been released, your caramel will still be quite runny and hot. It’s absolutely vital to let it cool completely – ideally overnight in the refrigerator. This cooling period is what allows the caramel to thicken into that luscious, creamy, spreadable sauce we all crave. Trust me, it’s worth the wait! The next day, you’ll be greeted with magical caramel sauce.

If, after refrigeration, your caramel is too thick for your liking or for spreading, a quick warm-up in the microwave for a few seconds will bring it back to the perfect, pourable consistency. And for an extra layer of flavor, I love adding a pinch of sea salt at the end (as you’ll see in the video). This simple addition enhances the sweetness and adds a delightful complexity, transforming it into a salted caramel dream!

Achieving a Deeper Caramel Color (Optional Second Ingredient)

If you prefer a deeper, more traditional caramel color, I tested a fantastic tip from PressureCookRecipes.com. Before cooking, simply stir together ½ teaspoon of baking soda (NOT baking powder) with 3 tablespoons of warm water, and then mix this solution into your sweetened condensed coconut milk. This truly helped to deepen the color without altering the taste in any noticeable way. While this addition technically makes it a 2-ingredient recipe rather than a 1-ingredient one, the visual appeal might be worth it for some!

I honestly couldn’t stop eating this caramel by the spoonful! As you can see from the photos, we have an abundance of apples from our own tree, and this caramel became the absolute best way to enjoy them. I also plan (if there’s any left!) to use some for Thanksgiving pie recipe testing. It’s that good, and that versatile!

Why the Instant Pot is Your Caramel Hero (and More!)

If you’re still contemplating getting an Instant Pot, I’m telling you – what are you waiting for?! I’m not directly affiliated with Instant Pot, but my genuine love for this appliance knows no bounds. It has truly transformed my cooking, especially when navigating complex food allergies. I now own two, and I firmly believe it’s worth every single penny.

The Instant Pot makes recipes like this vegan caramel incredibly simple and hands-off, but its versatility extends far beyond sweets. You can use it for my crazy popular allergy-friendly soup, and it will get you ready for my upcoming cookbook launch, which features 60 top-8-free Instant Pot recipes! It makes preparing hearty, comforting meals a breeze, especially as we head into colder months. Forgot to thaw your chicken? No problem! Need a quick soup but it calls for hard-to-cook vegetables like potatoes and carrots? The Instant Pot handles it all with ease. So, go ahead and invest in one – it’s one kitchen appliance you absolutely won’t regret or let go to waste.

See How Easy It Is: Watch the Video!

To truly appreciate the simplicity of this recipe, take a moment to watch the video below. It clearly demonstrates just how easy it is to make this delectable caramel. All you truly need is Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk and your Instant Pot (note that the metal trivet I place the pan on comes standard with most Instant Pot models).

Embrace a New Allergy-Friendly Tradition

I sincerely hope this recipe for 2-Ingredient Nut-Free Vegan Caramel Sauce becomes a new cherished tradition in your home, especially during the fall season. But honestly, this caramel is so versatile and delicious, you’ll want to enjoy it year-round – imagine it over ice cream during the summer! Whether you or your loved ones manage food allergies, follow a vegan diet, or have other dietary restrictions, this recipe is designed to bring back the joy of caramel. Say goodbye to those cravings and hello to a wonderfully rich, creamy, and safe caramel dipping sauce that everyone can enjoy.

2 Ingredient Nut-free Vegan Caramel Sauce (Top 8 Free too!)

Yield:
1 and 1/2 cups

Prep Time:
5 minutes

Cook Time:
50 minutes

Additional Time:
30 minutes

Total Time:
1 hour 25 minutes

Yes, it’s true. You read that right: vegan caramel–and not just any vegan caramel, but nut-free, 2 ingredient caramel. This sinful sauce is perfect for dipping apples in, or drizzling over brownies or ice cream AND ONLY takes 2 ingredients and your instant pot. This 1 Ingredient Nut-free Vegan Caramel Sauce is free of: gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanut & tree nuts. It’s also top-8-free!

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS:

1 can (11.25 oz) Nature’s Charm coconut condensed milk
½ teaspoon baking soda mixed with 3 Tablespoons warm water (for deeper color, optional)

ADDITIONAL:

1 cup of water for instant pot

OPTIONAL:

Sprinkle of sea salt

Instructions

In a 6 inch cake pan (or other pan that will fit in your instant pot) pour the sweetened condensed milk. If using for a deeper color, stir in your baking soda + water mixture.
Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil.
Place one cup of water to the Instant Pot metal insert.
Place the trivet that came with the Instant Pot on top of the water.
Place the covered pan on top of the trivet.
Close the Instant Pot lid.
Move the valve to “sealing”.
Turn the pressure to “high”.
Hit “manual” and then use the plus and minus buttons to reach 50 minutes.
Once the timer is done, move the valve to “venting” to quickly release the pressure.
With oven mitts, carefully remove the pan and take off the aluminum foil. Allow it to come to room temperature.
Add a sprinkle of sea salt and stir it in (optional).
Once it’s cool enough to pour into an air-tight container, do so.
Place the container in the fridge for several hours, best if overnight to thicken.
Keep in the fridge until needed. If it’s too thick before serving, you can warm it up for several seconds in the microwave to reach your desired consistency.

Notes

*Our allergies, while severe and that get re-tested frequently, are such that we can go strictly by what’s on the label. I do not call companies to see what things are derived from, or call manufacturers to see about potential cross contact. If your allergies require you to do so, please do your own homework. I cannot assure you of any ingredient’s safety, only you can do that. I simply share what works for our family

**If you are going to feed this to someone with food allergies, and you yourself do not have food allergies, I HIGHLY recommend having them check every single brand and ingredient you are using, to ensure they’re OK with each part of the recipe. And, to make sure you’ve talked to them about how to avoid cross contamination in your kitchen.

More Allergy-Friendly Fall Favorites

Looking for other delicious and allergy-friendly recipes perfect for the fall season? Explore these fantastic options:

Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins (Gluten-free, Vegan, Top-8-free)

Allergy-friendly Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten-free, Vegan, Top-8-free)

Pumpkin Scones with Spiced Glaze (Gluten-free, Vegan, Top-8-free)

Two Ingredient Allergy Friendly Vegan Caramel Sauce