This syrupy-sweet date caramel is a delicious refined-sugar free spread made using dried pitted dates. Use this as a natural sweetener or spread on toast, stirred through porridge or in desserts. Vegan and gluten-free.
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Why You’ll Love This Date Caramel Recipe
- Naturally Sweet and Healthy: Made from dried pitted dates, this caramel offers a rich, syrupy sweetness without refined sugars. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and has 35 calories per serving.
- Quick and Easy: With only 10 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of soaking, you can whip up this delicious spread in just 30 minutes.
- Affordable and Versatile: Using regular dried dates instead of the pricier Medjool variety, this recipe is budget-friendly while still delivering great taste. Perfect for adding to porridge, spreading on toast, or using in desserts. Store it in the refrigerator for up to a week, making it a handy addition to your meal prep.
Ingredients
You only need to buy one ingredient to make this delicious date caramel: dates! You’ll also need some water and a pinch of salt (optional).
Instructions
Here’s how to make this easy date caramel:
Step one: Place the dried pitted dates in a medium-sized bowl and cover them with boiling water. Let them soak to soften.
Step two: Drain the dates, saving the soaking water. Transfer the dates to a food processor or blender.
Step three: Add a tablespoon of the reserved water and blend until smooth. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides occasionally, adding a little more water as needed to achieve a thick, smooth consistency.
Step four: Transfer the date caramel to a sealed jar and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to a week.
How to Use Date Caramel and Serving Suggestions
Here are some creative ways to enjoy your batch of date caramel:
- Make my viral Date Caramel Oats with a chocolate smash top. The most delicious way to start the day – we love a breakfast that tastes like dessert 🙂
- You can also try my Date Caramel Chocolates. These little bites are chewy, gooey, chocolate-covered goodness with no refined sugar.
- Spread on Toast: Use date caramel as a natural sweetener on toast. Pair it with nut butter for a satisfying and healthy breakfast or snack.
- Stirred into Porridge: Add a spoonful of date caramel to your morning porridge or oatmeal for an extra touch of sweetness and flavor.
- Dessert Topping: Drizzle date caramel over desserts like ice cream, pancakes, or waffles. It adds a rich, sweet flavor without refined sugar.
- Smoothies: Blend a spoonful of date caramel into your smoothies for a natural sweetener and a hint of caramel flavor.
- Baking: Use date caramel as a filling for cookies, cakes, or pastries. It can also be swirled into brownie or muffin batter before baking.
- Dipping Sauce: Serve it as a dip for fruit slices, such as apples or bananas, for a healthy and delicious snack.
Storage Instructions
To keep your date caramel fresh and delicious, follow these storage tips:
- Refrigerate: Store the date caramel in a sealed jar or airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to one week.
- Avoid Contamination: Always use a clean spoon or utensil to scoop out the date caramel to prevent any contamination and extend its shelf life.
I hope you love making yourself a batch of Date Caramel! Let me know what you think in the comments below, or feel free to tag me on Instagram @glowdiaries___ and I will reshare your pics to my stories.
Date Caramel
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 1⅔ cups dried pitted dates approx. 250g
- 2 cups boiling water reserve soaking water for blending or oats
- ⅛ tsp salt a pinch; optional
Instructions
- Place dates in a medium heatproof bowl and pour boiling water over the top. Let soak for 20 minutes to soften.
- Drain the dates, reserving the soaking water.
- Add the softened dates to a small food processor or high-speed blender. Start with 1 tablespoon of the reserved soaking water and blend until smooth.
- Stop and scrape down the sides as needed, adding a little more water only if necessary. You want a thick, smooth caramel—use as little water as possible for a rich texture.
- Transfer to a sealed jar and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
- Serve on toast with nut butter, swirl into oatmeal, or use in desserts.
Video
Notes
Reserve the leftover soaked water to make Date Caramel overnight oats.
Tine says
this date caramel is seriously so good!! it’s naturally sweet and i keep thinking of new ways to use it