Chocolate Date Caramels (5 ingredients)
These gooey Chocolate Date Caramels are smooth, creamy and taste like your favorite caramels but are much healthier being made with just 5 simple ingredients!
Chocolate and caramel is a match made in heaven. I’ve always loved chocolate caramels – there’s something about the sweetness and subtle saltiness of the caramel mending with the richness of the chocolate. My mouth is watering just thinking about it LOL. But sometimes caramel can be too sticky and hard to eat – anyone else ever experience that? Not to mention, caramel is essentially pure sugar. Considering my love for dates and how similar their texture is to caramel, I thought why not use dates to mimic caramel? So, that’s exactly what I did. And let me tell you, these are addicting!!
Instead of using sugar like traditional caramel, this recipe uses dates! Not only is it easier, it’s also much healthier. Dates are a super fruit containing so many health benefits.
These date caramels are vegan, gluten-free and obviously refined sugar-free – with all the sweetness coming from the dates. The caramel enclosed in the chocolate shell is sweet, smooth and doesn’t stick to your teeth!
Why Dates?
Dates are a super fruit! They’re a great source of nutrients and vitamins such as potassium, magnesium, vitamins B6 and K, calcium and iron, which contribute to various health benefits. They also provide a natural energy boost and are low on the glycemic index so your blood sugar won’t spike when eating them.
My favorite dates to buy are Joolies Dates. They’re fresh, organic and perfectly sweet! It’s hard to find fresh dates – most of the ones in the superstores are already dried out. You can shop Joolies Dates with my discount code: booboo.
Why You’ll Love These Chocolate Date Caramels
- Healthy ingredients – this recipe is made with just 5 wholesome ingredients to provide a healthier alternative that tastes just like a chocolate caramel!
- Easy to make – just mix everything together in a food processor, freeze, cut into squares and then dip in chocolate. Store these delicious bites in the fridge (or freezer for longer) for whenever that craving strikes.
- Incredibly delicious – a sweet, smooth caramel covered in rich chocolate. Is there anything better?
Ingredients Needed
- Medjool Dates – I use Joolies Dates (shop with my discount code: BOOBOO for money off). It’s important to use medjool dates as opposed to other types of dates since medjool dates are super sweet.
- Almond Butter – the nuttiness from the almonds adds the perfect flavor to the caramel. I use natural almond butter with almonds as the only ingredient. If you’re allergic to almonds, you can swap for another nut or seed butter.
- Non-Dairy Milk – to create a creamy caramel.
- Vanilla Extract – for flavor.
- Dark Chocolate – I use Hu Chocolate Chips (shop with my discount code BOOBOO for money off). Feel free to use your favorite chocolate chips, chunks or bar.
- Coconut Oil (optional) – just a little to help thin the chocolate so it’s easier to dip. Make sure to use refined coconut oil so it doesn’t have coconut flavor.
How To Make Chocolate Date Caramels
These no bake date caramels couldn’t be easier to make. Simply mix everything together in a food processor, freeze, cut into squares and then dip in chocolate. Alternatively, you can roll them into balls and freeze. Different shape, but same great flavor!
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of dates should I use?
Medjool dates, as they are the sweetest variety of dates and have a natural caramel flavor and consistency. My favorite dates to buy are Joolies Dates. They’re fresh, organic and perfectly sweet. If your dates are dried (not fresh), soak them in hot water for 5 minutes to rehydrate them.
Can I substitute the almond butter?
Yes, but I find that almond butter works best in this recipe at creating that “caramel” flavor. But feel free to use another nut/seed butter such as sunflower seed butter, peanut butter, cashew butter, etc.
More Recipes Using Dates
All vegan, gluten free and refined sugar free.
- Snickers Stuffed Dates
- Peanut Butter Date Energy Balls
- No Bake Chocolate Turtle Cookies
- No Bake Vegan Snickers Cups
- Banana Bread Oatmeal Cookies
- Samoas Date Bark
- Easy Chocolate Date Bark
Chocolate Date Caramels
Ingredients
- 12 medjool dates, pitted
- 3 tablespoons almond butter
- 2 teaspoons non-dairy milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup vegan chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil, refined (optional)
Instructions
- If your dates still have the pit in them, cut a slice down the middle of each date and remove the pit.
- Add the pitted dates, almond butter, non-dairy milk, and vanilla extract to a food processor and process until a ball forms.
- Place the mixture on a piece of parchment paper and top with another sheet of parchment paper, using your hand or a spatula to press on top of the paper and make an even square. Use a knife (wet with water if sticking) to help shape it into a square if needed. It should be about a 1/2 inch thick.OR, you can roll them into balls and freeze.
- Freeze for 30 minutes.
- Cut into small even squares. Place back into the freezer until ready to coat in chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil together in the microwave.
- Dip each square into the melted chocolate until coated on all sides. Place back onto the parchment paper. Optional: top with flaky sea salt.
- Wait for the chocolate to harden and then dig in!
Equipment
Notes
- Almond butter – I use all natural almond butter (the only ingredient is almonds).
- Medjool dates – I use Joolie’s dates. They are great quality, fresh and organic. Shop with my discount code: booboo to save money.
- Vegan chocolate chips – I use Hu chocolate chips since they’re vegan and refined sugar free. Shop with my discount code: booboo to save money.
Thank you !!!
In love!!!! I just have a question, how many calories In each piece ??
Aw yay! You can copy and paste the ingredients into a recipe nutrition calculator on Google and it will tell you 🙂 just note that the recipe makes about 20 caramel pieces.