date caramel

Your newest pantry staple for naturally sweet treats.

Date Caramel Recipe

One morning, I was inspired to try making date caramel again. I’ve tried to make it many times, and it just never turned out quite the way I wanted it to. This time, though, it came together just as I imagined it—sweet from the dates, a smooth, caramel-like texture, and a subtle salty bite. I’ve been using it non-stop in baked goods and energy balls ever since, and I don’t think I’ll ever turn back. Scroll down to find those recipes and more!

How long will date caramel stay good?

If you store your date caramel in an airtight container (like a jar) in the fridge, it will last at least a week. (Trust me—it never really lasts that long!)

Ingredients for Date Caramel

  • 15 dates, pitted 
  • ½ cup full-fat coconut milk (use the solid part on top), plus more as needed
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla paste or extract
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt

How to Make Date Caramel

  1. Add the dates to a small bowl and cover with boiling water for 15 minutes to soften. 
  2. Using tongs or a spoon (or your hands if the dates are cool enough), transfer the waterlogged dates to a blender with the coconut milk. They don't need to be totally drained, but too much water will result in a thinner consistency than you want. Blend until smooth, adding more coconut milk if needed, and pour into a jar.
  3. Stir in the vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. 
  4. Cool completely, then cover and refrigerate.

What You'll Need

How to Use Date Caramel 

One of the most common questions I get is, “Once I’ve made date caramel, how do I use it!?” Date caramel is a great alternative sweetener for many baked goods, eating on warm toast with cottage cheese, or stirring into coffee. Here are a few of my favorite recipes to use it in: 

Date caramel can also be used as a 1:1 substitute for maple syrup in these recipes:

Have you discovered another delicious way to use date caramel? I want to know! Email [email protected] and don't forget to tag @bakedbymelissa on Instagram with pictures of what you make.