These Heart-Shaped Chocolate Date Caramels are the perfect Valentine’s Day treat! Made with medjool dates, they’re rich, gooey, sweet, and salty. A healthier homemade vegan caramel everyone will love!

Close-up of a chocolate date caramel with a bite taken out showing it's gooey texture inside

Love is in the air, and with Valentine’s Day around the corner, I can’t stop turning everything into heart shapes, like these chocolate caramels (same recipe as my chocolate date caramels, just shaped as hearts) and these heart-shaped stuffed dates.

Chocolate caramels are one of my guilty pleasures. That gooey, sweet-and-salty caramel paired with rich chocolate? Irresistible! But these caramels are anything but guilty.

Medjool dates provide that gooey texture and natural sweetness similar to real caramel. Like…look at that gooey center!

Why You’ll Love These Date Caramels

  • A better-for-you chocolate caramel that tastes just like the classic version (if not better!)
  • Made with only 5 ingredients
  • So easy to make – just mix, freeze, cut into hearts, and dip in chocolate.
  • Sweet + salty combo = pure bliss
  • Perfect for Valentine’s Day gifting
— Megan
Healthy homemade chocolate caramels shaped like hearts and drizzled with chocolate, perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Ingredients Needed

Scroll down to the recipe card to get the full recipe with measurements!

  • Medjool Dates: The star of the show! Medjool dates provide that gooey texture and natural sweetness similar to real caramel.
  • Almond Butter: The nuttiness from the almond butter adds the perfect flavor to the caramel. I use natural almond butter with almonds as the only ingredient. Feel free to swap for another nut or seed butter. Peanut butter or hazelnut butter would be delicious!
  • Non-Dairy Milk: Helps create a creamy caramel.
  • Vanilla Extract: For flavor.
  • Salt: Just a pinch to bring out all the flavors.
  • Dark Chocolate: Use your favorite dairy-free chocolate bar or vegan chocolate chips.
Close-up of a chocolate date caramel with a bite taken out showing it's gooey texture inside

How to Make Heart-Shaped Chocolate Date Caramels

  1. Make the date caramel: In a food processor, combine the pitted medjool dates, almond butter, non-dairy milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Process until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
  2. Freeze: Transfer the mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper. Place another sheet on top and press down with your hands or a rolling pin to form an even square, about ½ inch thick. Freeze for at least 2 hours or until firm.
  3. Cut into hearts: Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  4. Melt the chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. If needed, add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil to thin it out for easier dipping.
  5. Dip in chocolate: Coat each heart in melted chocolate, then place it back on the baking sheet. Drizzle with more melted chocolate and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Place in the fridge until the chocolate sets. Then, dig in and enjoy!

Megan’s Tips

  • Use fresh medjool dates. This is a game-changer! Fresh medjool dates are naturally sweet, make stuffing easier, and give the best chewy texture.
  • Choose a high-quality chocolate. This is one of those recipes where the chocolate really matters! I opt for dark chocolate chips or a high-quality chocolate bar.
  • Chocolate too thick? Add one teaspoon of coconut oil to thin the chocolate for easier dipping.
Heart-shaped chocolate date caramels dipped in rich chocolate and sprinkled with flaky sea salt.

Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or just a regular day that could use a little extra love, these chocolate caramels make the perfect treat. Sending you all so much love!

love is in the air More Valentine’s Day Recipes

close-up of heart-shaped Medjool dates stuffed with peanut butter and coated in dark chocolate - a healthy valentine's day dessert!

Chocolate Date Hearts
Close-up of a chocolate avocado truffle with a bite taken out, revealing its creamy interior, coated in crushed pistachios.

Chocolate Avocado Truffles
vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip skillet cookie dessert served straight from the skillet with vanilla ice cream on top

The Best Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Inside view of ferrero rocher stuffed date showing creamy hazelnut butter and a whole hazelnut

Ferrero Rocher Stuffed Dates

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ★★★★★ star rating below. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations!

Healthy homemade chocolate caramels shaped like hearts and drizzled with chocolate, perfect for Valentine’s Day.
5 from 2 ratings

Heart-Shaped Chocolate Date Caramels

Megan Murphy
Yield: 22 caramels
Prep: 10 minutes
Freeze Time: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
These Heart-Shaped Chocolate Date Caramels are the perfect Valentine's Day treat! Made with medjool dates, they’re rich, gooey, sweet, and salty. A healthier homemade vegan caramel everyone will love!
Print Leave a Review Pin Recipe

Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

  • Remove the pits from your dates. If your dates are hard and dried, soak them in hot water for 10-15 minutes to soften, then drain and pat dry before using.
  • In a food processor, add the pitted medjool dates, almond butter, non-dairy milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Process until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
  • Transfer the caramel mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper. Place another sheet on top and press down with your hands or a rolling pin to form an even square, about ½ inch thick. Freeze for at least 2 hours or until firm.
  • Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. If needed, add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil to thin it out for easier dipping.
  • Coat each heart in melted chocolate, then place it back on the baking sheet. Drizzle with more melted chocolate and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Place in the fridge until the chocolate sets. Then, dig in and enjoy!

Equipment

food processor
food processor
medjool dates
vegan chocolate chips
vegan chocolate chips

Notes

  • Use fresh medjool dates. This is a game-changer! Fresh medjool dates are naturally sweet, make stuffing easier, and give the best chewy texture.
  • Choose a high-quality chocolate. This is one of those recipes where the chocolate really matters! I opt for dark chocolate chips or a high-quality chocolate bar.
  • Chocolate too thick? Add one teaspoon of coconut oil to thin the chocolate for easier dipping.
Serving: 1caramel, Calories: 91kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 108mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 20IU, Calcium: 27mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @booboosbakeryy with hashtag #booboosbakery on Instagram. We love to see what you make!