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.
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