Date Caramel

Posted: | Categories: Recipes | Tags:date caramel dessert vegan
Date Caramel

Date Caramel

Melissa Ben-Ishay

Category

Sweet Recipes

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!


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!)

Date Caramel

Ingredients

  • 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

Directions

  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 high-powered 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.

Variations

Snickerdoodle, chocolate, tahini, and coconut date caramels are so good. Let me know which is your favorite. 

Chocolate Date Caramel

  • 1 cup date caramel

  • 3 tablespoons cocoa powder

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla paste

Stir the cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla into the date caramel.

Snickerdoodle Date Caramel

  • 1 cup date caramel

  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla paste

Stir the cinnamon, salt, and vanilla into the date caramel.

Tahini Date Caramel

Stir the tahini, salt, and vanilla into the date caramel. If you need to adjust the consistency after the tahini is added, add water a tablespoon at a time.

Coconut Date Caramel

  • 1 cup date caramel

  • ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla paste

Stir the coconut, salt, and vanilla paste into the date caramel.

With all flavors, let the date caramel cool before placing it in a jar and refrigerating. Enjoy immediately or save and use in one of the below recipes. It should stay good stored in the fridge for up to a week.

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!)

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 stirred into coffee. Here are a few of my favorite recipes to use it: 

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

Back to blog

LATEST RECIPES

View all
1 4
View all