Easy date caramel recipe with just 4 ingredients. Made without sugar, it's also nut-free and gluten-free. The perfect healthier caramel sauce alternative.
Place all of the dates in a medium bowl and cover with boiling water. Allow them to soak for 30 minutes.
Once the water is cool enough, remove the pits and place the dates into a high-speed blender. You can also use a food processor.
Add the non-dairy milk, sea salt, and vanilla and blend until smooth and creamy. Every minute or so, turn off the blender and scrape down the sides of the jug using a spatula. It can take up to 10 minutes to get the perfect consistency depending on the quality of your blender.
Storage and serving
Once completely smooth, transfer the date caramel to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
You can freeze it for up to a couple of months in an airtight container or in an ice cube tray for individual servings. Defrost it in the fridge overnight and give it a good whisk before serving.
Serve as a healthy caramel dip for apples or cookies, use it in vegan desserts, or as a refined sugar-free sweetener for porridge, smoothies, shakes, or pancakes.
Notes
Use good quality dates. They're the main ingredient and flavor of the date caramel sauce and the taste really will shine through. Make sure you use plump and juicy dates, rather than dried dates for the best caramel flavor and texture.
Store dates in the fridge, not at room temperature. Although dates are usually sold from the ambient section of the supermarket, they actually hold their freshness much better in the fridge.