This Date Caramels is the healthiest homemade candy ever! They are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, no-cook, no-bake and made with only 4 Ingredients.
Date Caramels
A amazingly healthy recipe to make and share with family and friends or just enjoy by yourself like the date balls recipe. It is with 4 good for you ingredients and tastes like a chewy caramel with bits of crunchy nuts.
I have been making batches of these raw healthy snack to add to my cookie tray. It looks indulgent, tastes like a piece of caramel. but, it is so darn good for you.
What Type of Dates to Use?
These are two types of dates generally found in grocery stores - Soft, plump Medjool variety and drier, chewier Deglet Noor variety. We use 11 soft Medjool ones in this recipe. But, if you cannot find them, then use 25 Deglet Noor instead (remove pits).
Solid or Liquid Coconut Oil?
Use solid coconut oil! Your coconut oil will be solid during cold winter months. But, if you live in a warmer place or during hot summer months, make sure to refrigerate your oil for a few hours before using in the recipe.
Why is this step important? When the date and almond butter mixture is processed, the oils from the almond butter and coconut oil will seperate. Solid coconut oil will keep that to a minimum.
Trouble Shooting
What if my dough is crumbly after processing? Transfer the processed dough into a bowl. Add 2 to 4 dates into the now empty processor along with 1 to 2 teaspoons almond butter and grind until it becomes a fine paste. Combine this mixture along with the dough and mix with rubber spatula, until thoroughly combined. Shape and chill.
INGREDIENTS
- Dates - Use soft Medjool variety
- Almond butter - We used Barney's No stir creamy.
- Sliced Almonds - or use chopped whole nuts.
- Coconut oil - As mention earlier, solid is recommended.
How to Make?
- Grind - Add pitted dates, almond butter and coconut oil into the food processor. Grind until it begins to gather together and you will see oils beginning to seperate, This is the perfect texture. (Stop processor and scrape sides couple of times).
- Add nuts - Add sliced almonds and process for just 5 to 10 seconds, until almonds are incorporated. We don't want to break the almonds into smaller pieces, process until it just begins to mix in.
- Shape - Gather dough into a ball, roll between to pieces of parchment to form a square. Chill in the refrigerator overnight or until firm.
- Cut - Cut into small squares and wrap in pieces of parchment and store in refrigerator.
HOW TO STORE?
Store caramels in the refrigerator until eating. It is the perfect texture when cold. Room temperature will feel a little oily. Go ahead enjoy a good piece of homemade caramel and feel good!!!
More Recipes using Dates:
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Date Caramels
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add dates, almond butter and coconut oil into a food processor. Process until it begins to gather together (scrape processor 2 times in between). You will notice that the oils beginning to seperate ---> perfect texture.
- Add sliced almonds and process for just about 5-10 seconds (scraping sides once in between) for the almonds to incorporate. We want most of the almonds to remain as is, since it adds lovely texture to the candy.
- Remove the blade and stir with a spoon to gather into one ball. Dump on a piece of parchment paper and place another parchment paper on top, roll gently to make a 5x5 inch square. Transfer onto a plate along with the parchment and refrigerate overnight or until firm. Important note - Try not using your hands when working at this step, since the warmth from your hands will extract more oils.
- Cut into 20 squares, wrap each into a piece of parchment paper, twist ends and refrigerate. Keep refrigerated until serving time.Alternatively, cut squares can be placed in any covered container in the refrigerator to snack anytime.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
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Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
YES to healthy treats! With all the over-indulgence I have been doing with the Christmas goodies, I need to make these candies to have a healthier option to reach for. Happy Holidays Maria! XOXO
Maria Doss
Thanks Kelly:)
Patrice Robins
Can the date caramels be made with peanut butter, instead of almond butter?
Thank you.
Maria Doss
Absolutely! Use the creamy kind - Maria
Katherine | Love In My Oven
Thank you for making a candy that I can eat and eat without feeling TOO much guilt! It looks way too yummy to be healthy! Happy holidays to you and your family Maria!! XO
Maria Doss
Thank you Kathy, happy holidays to you as well:)
Ashika | Gardening Foodie
I really need some healthy snacks and candy right now...with all the high sugar holiday food, this sounds like perfect alternative. These really look great Maria...this I would love to try.
Happy holidays Maria, to you and your family 🙂
Faith
Thanks for sharing!! These are the perfect after dinner dessert that is still healthy. I hope the kids will like them.
Maria Doss
Did they like them? Appreciate your feedback:)
Denisse
Looks delicious!!.. I want to make this as a desert for my son because he loves sweets, i want to add butter instead of coconut oil because. You think is going to work same?
Maria Doss
Hi Denisse, Butter is a great replacement. We preferred coconut oil due to two reasons : health factor and the combination of dates along with coconut oil was delicious. However, I understand that coconut oil might not suit every one's taste. Hope it helps 🙂
Shauna
I can’t wait to try these! Do you have a weight for the dates? I want to make sure I’m using the correct amount. Thank you
Maria Doss
Hi Shauna, sorry for the late reply. 11 large medjool dates is 6.1 ounces (with pits) or 174 grams (with pits) by weight - Maria
Jamie
Hi! These look sooo good!
Do you have a suggestion for a alternate ingredient instead of coconut? I’m allergic and that makes it *very* hard to use all these yummy healthy alternatives.
Thank you!!
Maria Doss
Hi Jamie, You could replace coconut oil with ghee or vegetable oil. Since coconut oil / ghee solidifies when refrigerated, the candy might not get firm when using vegetable oil. Also, you could try adding vanilla extract when not using coconut oil. Hope it helps, Maria
Heidi
Can I use organic butter instead of coconut oil. I am not vegan.
Maria Doss
Hi Heidi, Yes, you could totally use butter instead and we recommend a dash of vanilla extract as well, Maria
Zeliha
Can I use regular butter instead of Almondbutter? Or is that not an option? Where I live it's not so common to find. Or very expensive online.
Maria Doss
Sorry Zeliha, Regular butter will not work! However you can your other nut butters such as peanut butter or sunbutter instead. Alternatively, you can make almond butter at home using raw almonds. Here is a popular recipe that might be helpful for you. You can use 1/4 cup for the recipe and use leftovers on your morning toasts. Hope it helps, Maria