Healthy and Delicious Date Caramel with Almond Butter

by Sarah Harper MS, RD, LDN | Sep 21, 2023 | Beverages, Desserts, Recipes, Sauces, Salad Dressings, & Vinaigrettes, Snack & Side Dishes | 0 comments

This Date Caramel with Almond Butter is sweet, rich, decadent, and easy! Enjoy this sauce with smoothies, apples, or oatmeal!
Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!

Date Caramel with Almond Butter

Date Caramel with Almond Butter is sweet, rich, decadent, and tastes like caramel. But the best part is this caramel consists of natural date sugars. Not only is this easy date caramel gluten-free, but it has no butter, no cream, just dates, vanilla, and a little almond butter. 

Two Peanut Paradise Tropical Smoothie Cafe copycats with a banana garnish and date caramel. A bowl of date caramel is in the foreground.

Why I Made This Sauce

To all the delicious smoothies I’ve had with some sort of date caramel rim or garnish, I have started to make my own! This recipe is simple, easy, and it’s fast to make. 

I love using this easy date caramel to enhance my smoothies but it is also delicious as a caramel for apples, oatmeal, yogurt, cookies, brownies, or ice cream. I also like to use a spoonful in my smoothies for a little extra sweetness. 

 

A white bowl filled with swirled light brown date caramel

 

Ingredients in Date Caramel Sauce

1 cup pitted Dates

¼ cup Almond Butter

¼ cup hot water or almond milk

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

¼ tsp Kosher Salt

 

Top down of date caramel in a high powered blender

 

How to Make Date Caramel Sauce

Prepare the Dates

Remove any pits from dates if not already pitted. 

Soak The Dates

Place the pitted dates in a heatproof bowl.

Pour the hot water over the dates to soften them. (I like to use boiling water).

Let the dates soak in the hot water for 15-20 minutes. This step will make the dates easier to blend into a smooth caramel.

Blend the ingredients

After soaking the dates, transfer them along with the soaking water to a high-speed blender or food processor. Add nut butter, a teaspoon of vanilla, and kosher salt to the high-speed blender. 

Blend at a low speed and gradually increase to a high speed. 

Blend until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the blender. 

Adjust the Consistency

If the date caramel is too thick, you can add more hot water 1 tablespoon at a time. 

 

Straight on shot of two peanut paradise tropical smoothie cafe copycat smoothies with a blue backdrop.

 

Date Caramel Versatility

Date caramel is a versatile recipe. You can use water to thin the sauce, hot almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or coconut cream. You can add almond butter, peanut butter, maple syrup, even chocolate!

FAQ (Ask A Dietitian!)

Which type of dates tastes like caramel?

Medjool dates taste like caramel. They are sweet, rich, soft, and chewy. 

Are dates good for health?

Dates are a good source of essential nutrients like potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and fiber. They are naturally sweet making them an excellent substitute for refined sugar in recipes and snacks. Dates are used in smoothies, baked goods, and other dishes. 

 

A white bowl filled with swirled light brown date caramel

 

Like This Recipe? Try These Smoothie Recipes

Peanut Paradise Smoothie

Peanut Paradise Tropical Smoothie Cafe Copycat, one smoothie in focus, one smoothie in the background and sitting overtop 2 blue coasters, peanut butter and date caramel on spoons in the foreground with fresh sliced bananas.

Peanut Butter Cup Tropical Smoothie Cafe Copycat

Peanut Butter Cup Tropical Smoothie Cafe Copy Cat straight on shot of the smoothie in a glass with a banana garnish and a peanut butter cocoa powder rim

Peach Cobbler Shake

Peach Cobbler shake with three shakes. Blue and white straws sticking out from the shakes.

A white bowl filled with swirled light brown date caramel

Date Caramel with Almond Butter

Sarah Harper MS, RD, LDN
Date Caramel with Almond Butter is sweet, rich, and delicious. Enjoy this caramel with smoothies, apples, or oatmeal.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Soak Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert, Drinks, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 100 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 high powered blender

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup pitted medjool dates
  • 1/4 cup almond butter
  • 1/4 cup hot water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt

Instructions
 

Prepare the Dates

  • Remove any pits from dates if not already pitted.

Soak The Dates

  • Place the pitted dates in a heatproof bowl.
    Pour the hot water over the dates to soften them.
    Let the dates soak in the hot water for 15-20 minutes. This will make them easier to blend into a smooth caramel.

Blend the ingredients

  • After soaking the dates, transfer them along with the soaking water to a high-speed blender, then add the remaining ingredients to the high-speed blender.
    Blend at a low speed and gradually increase to high.
    Blend until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the blender.

Adjust the Consistency

  • If the date caramel is too thick, you can add more hot water 1 tbsp at a time.

Nutrition

Calories: 100kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 74mgPotassium: 187mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 27IUCalcium: 39mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword 5-ingredient
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Sarah Harper in her kitchen with a cutting board, broccoli, carrots, and a fruit bowl.
Website | + posts

Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!

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