If you have a craving for sweets but are suffering from diabetes, you absolutely have to give this date caramel sauce a shot.
Date caramel is sugar free so can be eaten by diabetics. This dairy-free caramel is still creamy and sweet, but it is noticeably lighter and healthier than traditional caramel because it is made using a blend of Medjool dates and maple syrup as the primary natural sweeteners.
Even better, in contrast to traditional caramel sauce, which is made up of calories that do not contribute to one’s health, saturated fat, and refined sugar, the components in this recipe are all plant-based and come from whole foods.
In point of fact, dates contribute to the provision of fiber, antioxidants, and a number of different vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B6, vitamin K, magnesium, potassium, copper, calcium, and iron, amongst others!
After trying a variety of recipes, from the most basic, which consisted of soaking dates in water with a touch of salt, to this version, which mixes dates and maple syrup with creamy coconut milk and a pinch of cinnamon, we have finally achieved the flavor and texture that we are looking for!
This caramel is silky smooth, and opulent, and can be used in a wide variety of applications because of its date-based foundation. Plus, you may adjust the consistency to suit your needs, making it both thick and easy to spread or thin and drizzling.
We particularly enjoy dipping apple slices or crunchy apple chips into this nutritious caramel sauce and spreading it over apple pie, apple cake, and baked apples that have been packed with apple pie filling. Please read on for an overwhelming number of other serving suggestions!
This date caramel recipe is quite probably the simplest caramel sauce you’ll ever make, so give it a try if you’re up for the challenge!
It requires only four simple materials and a few straightforward steps to put together. As a result of the fact that this date caramel is prepared with a few components that are somewhat more wholesome than those used in conventional vegan caramel sauce, it is fantastic for use as a nutritious snack as well as a caramel dipping sauce.
In addition to that, you can add it as a sweetener to your oatmeal, smoothies, or drinks. When creating vegan caramel with dates at home, the finest results come from using Medjool dates.
They are crisp, full, and juicy, and they have a flavor similar to caramel. You could use dried dates instead of fresh ones, but the flavor won’t be as excellent and it will be more difficult for your blender to handle.
You may find Medjool dates in the produce area of supermarkets as well as in specialty shops that cater to Asian consumers. You are free to use any type of milk alternative you like.
If you want to avoid using nuts in your date caramel, some fantastic alternatives are soy milk and oat milk. There is also the option of using cashew milk or almond milk, provided that you don’t mind the recipe calling for almonds.
The addition of vanilla extract to the recipe contributes to an intensification of both the flavor and the sweetness. You can skip it if you want to streamline the dish even further.
If you prefer a salted date caramel instead of a conventional one, you can adjust the amount of salt in the recipe to your liking.
I would add as much as a teaspoon to make the flavor of the salted caramel more intense. Don’t forget that we’ll also be using some more flakes of sea salt as a garnish for this dish!
To begin, put the dates in a bowl of water to soak. This will make them more pliable. Your blender will have an easier time churning out a smooth date paste as a result of this.
If the dried dates are not rehydrated first, they might be particularly difficult to process in a blender.
Put the dates in a basin of around medium size, then pour boiling water over them until they are completely submerged. They should be allowed to soak for half an hour before having the water drained out.
To remove the pits from the dates, cut them in half lengthwise with a knife and pull the seed out of the resulting split.
Next, place the dates that have been pitted, dairy-free milk, vanilla essence, and sea salt in a high-powered blender, and process until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
If you do not have access to a blender, another option is to make use of a food processor. To ensure that the components are well combined, you must ensure that the sides of the blender jug are scraped down around once per minute.
Depending on how powerful your blender is, the full process could take up to ten minutes to complete.
Last but not least, pour the nutritious caramel sauce into a serving bowl, then top it with a little bit extra flakes of sea salt before you dive in! Apples and other fruits, like pears, can be dipped in this nutritious caramel sauce.
You may use it as a dip for vegan cookies, or you can make vegan caramel sweets like caramel brownies with it.
You may use it as a topping for vegan pancakes, waffles, and crepes, or you can spread it on toast. As a more nutritious sweetener that does not contain any refined sugar and can be added to porridge, shakes, or smoothies.
Use dates of a high grade to make a salted caramel smoothie that you can make by mixing it with frozen bananas and non-dairy milk.
They’re the key ingredient and flavor of the vegan date caramel sauce and the flavor truly will show through. If you want your caramel to taste and feel its best, you should avoid using dry dates and instead use dates that are still plump and juicy.
Learn more about how to choose dates of the highest possible quality by reading the recipe for my stuffed dates. Keep dates in the refrigerator; do not leave them out at room temperature.
Dates are typically found in the part of the grocery store that is kept at room temperature; nevertheless, they keep their freshness considerably more effectively in the refrigerator.
To ensure that they stay as fresh as possible, though, you should do yourself a favor and store them in a container that is airtight and refrigerated.
Tip for success: If your dates are dry and hard, or if you have a less powerful blender or food processor that you think might struggle a bit, you can soak the dates in warm water for ten minutes before blending everything else.
This will help ensure that the dates blend smoothly with the rest of the ingredients. That will make it simpler for you and give you many results that go more smoothly.
Storage: Date Caramel can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 14 days and frozen for up to 3 months if frozen in airtight containers. When a little piece needs to be defrosted, freezing it in an ice cube tray beforehand makes the process much more manageable.
