Date Caramel

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: date caramel

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Servings:

Calories: 73kcal

Author: Megan Gilmore

Date Caramel is a delicious dip made without dairy or refined sugar. It can be whipped up in just minutes for a healthy snack!

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US Customary - Metric

Equipment

Vitamix

Ingredients

1 cup Medjool dates (approx. 10 to 12 dates)
¾ cup milk of choice
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

Instructions

Remove the pits from the dates, then place them in a heat-safe bowl. Cover them with boiling water and let them soak for 10 minutes. This will help them soften for blending. (Even if you're using a powerful blender; it helps!)
Drain away the soaking water, then add the dates to a high-speed blender along with the milk, vanilla, and salt. Secure the lid and blend until the dates are totally broken down, about 1 minute. Stop and scrape down the sides of the machine, as needed.
Taste the date caramel and adjust any flavoring, as needed. For a sweeter caramel, add a tablespoon of maple syrup, and for a richer flavor (that hides the date flavor) add a tablespoon of peanut butter and blend again. You can taste and adjust as you go.
This caramel dip can be served right away with sliced apples or crunchy pretzels. Or transfer it to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. It will thicken slightly when chilled.

Notes

Nutrition information is for roughly 1/4 cup of caramel dip. This information is automatically calculated and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.

For a sweeter caramel: Add maple syrup, starting with 1 tablespoon at a time, until this dip reaches your desired sweetness.

For a richer caramel: Add peanut butter or another nut butter, starting with 1 tablespoon at a time, for a creamier texture and richer flavor. (You can add up to a 1/4 cup.)

Update Note: This recipe has been updated to be simpler! If you prefer the peanut butter & maple syrup version, you can find that here. And if you've been here since 2012, there's an even older version that you might have enjoyed. You can find the older measurements below:

3/4 cup dates
1 to 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil (to help thicken when chilled)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water plus more as needed to blend
1 cup cashews (optional for creaminess; you'll need more water in this case)

Nutrition