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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Published: Feb 16, 2018 · Modified: Feb 4, 2021 by Melanie McDonald · This post contains affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 42 Comments

    Date Caramel

    GO TO RECIPE GO TO VIDEO PRINT RECIPE
    5 from 20 votes
    Thick, luscious, creamy & sweet Date Caramel. No cooking is involved & it can be ready in minutes. It's refined sugar & gluten-free & you can customize the thickness to make it as thick & spreadable or as thin and sauce-like as you want! 

    Thick, luscious, creamy & sweet Date Caramel. No cooking is involved & it can be ready in minutes. It's refined sugar & gluten-free & you can customize the thickness to make it as thick & spreadable or as thin and sauce-like as you want! 

    Date Caramel drizzling from a spoon into a jar

    Healthy caramel? Really? Who would have thought you could make caramel from dates? Well, you can.

    This Date Caramel is so rich, thick and luscious and it's made from only four ingredients (plus salt). You could technically make it with just one ingredient (that would be dates), but I like to add a little extra richness to it in the form of some nut butter, coconut milk and vanilla. Salt is also kind of important. You wouldn't think it, but it makes such a difference.

    Jump to:
    • How do you make date caramel?
    • What equipment do I need to make this?
    • How to use date caramel
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Comments

    How do you make date caramel?

    Making Date Caramel is incredibly easy. Here's how:

    Step 1 - Add dates plus the nut/seed butter, vanilla and salt to a food processor or high powered blender.

    Step 2 - Blend whilst adding coconut milk gradually until you get the texture you want. It's totally customizable and you can adjust it to suit whatever you plan to do with it.

    That's it!

    It's so simple and it tastes way better than you would imagine Date Caramel would taste. It is so good!

    Date Caramel in a glass jar

    What equipment do I need to make this?

    To make this date caramel you ideally need a high-powered blender but a good food processor should be ok too. I use my Blendtec.  

    If you have  a less powerful blender or food processor that might struggle a bit, you can soak the dates in warm water for ten minutes prior to blending everything. That will make it much easier for your appliance and give you smooth results.

    How to use date caramel

    Try it in my Healthy Caramel Cookie Cups:

    Healthier Chocolate Caramel Cookie Cups nestled in a man's hands

    Or my Healthy Caramel Chia Seed Puddings:

    three small jars of chia seed pudding topped with caramel, chopped dried banana and cacao nibs

    Or in my Vegan Caramel Eggs:

    A vegan caramel egg split in two with oozy insides showing

    Or in any other way you would regular caramel like:

    • On pancakes or waffles
    • Drizzled over oatmeal
    • On toast
    • With ice-cream
    • Use as a dip for fruit like apple slices, banana or strawberries
    • Over cakes
    • Swirled into brownies
    • Swirled through my Dessert Chocolate Hummus - Remember Rolos? That's what it tastes like!
    • Spread in a banana sandwich - Don't knock it 'til you've tried it!
    Dat Caramel with spoon in a glass jar

    This caramel is:

    • really quick and easy to make
    • healthy
    • refined sugar & gluten-free
    • versatile
    • naturally sweet
    • incredibly smooth, creamy and rich

    But if you aren't a fan of dates then why not give this 5 Minute Vegan Caramel Sauce a try instead? It's rich and decadent but not quite as healthy!

    📖 Recipe

    Date Caramel drizzling from a spoon into a jar

    Date Caramel

    Author: Melanie McDonald
    5 from 20 votes
    Thick, luscious, creamy & sweet Date Caramel. No cooking is involved & it can be ready in minutes. It's refined sugar & gluten-free & you can customize the thickness to make it as thick & spreadable or as thin and sauce-like as you want! 
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    PREP TIME: 10 minutes
    TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes
    Servings: 1 cup (approx)

    Ingredients
      

    • 175g / 1 packed cup Medjool dates , measured after pitting (about 10 dates). *
    • 2 tablespoons nut butter, sunflower seed butter or tahini **
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt , plus more to taste if you want a salted caramel effect
    • around 8 tablespoons canned coconut milk , or as much/little as you need to get the thickness you want ***

    RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

    • Blendtec Blender
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Add the dates, nut/seed butter, vanilla and salt to a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth, while gradually adding the coconut milk to get it to the thickness you want. The more you add the thinner the caramel will become. 
    • Scrape the caramel from the bowl and into a jar. 

    NOTES

    *The dates need to be soft and sticky and not really dry and tough. If they are are pretty dried out, soak them in warm water for 10 - 15 minutes before draining and using. if you do not have a high powered blender I would recommend doing this even if your dates are quite soft as it will make things easier for your blender. 
    **Cashew, sunflower seed butter or almond butter will give mild, buttery results. Tahini (my favourite for this) will make a stronger flavoured caramel. Whilst you can use peanut butter I don't think it works as well as the others in this recipe. 
    ***I used light coconut milk. Full fat coconut milk will make a slightly richer caramel but will set up firmer if the caramel is stored in the fridge. 
    Can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for around 7 days. 
    ________________________________________________________
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
    If you did, be a ☆ and let me know what you think by rating it and commenting below. Tag me on Instagram too. I am @avirtualvegan and my hashtag is #avirtualvegan 
    ________________________________________________________

    NUTRITION

    Serving: 34g (about 1/8 of the entire recipeCalories: 116kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 1.2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 83mgFiber: 3gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 50IUCalcium: 40mgIron: 0.7mg

    Nutritional information is provided for convenience & as a courtesy. The data is a computer generated estimate so should be used as a guide only.

    Tried this recipe?Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @avirtualvegan on Instagram and hashtag it #avirtualvegan
    « Vegan English Pancakes
    Healthy Caramel Chia Seed Pudding »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Arlene says

      January 30, 2022 at 1:44 pm

      Why is salt important? I am on a low sodium diet.

      Reply
      • Melanie McDonald says

        January 31, 2022 at 10:18 am

        Salt enhances flavour

        Reply
    2. Patty says

      May 26, 2021 at 6:11 pm

      5 stars
      The best date caramel!! Delicious!!

      Reply
    3. Eric says

      December 09, 2020 at 7:46 pm

      5 stars
      Looove this recipe for all kinds of uses !! Healthier cups #1 of course but a close #2 is to dip apples in but I put it on ice cream, in cookies and a bunch of other stuff

      Reply
      • A Virtual Vegan says

        December 09, 2020 at 7:58 pm

        I'm really pleased you're enjoying it Eric, and thanks so much for leaving a review. It's much appreciated!

        Reply
    4. Shucheeta says

      June 13, 2020 at 11:27 pm

      How long can i store this sauce in the refrigerator ?

      Reply
      • A Virtual Vegan says

        June 15, 2020 at 12:36 pm

        It keeps for about 2 weeks. It also freezes well.

        Reply
    5. Vanessa M. says

      April 18, 2020 at 9:41 am

      5 stars
      OMGosh.
      SO. GOOD.
      As soon as I read tahini was an ingredient option, my mouth started to water because I was thinking of hakva.
      I only keep deglet noors on hand, because of lower calorie content, but it never leaves me sad about flavor differences when blending.
      Absolutely delicious. I'm book marking this as a keeper. Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • A Virtual Vegan says

        April 18, 2020 at 9:53 am

        So pleased you enjoyed it Vanessa!

        Reply
    6. Miche says

      August 26, 2019 at 5:34 pm

      Is the coconut milk used from a can or is it the drinkable milk (like almond milk)?

      Reply
      • Melanie McDonald says

        August 27, 2019 at 10:02 am

        Either will work but canned makes it richer and creamier so I recommend using it if you can.

        Reply
    7. Linda says

      March 10, 2019 at 2:10 pm

      5 stars
      This is so good! Thanks for this sweet nutty salted caramel. Just made it. Great and so easy to make.

      Reply
      • A Virtual Vegan says

        March 11, 2019 at 10:26 am

        I'm so pleased you enjoyed it Linda!

        Reply
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