Irresistible Salty Chocolate Date Caramels Recipe for Sweet Treats

Salty chocolate date caramels represent a delightful fusion of contrasting flavors that dance across your palate with unexpected elegance.

Sweet dates revamp into a luscious, velvety base that captures rich, complex undertones.

chocolate deep, intense notes intertwine seamlessly with the natural sugars, creating a harmonious blend of indulgence.

Delicate sea salt crystals punctuate each bite, delivering a sophisticated punch that elevates the entire confection.

Sophisticated yet approachable, these caramels challenge traditional dessert boundaries with their nuanced profile.

Crafted with minimal ingredients, they showcase how simple components can yield extraordinary results.

Prepare to experience a sensory journey that redefines sweet and savory expectations.

Why Salty Chocolate Date Caramels Satisfy All Your Cravings

• Indulge in Creamy Decadence: These salty chocolate date caramels offer a luxurious melt-in-your-mouth texture that combines smooth date caramel with rich chocolate coating, creating an irresistible treat that feels like a gourmet dessert.
• Effortless Healthy Indulgence: The recipe transforms simple, nutritious ingredients like dates and almond butter into an elegant sweet treat, making it a guilt-free option for health-conscious chocolate lovers who want something deliciously satisfying.
• Customize with Ease: Designed for flexible preparation, these caramels allow you to adjust salt levels, experiment with chocolate types, and modify shapes, giving home cooks creative freedom to personalize their dessert experience without complicated techniques.
• Quick and Convenient Preparation: With minimal cooking steps and straightforward ingredients, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality results in under two hours, perfect for last-minute dessert cravings or unexpected guest surprises.

What You Need for Salty Chocolate Date Caramels

• Dates: Natural sweetener with rich caramel-like flavor, choose soft and moist Medjool dates for best results.
• Almond Butter: Creamy binding agent that adds nutty richness, opt for unsweetened smooth variety.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity, pure extract provides best taste.
• Warm Water: Helps blend ingredients smoothly, room temperature works best.

• Fine Sea Salt: Balances sweetness and adds depth, use high-quality refined salt.
• Almond Flour: Provides structure and texture, ensure finely ground for smooth consistency.

• Dark Chocolate: Primary coating ingredient, select high-quality chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content.
• Coconut Oil: Helps chocolate melt smoothly and creates glossy finish, use unrefined version.
• Flaky Sea Salt: Garnish that adds crunchy texture and flavor contrast, choose large crystal sea salt.

How to Make Salty Chocolate Date Caramels Without Fuss

Step 1: Create Caramel Base

• Dates
• Almond butter
• Vanilla extract
• Warm water
• Fine sea salt
• Almond flour

Place all ingredients except almond flour in food processor. Blend until completely smooth, scraping sides as needed. Add almond flour and process until fully combined.

Step 2: Prepare Caramel Pan

Line a small bread pan with greased parchment paper using coconut oil. Transfer date mixture into pan. Smooth top using another greased parchment paper sheet. Press mixture evenly, creating 1/2 inch thick layer.

Step 3: Freeze Caramel Mixture

Place pan in freezer for 1 hour to firm up caramel base.

Step 4: Melt Chocolate

• Double boiler technique
• Microwave method (add coconut oil)

Ensure chocolate becomes smooth and completely melted.

Step 5: Cut and Coat Caramels

Remove caramel from freezer. Cut into 12 small squares. Dip each square into melted chocolate using fork. Tap fork’s edge to remove excess chocolate. Place coated caramels on fresh parchment paper.

Step 6: Add Finishing Touch

Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top of each caramel before chocolate hardens completely.

Step 7: Cool and Store

Allow caramels to cool entirely.

• Tempered chocolate: Room temperature for 1 week
• Melted chocolate with coconut oil: Refrigerate until serving

Tips to Get the Right Balance of Salt and Sweet

• Blend Thoroughly: Ensure dates are completely smooth for a creamy caramel texture, scraping processor sides multiple times during blending.
• Freeze Firmly: Allow full hour of freezing time to create stable caramel squares that hold shape during chocolate coating.
• Chocolate Melting Mastery: Use double boiler method for most consistent chocolate melting, preventing burning or seizing of chocolate.
• Coating Technique: Tap fork gently against bowl's edge to remove excess chocolate, creating clean, professional-looking caramel shells.
• Salt Sprinkle Strategy: Apply flaky sea salt immediately after coating while chocolate remains slightly wet to ensure perfect salt adherence.

Store and Reheat Salty Chocolate Date Caramels the Smart Way

• Refrigerate: Carefully transfer caramels to an airtight container lined with parchment paper. Stack them gently, separating layers with additional parchment to prevent sticking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
• Freeze: Wrap individual caramels in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months to maintain optimal texture and flavor. Thaw in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before enjoying.
• Serving: Remove caramels from the refrigerator 10-15 minutes before serving to soften slightly. Let them sit at room temperature to restore their creamy, rich texture. Sprinkle with extra sea salt for a fresh taste if desired.

What Tastes Great with Chocolate Date Caramels

• Pair with Robust Coffee: The intense, rich flavors of a dark roast espresso or French press coffee perfectly complement the deep chocolate and salty caramel notes, cutting through the sweetness and enhancing the dessert's complexity.
• Match with Sweet Dessert Wine: A late harvest Moscato or Port wine creates a luxurious pairing, with its honeyed sweetness balancing the saltiness and providing a smooth, indulgent finish to the chocolate caramels.
• Serve with Salted Nut Accompaniment: Roasted almonds or pecans offer a delightful textural contrast and nutty undertone that echoes the almond butter in the caramels, creating a harmonious flavor profile that elevates the entire tasting experience.
• Enhance with Herbal Tea: A subtle chamomile or lavender tea can cleanse the palate between bites, allowing the caramel's nuanced flavors to shine while providing a gentle, refreshing counterpoint to the rich chocolate.

Ways to Customize Salty Chocolate Date Caramels to Your Style

• Nutty Cocoa Clusters: Replace almond butter with cashew butter and add crushed roasted almonds to the date mixture for extra crunch and nutty depth.
• Tropical Coconut Dream: Mix unsweetened shredded coconut into the caramel base and coat with white chocolate instead of dark chocolate for a tropical flavor profile.
• Spiced Mocha Caramels: Incorporate ground espresso powder and a pinch of cinnamon into the date mixture, then drizzle dark chocolate with a hint of chili powder for a warming kick.
• Berry Chocolate Fusion: Fold in finely chopped dried raspberries or cranberries into the caramel mixture before freezing, creating a tangy contrast with the rich chocolate coating.

Salty Chocolate Date Caramels Recipe

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4.7 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Salty chocolate date caramels elevate dessert simplicity with Mediterranean elegance. Rich chocolate and sweet dates meld perfectly, creating an irresistible treat you’ll savor to the last delightful bite.

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Ingredients

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Chocolate Base:

• 120 grams dark chocolate (at least 70%)
• 2 ½ tablespoons almond flour

Caramel Filling:

• 1 cup (161 grams) packed soft & pitted Medjool dates
• 1 tablespoon creamy almond butter
• 1 tablespoon warm water
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

Finishing Topping:

• Flaky sea salt

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Instructions

1. Pulse dates, almond butter, vanilla extract, warm water, and fine sea salt in a food processor until achieving a velvety, uniform consistency, periodically scraping down the processor’s interior walls.
2. Incorporate almond flour into the mixture, processing until thoroughly integrated and maintaining a smooth texture.
3. Coat a small rectangular baking pan with coconut oil or alternative non-stick spray, then line with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage.
4. Transfer the date mixture into the prepared pan, using a greased parchment sheet to evenly distribute and compress the mixture to approximately 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeters) thickness.
5. Chill the pan in the freezer for precisely 60 minutes, allowing the caramel base to solidify and become firm.
6. While the caramel base chills, prepare the chocolate coating by melting chocolate using a double boiler or microwave method, adding coconut oil to ensure smooth melting.
7. Extract the caramel base from the freezer and slice into 12 uniform, bite-sized squares using a sharp knife.
8. Carefully immerse each caramel square into the melted chocolate using a fork, allowing excess chocolate to drip by gently tapping the utensil’s edge against the bowl.
9. Position the chocolate-coated caramels on a fresh parchment paper sheet, ensuring they do not touch each other.
10. Before the chocolate completely solidifies, delicately sprinkle flaky sea salt atop each caramel piece.
11. Allow the caramels to cool and set completely at room temperature.
12. Store tempered chocolate caramels at room temperature for up to 7 days, or refrigerate caramels made with coconut oil until serving.

Notes

• Smooth and creamy caramel base crafted with nutrient-dense dates and almond butter, blending rich flavors and healthy ingredients.
• Freezing the caramel mixture helps create a perfect texture and makes cutting into precise squares easier.
• Melting chocolate with a small amount of coconut oil ensures a glossy, smooth coating that enhances overall taste and appearance.
• Dipping technique using a fork allows for even chocolate coverage and professional-looking final product.
• Flaky sea salt sprinkled on top provides a delightful crunch and balances the sweet chocolate coating.
• Proper storage depends on chocolate preparation method: room temperature for tempered chocolate, refrigeration for coconut oil-melted chocolate.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 102 kcal
• Sugar: 9 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg