Heart-Shaped Chocolate Date Caramels
These Heart-Shaped Chocolate Date Caramels are the perfect no-bake Valentine’s Day treat! Made with only 5 ingredients, they’re vegan, gooey, sweet, and salty with a rich chocolate coating. A healthier homemade caramel everyone will love!
Love is in the air, and with Valentine’s Day around the corner, I can’t stop turning everything into heart shapes—from these heart-shaped stuffed dates to cutting heart-shaped strawberries and putting them in my morning oatmeal!
Chocolate caramels are my guilty pleasure. That gooey, sweet-and-salty caramel paired with rich chocolate? Irresistible! But these Heart-Shaped Chocolate Date Caramels are anything but guilty—they’re made with just 5 wholesome ingredients for a healthier twist on classic caramels.
Like…look at that gooey center! Omg!!
P.S. this recipe is the same as my Chocolate Date Caramels but simply cut into heart shapes!
Let me tell you…these no-bake vegan chocolate caramels will blow your mind! Medjool dates provide that gooey texture and natural sweetness similar to real caramel.
This easy recipe is vegan, gluten-free, no-bake, and refined sugar-free – with all the sweetness coming from the dates (and chocolate).
Why You’ll Love These Heart-Shaped Chocolate Date Caramels
- Perfect for Valentine’s Day: A homemade treat that’s much healthier than store-bought chocolates! Gift a box to your loved ones – they’ll love it!
- Only 5 Ingredients: A better-for-you chocolate caramel that tastes just like the classic version (if not better!).
- Easy to Make: Mix everything together in a food processor, freeze, cut into hearts, and dip in chocolate.
- SO Delicious: Smooth, sweet, and salty caramel wrapped in rich, dark chocolate… seriously SO good!
Ingredients Needed
Scroll down to the recipe card to get the full recipe with measurements.
- Medjool Dates: The star of the show! When sliced and gently pulled apart, they naturally form a heart shape. Medjool dates are rich in fiber and antioxidants, plus they’re naturally sweet with a delicious caramel-like flavor.
- 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: To create a creamy caramel.
- Vanilla Extract: For flavor depth.
- Salt: Just a pinch to bring out all the flavors.
- Dark Chocolate: Use your favorite chocolate bar or chocolate chips to melt to coat the caramels in. Use dairy-free chocolate to keep this recipe vegan.
- Coconut Oil (optional): just a little to help thin the chocolate so it’s easier to dip. Just make sure to use refined coconut oil so it doesn’t have coconut flavor.
How To Make Heart-Shaped Chocolate Date Caramels
- Process The Caramel Mixture: In a food processor, combine pitted medjool dates, almond butter, non-dairy milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Process until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- 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.
- Cut Into Hearts: Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- 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.
- Dip & Decorate: 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 Top Tips
- Make sure to use fresh medjool dates! Medjool dates are the sweetest variety of dates, providing a rich caramel flavor and a chewy texture. Joolie’s Medjool Dates are my favorite. If you only have dried dates, no worries! Soak them in warm water for 10-15 minutes to soften, then drain and pat dry before using.
- Stir in a teaspoon of coconut oil to help thin the chocolate for easier dipping.
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
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ★★★★★ star rating below letting me know how you liked it! This helps others find my recipes. I appreciate your support, as always. xo, Megan
Heart-Shaped Chocolate Date Caramels
Ingredients
- 12 medjool dates
- 3 tablespoons almond butter
- 2 teaspoons non-dairy milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup vegan chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon refined coconut oil, optional
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!
Notes
- Make sure to use fresh medjool dates! Medjool dates are the sweetest variety of dates, providing a rich caramel flavor and a chewy texture. Joolie’s Medjool Dates are my favorite. If you only have dried dates, no worries! Soak them in warm water for 10-15 minutes to soften, then drain and pat dry before using.
- Stir in a teaspoon of coconut oil to help thin the chocolate for easier dipping.
Hi Megan. I was wondering if instead of rolling out the date mixture and using cookie cutters if this date mixture would work by putting it in a silicon mini muffin mold to make small round coins instead?
Hi Gina, yes that would work just fine! I hope you love them 🙂
Wow! These are amazing! Because I am gluten and Lactose Free I have missed caramels. These are so good! Thank you for sharing!
Aww, I’m so happy you enjoyed these “healthier” caramels! Thanks so much for sharing your kind review, Anne Marie 🙂