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.