I wasn’t always a fan of caramel. My husband’s love for caramel influenced mine, and I don’t mind. When I went plant-based, I learned that caramel options were lacking. Not to mention, the ingredients usually weren’t great. I did find one brand I liked to purchase.
Cocomels are one of my go-to brands for plant-based caramel candy. I love that the brand is organic with cleaner-than-usual ingredients. The only ingredient I am not a fan of is the xanthan gum. I have used Cocomels to make candy apple slices, but I had to experiment with making my own.
After seeing many variations of vegan caramel online, between TikTok and various groups, I had to make my own version. Although some recipes had decent ingredients, many asked for refined sugars, one thing I wasn’t willing to add to my homemade caramel recipe.
If you’re not plant-based, you can still enjoy this recipe. You could use whatever milk suits your lifestyle best (some people even reserve the water from soaking the dates and use that instead of milk). 
Date Caramel Sauce
If you’re looking for a non-vegan caramel recipe that’s still healthy, check out Kate Tietje’s cookbook, Wholesome Real Food Favorites. This cookbook is brimming with healthier alternatives to many favorite foods, including desserts like caramel.
Ingredients:
- 10 Medjool dates, soaked and pitted
- ½ cup milk of choice
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon (optional)
- ¼ tsp. salt (optional)
Directions:
Step 1: Soak the dates in hot water for 10 minutes to soften for blending. I usually heat my kettle and pour boiling water over the dates.
Step 2: Cut or peel apart the soaked dates to make blending easier. I usually cut in halves or quarters.
Step 3: Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender, blending until smooth.
Step 4 (optional): If you want thicker caramel sauce, add caramel to a small saucepan, bring it to a boil, and simmer for 5 minutes.
Date Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 10 Medjool dates soaked and pitted
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. salt optional
Instructions
- Soak the dates in hot water for 10 minutes to soften for blending. I usually heat my kettle and pour boiling water over the dates.
- Cut or peel apart the soaked dates to make blending easier. I usually cut in halves or quarters.
- Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender, blending until smooth.
- Optional: If you want thicker caramel sauce, add caramel to a small saucepan, bring it to a boil, and simmer for 5 minutes.
