Silky salted vegan Date Caramel Sauce made with only 4-ingredients sweetened naturally with dates for a creamy vanilla sweet dip. This vegan caramel is the perfect fruit dip or top it on cakes, pies, ice cream, and layered into bars!
Try this recipe with Dairy-Free Ganache, Cauliflower Ice Cream, in Chocolate Caramel Bars, and in addition to a Charcuterie Board, next.
Why this date caramel recipe works
Date caramel sauce is an amazing healthy alternative to caramel made with dairy. This is a thick and healthy caramel sauce that is vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, and made without processed sugars by sweetening with medjool dates! Dates are a wonderful sugar substitute loaded with nutrients and minerals, not empty calories. Be sure to check out this post about Medjool Dates to learn more about how amazing the fruit is. It is so much better than using any other form of sugar😊.
This date caramel is also a great dessert addition to add to vegan cheesecakes and ice cream like this Coconut Milk Ice Cream, Cauliflower Ice Cream, Double Chocolate Ice Cream, and topped on these Chocolate Chia Pudding Pie Tarts!
What ingredients you'll need
Four staple items is all you need to make this vegan caramel sauce recipe: dates, canned coconut cream (or coconut milk), vanilla extract, and salt. Make sure to use a good vanilla extract in date caramel which will maximize the flavor of the sauce. I also always like to use pink Himalayan salt as it has trace minerals and nutrients, rather than table salt.
How to make caramel sauce with dates
STEP 1: Soak the dates in water for 1-3 hours. I usually just do one hour but the longer the dates set the softer the fruit gets and lends a smoother date caramel sauce.
STEP 2: Add all of the ingredients to a food processor or high powered blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. FYI- depending on the blender and time the dates are soaked changes the look of date sauce to show visible pieces of dates or a one-color consistency. Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
Recipe FAQs
Medjool dates have a beautiful caramel-like taste and a chewy center in the pulp of the fruit, which makes for delicious Chia Date Bars. Adding vanilla and coconut cream helps maximize the flavor and texture of dates into a thick vegan caramel sauce.
Regular caramel sauce lasts for up to 2 weeks stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Vegan caramel sauce is made with coconut cream which in my experience coconut cream and coconut milk, once opened, have started to spoil around day 7. So this date caramel will last up to 1 week.
If you have more questions on this vegan caramel sauce, let me know and comment in the comments below😘
Recipes to use caramel
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Date Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 dates pits removed and soaked in water for 1-3 hours
- ¾ cup canned coconut cream (can also use coconut milk) shake can to mix before opening
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a blender add the dates, coconut cream, vanilla and salt. Blend for about 1 minute or until smooth.
Notes
- Make sure to pre-soak the dates for about 1 hour to soften them so they blend smooth.
- Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
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