Vegan date caramel sauce is a healthy whole food plant-based caramel. Sweetened entirely with fruit! This 5 ingredient caramel is ready in 10 minutes.
Can we talk about dates?!
Dates are this incredible fruit that we're all sleeping on!
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Why dates are amazing
They are so sweet and luscious. And they have a rich, caramel-like flavor. Hence: date caramel.
Dates are also packed with nutrients, making them a superior sweetener to regular sugar in many ways. Dates have potassium (more than a banana!) as well as magnesium. Add a bit of salt and they make the perfect natural electrolyte snack.
And dates have fiber. Fiber is SO important, especially when consuming foods with sugars.
Table sugar doesn't have fiber and will immediately spike your blood sugar, leading to a crash later. But dates, which have sugar AND fiber, will give you that delicious sugary taste with a more controlled elevation of blood sugar and less of a crash. Nature is incredible!
What is date caramel sauce?
Caramel sauce, but made from dates.
Because dates naturally have a sweet caramel flavor, they make the perfect plant-based, fruit sweetened version of caramel sauce.
Why I love this vegan date caramel
- Dietary needs - this caramel is plant-based, oil-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar free
- Not just sugar-free, fruit sweetened - there's no added sugar in this recipe, the caramel is sweetened only with dates
- Healthier version of a classic - if you love caramel as much as I do, this healthy recipe is for you! This vegan date caramel sauce is a healthy, whole food version of caramel
- Great for snacking, drizzling, and homemade candy bars
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Medjool Dates: medjool dates are the softest type of date and easiest to blend. If you want to use a different type of date, soak the dates in hot water for a few minutes to soften them before blending
- Nut Butter: nut butter adds fat to the caramel, which creates a deeper, more rich flavor. I used cashew butter in this version because it has a neutral flavor. You can also use peanut butter like I did in my vegan snickers bars
- Vanilla Extract
- Sea Salt: a pinch of salt helps enhance and balance the sweetness of the dates
- Non-Dairy Milk: a bit of milk is helpful to thin the caramel into more of a sauce for dipping or drizzling. You could use water instead, but I like milk because it makes the caramel more rich.
How to make date caramel
Step 1. Add the dates, nut butter, vanilla, and salt to a food processor. Blend - the mixture will form a ball.
Step 2. Add the non-dairy milk, ¼ cup at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. For dipping, you'll likely need ½ cup of milk and for drizzling you'll need closer to a full 1 cup.
Step 3. Serve as a dip for apples, or use as a drizzle for vegan ice cream. Enjoy!
FAQ & Expert Tips
Use sunflower seed butter or tahini instead of nut butter.
Since this caramel is made with whole foods, it is not shelf stable. Store in the fridge! It will last up to two weeks.
Recipe Prayer
Thank you God for this delicious sweet treat. Thank you for all the wonderful foods we can enjoy. Amen.
More date-forward recipes
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Date Caramel Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Pitted Medjool Dates (about 3 loose cups or 26 dates)
- ⅓ Cup Nut Butter optional
- 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- ½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
- ½-1 Cup Non-Dairy Milk to thin
Instructions
- Add the dates, nut butter, vanilla, and salt to a food processor. Blend - the mixture will form a ball.
- Add the non-dairy milk, ¼ cup at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. For dipping, you'll likely need ½ cup of milk and for drizzling you'll need closer to a full 1 cup.
- Serve as a dip for apples, or use as a drizzle for vegan ice cream. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate.
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