The other day one of my clients and I were joking about the appropriate response to discovering a really good salad dressing (she was talking about my turmeric tahini dressing). I made a hand motion that approximates the action of taking a blender and pouring its contents into ones mouth. If you ask me, this is a perfectly reasonable response to great dressings, as well as great smoothies and great nut milks. And it is also the only appropriate response to the following raw, vegan salted caramel sauce.
It’s amazing how simple this recipe is: dates, vanilla, coconut oil, salt, water. Not much needs be done because Medjool dates already taste like caramel: it’s the best thing about them, if you ask me. This recipe grows out of my many years using dates as a sweetener and making date paste syrup and thinking “gee, dates would make awesome caramel sauce.” It was time.
As you’ll see, the sauce is super easy to make.
Raw, Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted and tightly packed Medjool dates
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- Scant 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- Water
Instructions
- Heat two cups of water in a saucepan till warm (not scalding hot). Place the dates in a bowl and submerge them with hot water. Allow them to sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Drain the dates, reserving the soak water. Place them into a blender with 3/4 cup of the soak water, the vanilla, the coconut oil, and the salt. Blend them on a high speed till they are very smooth and resemble a sauce. Add more water as needed, until the sauce is thick but pourable (I used a scant cup).
Notes
Here are some sweet ideas for using the caramel sauce:
●Serve it with fresh apple or banana slices for a tasty vegan snack
●Drizzle it on top of your favorite vegan dessert or pie
●Drizzle it into oatmeal or hot porridge
●Serve it with your favorite parfait
●Drizzle it over some freshly cut summer strawberries
Or, you know, drink it right out of the blender.
I hope you all enjoy this sweet start to the weekend. Tomorrow, a special holiday post!
xo
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This looks heavenly! Although I think that it also needs some chocolate drizzle. 🙂
I bet this would be over the top with a little fleur de sel!
Love this. Dates totally do have a caramel flavor!
Trying this immediately! Seriously, love how insanely easy this is but extremely dangerous because I can make it anytime I want! I need will power haha
Oh my oh m oh my *__*
Gena, this is fabulous. I’m a caramel fanatic, and this recipe is exactly what I was looking for!
i could see this being used with soooo many things. i’d definitely try with my pancakes.
Nom. Date caramel is the best!
Oh I love the sound of this!
Ooooh yum! And I second the comment above re: fleur de sel! I’ve been using dates or date syrup as a sweetener for years too, and it really is the perfect caramel base. Love this recipe!
I cannot wait to try this. Ever since my dairy allergy, I have not eaten caramel… tragic! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing this brilliant caramel recipe – it was just what I was looking for 😀
Great recipe. Though, mind me asking why you placed the dated into hot water and why you didn’t used then straight?