Here’s a simple recipe to make date caramel at home with only 2 ingredients. All you need is dates and a plant-milk of choice. You can adjust the flavor and balance of the caramel with an optional splash of vanilla and sprinkle of sea salt. Adjust it to your liking and use it as a sweetener, or as a replacement for a caramel dip or spread.
This recipe was originally posted in 2016 and has been updated with new photography and added details to help you make the best date caramel!
How to Make Homemade Date Caramel:
Here are the steps to make a simple date caramel at home.
- Prepare the Ingredients
If your dates are very dry, soak them in hot water for up to 1 hour to soften. You can skip this step if your dates are soft.
- Blend the Ingredients
Add the Medjool dates, plant-based milk, vanilla, and salt to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth. Add more liquids as needed to get your desired consistency. Enjoy!
Date Caramel FAQ:
Date caramel can be used in many different ways. You can use it as a dip for apples or other fresh fruits for a simple sweet snack. It can also be used in many recipes in place of a sweetener or caramel spread. For example, you can make this caramel Frappuccino, date caramel pecan pie, or make caramel chocolate cups similar to these ones. You can also use it as a sweetener in oatmeal. The possibilities are endless!
I recommend using Medjool dates for the best results. These have a sweet caramel-like flavor and will be easier to blend.
This depends on the dryness of your dates, and the strength of your blender or food processor. If using soft Medjool dates in a good blender or food processor, you don’t need to soak the dates. If your dates are very dry, you might need to soak them for one hour in hot water before blending them into a date caramel.
Yes! Date caramel can be made with another plant-based milk of choice. Oat milk, almond milk and cashew milk would all work. This will slightly change the flavor of the caramel, so make sure to use a plant-based milk that you enjoy. You could also use water, but the caramel will be less creamy as a result.
This recipe creates a thick, but spreadable date caramel. You can easily add more liquid to create a thinner caramel. You could easily turn it into a caramel sauce, which could be drizzled on top of ice cream and drinks, like this caramel Frappuccino.
Store date caramel in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Yes! Date caramel can be stored in the freezer, in an airtight container for up to 3 months. You can let it thaw in the fridge overnight and stir it before using.
Recipes that Use Date Caramel:
- Vegan Caramel Frappuccino
- No-Bake Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies
- Healthy Caramel Peanut Butter Apple Slices
- Easy Date Caramel Pecan Pie
- Caramel & Coconut Latte Overnight Oats
Easy Date Caramel
Ingredients
- 2 cups pitted Medjool dates
- 1 cup low-fat coconut milk, or plant-based milk of choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt, optional
Instructions
- If your dates are very dry, start by soaking them in hot water for up to 1 hour to soften. You can skip this step if your dates are soft.
- Add the dates, coconut milk, salt, and vanilla to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Stop and scrape the sides of the blender or food processor as needed. Add more liquid if needed for a thinner caramel.
Notes
If you make this date caramel, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! And if you try this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!
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