(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.
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:
- Soak 6–8 Medjool dates in warm water for 10 minutes (pit first if needed).
- Drain and blend with 1/4 cup warm water until smooth and thick.
- 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.
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:
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.
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
Honey Mustard Dressing
Equipment
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
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
Instructions
- Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl.
- Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
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