I recommend using full-fat coconut milk, but you can use almond milk or another milk. If you're ok with dairy, you can use heavy cream in place of coconut milk.I've tried this recipe using heavy cream and full fat coconut milk, and both worked well. The overriding flavor is that of the salty sweetness of caramel (regardless of which cream or milk you use).If you use heavy cream with this recipe and boil the caramel sauce to the point of almost burning, you can turn the caramel into caramel candies. Just place drops of caramel on a parchment paper (or a non-stick surface) and as it cools you can shape each drop and then wrap in paper. And there you have it—caramel toffee candies!
Pour the cream or milk into a small saucepan and place on a low to medium heat.
Add the salt to the saucepan and stir to dissolve.
Bring to a steady simmer, and then add the honey. Stir to dissolve.
Bring the mixture to a steady, low boil, and stir frequently. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the desired consistency. If you have a candy thermometer, it should read between 225 and 250 degrees F when it's ready. I usually watch until it starts getting darker and thicker. Keep stirring while it's boiling.
The longer you boil it, the less pourable it will be at room temperature. So if you want it to be liquid caramel, don't boil it as long. If you want firm caramel at room temperature, boil it until it is almost burning, and the color is clearly darker than when you started.
When ready, turn the heat off and place the bottom of the saucepan in an ice water bath to stop it from boiling. Avoid getting any water in the saucepan. You don't have to keep it in the bath that long, just long enough that you can still work with it to coat things or pour it into something.
Once it is cooled, you can serve it, and store in the refrigerator in a sealed container/glass jar.