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Home » Oil-Free Honey Mustard Dressing

Oil-Free Honey Mustard Dressing

May 15, 2025 By Diane Smith Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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(Updated post 5-15-25)

Looking for a creamy, tangy, sweet dressing that fits your whole-food, plant-based lifestyle? This Oil-Free Honey Mustard Dressing is everything you love without the refined sugar, oil, or actual honey. It’s perfect for salads, wraps, grain bowls, and even roasted veggies.

Honey Mustard Dressing

Wait—Is Vegan Honey Really Healthy?

Some “vegan honey” recipes or products are made from cane sugar or apple juice concentrate. While technically free from animal products, they’re still highly processed and don’t align with a whole food, plant-based way of eating.

That’s why this version offers two truly WFPB-compliant options for sweetness:

  • Pure maple syrup – minimally processed, with trace minerals like manganese and zinc
  • Homemade date paste – a fiber-rich, whole-fruit sweetener full of antioxidants

Both add natural sweetness while keeping the dressing flavorful and healthy.

How to Make Date Paste

For the healthiest version, try this date paste instead of maple syrup.

To make about 1/2 cup of date paste:

  1. Soak 6–8 Medjool dates in warm water for 10 minutes (pit first if needed).
  2. Drain and blend with 1/4 cup warm water until smooth and thick.
  3. Store extra in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

You can freeze portions in an ice cube tray for easy use later.

Why You’ll Love This Dressing

  • ✅ 100% oil-free and refined sugar-free
  • ✅ Naturally sweetened with date paste or maple syrup
  • ✅ Takes less than 5 minutes to make
  • ✅ Whole food, plant-based approved
  • ✅ Great for meal prep

This dressing is especially great for anyone transitioning to a plant-based diet and missing their favorite familiar flavors, like the tangy zip of honey mustard.

Honey Mustard Dressing

Serving Suggestions

This versatile dressing works beyond just salads. Try it as:

  • A dip for roasted sweet potato fries
  • A drizzle over steamed greens or grain bowls
  • A sandwich or wrap spread
  • A sauce for tofu or tempeh

While you’re here, check out these homemade plant-based dressings:

  • Ranch Dressing
  • Tahini Dressing
  • Green Goddess Dressing
  • Quinoa Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

oil-free homemade honey mustard dressing salad

This Oil-Free Honey Mustard Dressing is a simple recipe with virtually no prep time. You don’t even need a blender, so clean-up is a breeze. If you want to enjoy more guilt-free dressing, have a look at my list of 10 oil-free dressings.

Since you’ll have leftover applesauce, use it to sweeten my pancakes and make granola. I also like to have a batch of vegan mayo and soy yogurt on hand in the fridge.

This Oil-Free Honey Mustard Dressing is a simple recipe with virtually no prep time. You don’t even need a blender, so clean-up is a breeze. If you want to enjoy more guilt-free dressing, have a look at my list of 10 oil-free dressings.

Since you’ll have leftover applesauce, use it to sweeten my pancakes and make granola. I also like to have a batch of vegan mayo and soy yogurt on hand in the fridge.

Whole-Food Tips

  • For extra fiber: Use date paste in place of syrup. Blend 2–3 pitted Medjool dates with a few tablespoons of warm water until smooth, then use as a sweetener.
  • Low-sodium option: Choose a low-sodium mustard or make your own from ground mustard seeds.
  • Batch prep: Double the recipe and store in a mason jar for easy use throughout the week.

Oil-Free Honey Mustard Dressing

It really helps to keep to your plant-based diet to have these items available. You’re less likely to slip up! Read these 7 Tips for Sticking with a Plant-Based Diet and my Beginner’s Guide to Easy Plant-Based Vegan Meal Planning to help you on your journey to Plant-Based Cooking.

It really helps to keep to your plant-based diet to have these items available. You’re less likely to slip up! Read these 7 Tips for Sticking with a Plant-Based Diet and my Beginner’s Guide to Easy Plant-Based Vegan Meal Planning to help you on your journey to Plant-Based Cooking.

Honey mustard doesn’t need to be off-limits on a plant-based diet—you need a healthier version that skips animal products and processed ingredients. This Oil-Free Honey Mustard Dressing adds flavor without compromising your health goals.

I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below for this Oil-Free Honey Mustard Dressing! If you have a photo, post it on my Facebook page, tag me using the hashtag #plantbasedcooking in your caption, and I won’t miss it!

Honey Mustard Dressing
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3.67 from 72 votes
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Honey Mustard Dressing

Just the right amount of sweet and tangy without added oil this homemade dressing is easy-to-make with only 7 ingredients.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Total Time10 minutes mins
Servings: 10 servings

Equipment

  • Measuring Cups and Spoons
  • Glass Mixing Bowls with Lids
  • Whisk

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup dijon or spicy brown mustard
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup or date syrup (vegan honey in a pinch)
  • 1/4 cup homemade mayonnaise or plant yogurt
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
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Instructions

  • Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl.
  • Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Label uses homemade tofu mayo and maple syrup

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Honey Mustard Dressing
Serving Size
 
28 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
24
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
0.4
g
1
%
Saturated Fat
 
0
g
0
%
Cholesterol
 
0
mg
0
%
Sodium
 
141.3
mg
6
%
Carbohydrates
 
3.6
g
1
%
Fiber
 
0.2
g
1
%
Sugar
 
2.5
g
3
%
Protein
 
0
g
0
%
Vitamin A
 
0
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
3.3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
10
mg
1
%
Iron
 
0.2
mg
1
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
The nutrition information is a rough estimate. Values will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it’s recommended that you calculate your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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homemade honey mustard dressing salad
oil-free homemade honey mustard dressing salad

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