If you’re looking for a healthy and delicious alternative to traditional caramel sauce, look no further than this easy and delicious date caramel recipe. It’s made with just 3 simple ingredients and a high-speed blender or a food processor—so simple!
This sweet and creamy caramel is perfect for topping your favorite snacks and desserts. Whether you drizzle it over ice cream, dip fruit slices into it, use it in baked goods, or make my amazing vegan snickers, this date caramel is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth in a wholesome way. This is one of my favorite ways to make dessert healthier and skip the refined sugars!
Plus, this vegan date caramel sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, making it a convenient and versatile treat to have on hand. You are going to love this homemade, guilt-free date caramel!
What is Date Caramel?
Date caramel is a healthier alternative to traditional caramel sauce, made with just three wholesome ingredients: dates, vanilla extract and water or coconut cream. It’s absolutely delicious and can be used a bunch of different ways.
This natural sweetener is a great option for those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth without using refined sugars. Date caramel can be used as a topping or dip for a variety of snacks and desserts, offering a delicious and nutritious way to enjoy a caramel-like treat.
How to Make Date Caramel
Ingredients for Date Caramel
Dates
Dates are high in fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, copper, vitamin K, and magnesium, making them a nutrient-rich fruit that tastes absolutely delicious. They are very sweet, and sometimes it’s hard to believe this came straight from nature! Overall, they are such an amazing nutritious food to keep you healthy.
You’ll want to make sure your dates are nice and soft, so either buy them fresh so they’re still soft and pliable, or pour hot water over them and let them soak for 15-20 minutes until they soften up.
My go to dates are medjool dates—in my opinion these sweet dates create the perfect flavor and texture.
Because dates are so sweet on their own, there’s no need to add any sugar or coconut sugar to this mix.
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract adds a delicious and aromatic flavor to the date caramel. It adds that warm and sweet flavor that you expect from caramel, which complements the natural caramel flavor of the dates, creating a rich and decadent treat that’s refined sugar free.
Coconut Cream (or Water)
Coconut cream is a rich source of healthy fats, particularly medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which can boost metabolism and promote weight loss. It also contains vitamins C and E, as well as antioxidants, which help promote skin health and overall well-being.
Coconut cream adds a rich and velvety texture to date caramel, enhancing its sweetness and depth of flavor. If you can’t find coconut cream, you can use a can of full fat coconut milk and use the hardened thicker top and discard the water.
That being said, I almost always make it with water. Part of that is because I don’t always have coconut cream on hand, and the other reason is that it is so thick and creamy even without the cream and lower in fat and calories too.
You could also use another non-dairy milk if you don’t like or are allergic to coconut. Try oat milk, cashew milk, macadamia nut milk or almond milk! Or, just make it simple and use water!
Salt, optional
This is not necessary at all, but if you love the flavor of salted caramel, feel free to add a pinch of salt like flaky sea salt or Himalayan salt to your caramel.
Equipment You’ll Need
To ensure your date caramel is smooth, creamy, and chunk-free, use a high-speed blender or a food processor. I can’t stress this enough! This will ensure that the caramel is silky and luscious, perfect for dipping or drizzling on desserts. Other blenders always leave little pieces and chunks from my experience.
My go-to blender is a Vitamix. It’s an investment for sure, but they have reconditioned options (that’s what I bought), and it is easily my most-used appliance in the kitchen and the only one we use every single day.
Date Caramel Recipe
Equipment
- high-speed blender or
- food processor
Ingredients
- 16 oz. medjool dates soft & pitted
- 1.5 cups water or coconut cream, you may need less if making in a food processor
- 2 tsp 100% pure vanilla extract not imitation
Instructions
- Add medjool dates, liquid of choice (I use water) and 2 tsp vanilla extract to your high speed blender or food processor.
- Start at the lowest settings or with a few pulses to break things up and work your way up as the pieces get smaller and smaller. Then turn to high for a minute or two until your date caramel it is well blended and completely smooth. You may have to stop every so often and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula.
- Using a rubber spatula, scoop into an airtight container and store in the fridge or use immediately.
- *If your sauce is too watery, add a few extra dates to thicken it up. If it's too thick, add more liquid.
Ways to Use This Date Caramel
Date caramel can be used as a topping for ice cream, yogurt, or oatmeal. It can also be used in baking recipes like cookies, brownies, or even drizzled over pancakes or waffles and swirled into homemade popsicles. You can use it as a dip for fruit too—so good on apple slices!
Use as a sweetener in smoothies or milkshakes too.
The recipe I use it in the most is my vegan snickers that are made with amazing ingredients and no have no refined sugar. The natural sweetness and rich flavor of date caramel make it a versatile and healthier alternative to traditional caramel sauce in various sweet treats.
Date Caramel FAQs
I don’t have a high speed blender, will a regular blender work?
You can definitely try it, but from my experience, a high-speed blender or processor is a necessity here to get the perfect consistency. I was never able to get my caramel fully smooth and would always end up with bits of dates before using a high-speed blender.
How long will date caramel stay good?
Date caramel will stay good in the fridge for about a month, but chances are it won’t last that long!
Can I freeze leftover date caramel?
Yes, you can freeze your leftover date caramel and thaw in the fridge before you’re ready to use it. It should last 3 months in the freezer when stored in an airtight container.
Does this vegan caramel taste like regular caramel?
This does not taste EXACTLY like regular caramel, but I was blown away by how close it was and how much I love it. It’s the perfect sauce or ingredient for vegan desserts and even non-vegans, myself included, adore it!
I hope you enjoy this healthy treat in whatever yummy recipe you use it in! It’s one you’ll love—I promise!
BTW, creamy vegan cilantro jalapeno dressing, and healthy protein balls with oatmeal and peanut butter.
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