While on a walk last week, my mind wandered off to brainstorming recipe ideas, as it often does when it’s sunny and warm outside, to create for you. Something about those golden rays of sunshine seem to get my creative juices flowing much faster compared to when I’m sitting inside at my desk!
With Easter falling slightly earlier this year, the first round of thoughts swirling around my head all revolved around carrot cake flavored treats. (Like these oatmeal cookies… If you haven’t baked them yet, put them on your list ASAP! They’re one of the most popular recipes on my blog—everyone always raves about them!)
Last month when I asked you on Facebook, “Carrot cake: yay –OR– nay?” I received almost a unanimous response of YAY (and yes, many of the answers in all caps, just like that!). With carrot cake as a very close second behind chocolate for me—and with that margin shrinking every year!—reading all of your yay’s made me incredibly happy, so I plan on posting quite a few fun carrot cake treats in the next few weeks!
But since it seems a little silly to start giving you Easter recipes the morning after Valentine’s Day while leftover sugar cookies and dark chocolate truffles still sit in my kitchen, I wanted to share something else that I thought of while on that walk first: this Healthy Two-Ingredient Caramel Sauce. It’s incredibly easy and doesn’t require any butter, sugar or heavy cream!
Crazy, right?
But it’s true! The only two ingredients you need are medjool dates and water. And I guarantee you already have the latter at your house! Compared to other varieties of dates, medjool dates are slightly larger, really soft, and contain a very sweet caramel-like flavor. That makes them perfect for this easy caramel sauce!
You’ll want to use fresh medjool dates, which are found in the regular produce section of the grocery store. (Skip the dried kind; they’re just a tad bit too tough!) My local supermarket stocked a few different sized plastic packages right next to the bananas, but since none of them were already pitted, I had to remove the pits myself at home. No big deal!
Simply add the pitted dates to a blender or food processor, and gradually add the water a few tablespoons at a time until a smooth sauce forms. I love and highly recommend this Ninja that I own! It’s really affordable for a high-powered blender and food processor, and both of those come with very sharp blades, which really help make the caramel sauce as smooth as possible with basically no lingering chunks of date skin.
Doesn’t that look deliciously creamy?
Because I brainstormed a few other really exciting things I want to share with you on that walk, I’m taking the rest of this week off from posting recipes to work on those. But I’ll be back next Monday with lots of delicious treats, including one recipe that requires this caramel sauce (did you see it on my @AmyBakesHealthy Snapchat?), so be sure you make it before then!
| Healthy Two-Ingredient Caramel Sauce | | Print |
- 1 cup (190g) fresh pitted medjool dates (about 10)
- ¾ cup + 2 tbsp (210mL) water
- Add the dates and ¼ cup of water to a high-powered blender or food processor. Blend until fully combined. Gradually add more water, 2 tablespoons at a time, until the sauce is smooth and reaches the consistency of honey. Transfer to an airtight container, and chill until ready to use.
You may need to adjust the amount of water depending on your blender or the texture of your dates. The consistency of the caramel sauce should be similar to that of honey.
The sharper the blades are on your food processor or blender, the smoother the caramel sauce will be. I own and highly recommend this Ninja. It’s one of the more affordable high-powered models on the market.
{gluten-free, vegan, clean eating, low fat, low calorie, no added sugar}
How long will this last in my fridge? Sounds amazing
I answer that in the text above the Ingredients list Stephanie! 🙂 I hope you enjoy the caramel sauce!
would this be okay as a substitute for maple syrup on my porridge of a morning?
Yes, that would be a fabulous use for it Sue! I hope you enjoy the caramel sauce!
Amy, you are a genius! This sounds incredibly yummy
Do you think adding a little bit of sea salt in order to make salted caramel sauce would work as well?
Thanks Evi! Yes, I definitely think a little sea salt would be great — that’s the next version I was going to try, too! 🙂
I’ve only seen dates dried, where do you find them if fresh, in the produce section? and why medjool dates., what’s the difference ?
I answer all of these questions in the text of the blog post Debra! 🙂 I hope you enjoy the caramel sauce if you try it!
I love this surf! Its amazing what nature’s candy can do when blended with water!
So true Bethany! 🙂
Dates are the best! I love how they make everything so sweet, and this idea looks awesome. I usually buy unsweetened yogurt, and this date caramel sauce would be the perfect topping.
I love your idea of topping yogurt with this Elaine — that sounds lovely!
Amy- thank you for all these terrific recipes – I’ve been looking for a honey substitute for my morning oatmeal to cut down on the sugar and so thrilled to find it here…. And to think that it’s all natural and good for you !!:)
Super excited to share your website with the ladies in the family who are all waistline concious with a sweet tooth !
You’re so sweet to share my website with your family members — thank you so much Caroline! 🙂 I can’t wait to hear what you think of this caramel sauce!
Would this work in coffee? I am addicted to vanilla caramel creamer and looking for a healthy substitute. Thanks!
I haven’t tried that before Heather, but it sounds like a fun idea! I actually have a pumpkin spice coffee creamer recipe here, which you could easily modify by omitting the pumpkin/spices and adding this caramel sauce and a little vanilla extract. I’d love to hear if you try that and how it turns out!
Hello
Does it taste just like caramel sauce? Because I wanna trick my family and making them feel they’re eating the real sauce haha
It tastes very similar! My family had no idea that it was made from dates until I told them. 🙂 I’d love to hear what you and your family think if you try the recipe Kikat!
If I want to put this on popcorn, do you think it will harden like other caramel sauces? Thanks!
I appreciate your interest in my recipe! This caramel remains sticky and doesn’t harden. I’d love to hear what you think if you try it!