This wonderful caramel sauce is super simple to make, very versatile, and requires no heating or cooking. Though it is AIP friendly, you don't need to have any dietary restrictions to love this sauce. It's a crowd-pleaser.
This recipe concept is used to make frosting for German "Chocolate" Cupcakes, Caramel Apple Bread, and German "Chocolate" Cake.
For other treats that use dates, check out my Key Lime Pie Date Balls, Vegan Pumpkin Pie, and Apricot Protein Bites.
**Just a quick heads up- this post contains affiliate links which means if you click on them and buy something, I will earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) to help continue maintaining this site.
It's fantastic for:
- Dipping apples and other fruit
- Spreading on Paleo bread/toast/cake
- Drizzled over pancakes, waffles, ice cream, or apple pie
AIP Date Caramel Ingredients
Dates
If you have really moist fresh dates, you may not need to soak them. If they are a little on the dryer side, they should be soaked in very hot water for at least 15-20 minutes. This is key to getting a really smooth sauce.
Use full-fat coconut milk for an extra creamy sauce. It's difficult to find coconut milk that doesn't contain guar gum. I personally haven't been able to find any in my local stores (I don't live near a Whole Foods/Trader Joe's/Sprouts type of store). I order mine from Amazon. Thai Kitchen has one in a pourable carton that only contains coconut and water and the texture is amazing! I highly recommend it.
Maple Syrup
This, of course, adds sweetness to the caramel sauce and you can use less or more of it to suit your taste. If possible, choose organic and the darker the better.
Salt
This gives balance to the flavor and prevents it from becoming overwhelmingly sweet. Pink Himalayan sea salt is preferable.
Food Processor or Blender?
While you can use either, I highly recommend a good food processor to get the smoothest sauce. I tried this in my Vitamix and it works but it takes a little more time and effort. If you use a food processor, add the dates first and pulse a few times before adding the other ingredients. If you use a blender, add all the ingredients to the blender at once.
Adjusting the Thickness of the Sauce
This recipe is relatively foolproof so you can add a little more coconut milk and/or maple syrup for a thinner sauce or toss in some extra dates for a thicker sauce.
How Long Does it Last?
This will stay fresh in the fridge for at least 3 or 4 days in a tightly sealed container.
I hope you enjoy the recipe. If you made it, please leave a comment below and let me know what you thought!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:
Beginner's Guide to the Autoimmune Protocol
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Conclusion:
I hope you love this recipe. Please leave a comment below and let me know what you thought!
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @foodcourage for the latest AIP/Paleo recipes, autoimmune nutrition info, and Food Courage happenings!
Simple 4 Ingredient Caramel Sauce (Paleo, AIP, Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Equipment
- Food Processor or high-speed blender
Ingredients
- 8 dates
- 1/4 cup full fat coconut milk
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/8 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt
Instructions
- Soak dates in very hot water for at least 15-20 minutes.
- Remove the pits. If using a food processor, add the dates first and pulse a few times before adding the other ingredients. If using a blender, add all the ingredients to the blender at the same time and blend. You may need to scrape the sides down a few times and continue blending until smooth.
- Blend until smooth. Enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe makes almost 1 cup of caramel sauce.
- If you have really moist fresh dates, you may not need to soak them. If they are a little on the dryer side, they should be soaked in very hot water for at least 15-20 minutes. This is key to getting a really smooth sauce.
- While you can use a food processor or blender, I highly recommend a good food processor to get the smoothest sauce. I tried this in my Vitamix and it works but it takes a little more time and effort.
- Adjusting thickness: You can add a little more coconut milk and/or maple syrup for a thinner sauce or toss in some extra dates for a thicker sauce.
- This will stay fresh in the fridge for at least 3 or 4 days in a tightly sealed container.
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