Date Caramel Sauce is rich, silky, and made with just 4 ingredients and minimal effort. All you need are pitted dates, dairy-free milk, sea salt, and vanilla. Whip up a batch and serve with quick breads or fruit, or gift it to family and friends.
Forget store-bought caramel with additives and preservatives! Our gut-friendly caramel sauce is refined sugar-free but with classic caramel flavor. You will not believe this caramel sauce is made without added sugar once you have a taste. The dates have a naturally rich caramel flavor that pairs perfectly with your favorite fruit, toast, or dessert.
Looking for other delicious date desserts? Try our Chocolate Covered Dates Recipe -- they taste just like snickers!
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Why You'll Love Date Caramel
- Taste - This date caramel tastes like a light caramel.
- Texture - The sauce can be made thicker or thinner depending on your preference.
- Effort - All you need to do is soak the dates then put them through the food processor with the other ingredients.
- Time - It takes 30 minutes to soak the dates and 5 minutes to blend.
Key Ingredients
- Dates - We use Medjool dates because they have a rich caramel flavor and are widely available.
- Alternative milk of choice - We prefer oat milk or almond milk, but you can use any alternative milk.
- Vanilla bean paste or extract - Vanilla adds a rich complexity to the caramel sauce.
- Sea salt - Add a pinch of sea salt to enhance the sweetness in the caramel.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Nut butter - Add ¼ cup of nut butter of your choice to the blender for a heartier, nuttier caramel. Our favorites are peanut butter and almond butter.
- Cinnamon - Add cinnamon for a warm woodsy accent.
- Chocolate - Use an alternative chocolate milk or cocoa powder to make the caramel chocolatey.
How to Make Date Caramel
- Soften dates - In a mixing bowl, add dates and boiling water. Then cover and allow the dates to soften for 30 minutes or longer if the dates are very dry. (Photo 1)
- Add ingredients to food processor - Drain the dates and transfer to a blender or food processor. Then add half a cup of alternative milk or choice, sea salt, and vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract. (Photo 2)
- Blend ingredients - Pulse until completely smooth. If you prefer a thinner consistency, add more milk and blend. Transfer to an airtight container, refrigerate, and enjoy within 2 weeks. (Photo 3 and 4)
Pro tip - Cut the dates in half and inspect them for mold before adding them to the blender. Sometimes dates can have mold in the centers since they are naturally moist, even when dried.
Equipment
This easy date caramel recipe only requires measuring cups, a mixing bowl, and a food processor.
Recipe FAQs
We prefer Medjool dates because they are sweet and blend easily to make the perfect texture.
Yes, but it might take a little longer and you may need to stop blending intermittently to scrape the sides.
You don't have to soak the dates, but the caramel won't be as smooth and creamy.
Yes, this caramel sauce has a date base and minimal additives. Dates are a good source of fiber and antioxidants.
Top Tips
- Consistency - Start with a half cup of your favorite alternative milk, then add as you go to adjust the desired consistency.
- Gifting - Transfer the date caramel to these cute jars (LINK TO WECK JARS) and accompany with a loaf of our homemade olive oil zucchini bread for a gift for friends, family, and neighbors.
Related Recipes
Did You Like This Recipe?
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Vegan Date Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz pitted medjool dates (about 15-18 dates)
- 2 cups boiling water
- ½-1 cup alternative milk of choice
- ½ teaspoon sea salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
Instructions
- Soften dates - In a mixing bowl, add dates and boiling water. Cover and allow the dates to soften for 30 minutes or longer if the dates are very dry.
- Mix ingredients - Drain the dates and transfer to a blender or food processor. Add half a cup of alternative milk or choice, sea salt, and vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract. Pulse until completely smooth. If you prefer a thinner consistency, add more milk and blend. Transfer to an airtight container, refrigerate, and enjoy within 2 weeks.
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