Sinful Chocolate Date Caramels Recipe

Indulge in Dreamy Salty Chocolate Date Caramels Recipe Today

Decadent chocolate and sweet dates dance together in these irresistible salty chocolate date caramels that promise a flavor explosion.

The combination of rich cocoa and silky caramel creates a luxurious treat that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Dark chocolate provides a deep, intense backdrop for the natural sweetness of soft dates.

Each bite delivers a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and intense chocolate notes that will make taste buds sing.

Crafted with just a few simple ingredients, these caramels are surprisingly easy to make at home.

The sprinkle of sea salt adds a sophisticated edge that cuts through the richness, making every morsel a gourmet experience.

Your dessert game is about to reach new heights with this simple yet sophisticated confection.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time:

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 118 kcal

Servings: 13

Salty Chocolate Date Caramels Ingredient List

For Base Ingredients:
  • Dates: Provides natural sweetness and chewy texture, choose soft and plump Medjool dates for best results.
  • Almond Butter: Offers creamy richness and binds ingredients together, select smooth and unsweetened variety.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile, use pure vanilla for authentic taste.
  • Warm Water: Helps blend ingredients smoothly, use filtered water for clean taste.
  • Fine Sea Salt: Balances sweetness and adds depth, select high-quality refined salt.
For Binding Ingredients:
  • Almond Flour: Creates structure and adds nutty undertone, ensure finely ground and fresh.
For Coating Ingredients:
  • Dark Chocolate: Provides rich chocolate layer, choose high-quality chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content.
  • Coconut Oil: Helps chocolate melt smoothly and adds subtle flavor, select unrefined version.
  • Flaky Sea Salt: Adds final flavor burst and decorative touch, use premium finishing salt.

Tools That Help Make Salty Chocolate Date Caramels

  • Food processor: Crucial for blending dates and creating smooth caramel mixture.
  • Bread pan or narrow pan: Essential for shaping and forming caramel base.
  • Parchment paper: Helps line pan and prevents sticking during preparation.
  • Spatula: Perfect for smoothing caramel mixture and pressing it evenly.
  • Fork: Ideal for dipping caramels into melted chocolate and removing excess.
  • Double boiler or microwave: Necessary for melting chocolate smoothly.
  • Measuring spoons: Helps accurately measure ingredients like vanilla and salt.
  • Sharp knife: Used for cutting caramel squares into precise pieces.

Cooking Salty Chocolate Date Caramels

  • Caramel Base Preparation

Combine dates, almond butter, vanilla, water, and salt in a food processor. Blend until silky smooth, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly mixed and no chunks remain.

  • Mixture Shaping

Transfer the blended mixture into a parchment-lined pan. Use another parchment sheet to press and smooth the mixture into an even layer, approximately half an inch thick.

  • Freezing Stage

Place the pan in the freezer for one hour, allowing the caramel base to solidify and become firm.

  • Chocolate Coating

Melt chocolate using preferred method – double boiler or microwave. Add a small amount of coconut oil to ensure smooth melting and glossy finish.

  • Cutting and Dipping

Remove caramel base from freezer and slice into small squares. Carefully dip each square into melted chocolate, using a fork to allow excess chocolate to drip off.

  • Final Touches

Sprinkle flaky sea salt over chocolate-covered caramels before chocolate completely sets. Allow caramels to cool and harden at room temperature.

  • Storage Recommendations

If chocolate is tempered, store caramels at room temperature for up to one week. If using coconut oil method, refrigerate until serving time.

Sweet & Salty Tips for Date Caramel Treats

  • Explore unique flavor twists by swapping almond butter with cashew or sunflower seed butter for different nutty profiles.
  • Experiment with dark, milk, or white chocolate coatings to create varied taste experiences and match personal chocolate preferences.
  • Add chopped nuts like pistachios or almonds into the date mixture for extra crunch and sophisticated flavor complexity.
  • Make these caramels vegan-friendly by ensuring your chocolate is dairy-free and using plant-based butter alternatives during preparation.
  • Try different gourmet salt varieties like Himalayan pink salt or smoked sea salt to elevate the caramel's flavor complexity and add unique finishing touches.

How to Serve Chocolate Date Caramels

  • Savor Alongside Suggestions: Pair these decadent salty chocolate date caramels with creamy beverages that complement their rich flavor profile.
  • Brew Complementary Drinks: Enjoy with a hot espresso, smooth cappuccino, or bold dark roast coffee that balances the caramels' sweetness and enhances their chocolate notes.
  • Create Dessert Platter: Arrange caramels on a rustic wooden board with fresh raspberries, toasted almonds, and a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for an elegant presentation that highlights their gourmet texture.
  • Gift with Love: Package these homemade treats in small kraft paper boxes tied with twine, perfect for holiday gifting or surprising friends with a thoughtful, handcrafted confection that shows personal culinary skill.

Storing Chocolate Date Caramels Just Right

  • Refrigerate Wisely: Store these delectable salty chocolate date caramels in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their perfect texture.
  • Freeze for Long-Term Enjoyment: Extend the caramels' lifespan by freezing them in a sealed container for up to 3 months, ensuring a delightful treat is always within reach when cravings strike.
  • Keep Chocolate Crisp: Maintain the chocolate coating's glossy finish by storing the caramels in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources that could cause melting or bloom.
  • Serve at Optimal Temperature: Let refrigerated caramels sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving to achieve the most luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth consistency and enhance their rich flavor profile.
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Sinful Chocolate Date Caramels Recipe

Sinful Chocolate Date Caramels Recipe


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4.8 from 38 reviews

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Classic Mexican salty chocolate date caramels blend rich dark chocolate with sweet dates and sea salt for an elegant dessert. Silky smooth caramels deliver complex flavor profiles that delight palates with balanced sweetness and deep chocolate notes.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (161 grams) soft & pitted Medjool dates
  • 120 grams dark chocolate (at least 70%)
  • 1 tbsp creamy almond butter
  • 1 tbsp warm water
  • 2 ½ tbsps almond flour
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp fine sea salt
  • Flaky sea salt (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Blend Foundation: Pulverize dates, almond butter, vanilla extract, warm water, and fine sea salt in a food processor until achieving a silky, homogeneous texture, periodically scraping processor walls.
  2. Integrate Almond Flour: Fold almond flour into the mixture, processing until completely incorporated and maintaining a seamless consistency.
  3. Prepare Workspace: Grease a rectangular baking pan with coconut oil, then line with parchment paper, ensuring comprehensive coverage and smooth surface.
  4. Form Caramel Base: Spread date mixture evenly in prepared pan, using a greased parchment sheet to compress mixture to uniform 1/2 inch thickness, then freeze for one hour until solidified.
  5. Create Chocolate Coating: Melt chocolate using double boiler or microwave, incorporating coconut oil to ensure a glossy, smooth finish.
  6. Shape and Dip: Remove caramel base from freezer, slice into 12 precise squares, then meticulously dip each piece into melted chocolate using a fork, allowing excess to drip off.
  7. Finish and Garnish: Place chocolate-coated caramels on fresh parchment, sprinkle with flaky sea salt before chocolate sets completely, then allow to cool at room temperature.
  8. Store and Serve: Preserve caramels at room temperature for up to one week, or refrigerate if using coconut oil for extended freshness.

Notes

  • Pulse Technique: Achieve a velvety consistency by periodically scraping down processor walls, ensuring no dry ingredients remain unmixed.
  • Freezing Precision: Exactly 60 minutes of freezing creates the perfect firm caramel base for clean, uniform cutting and handling.
  • Chocolate Coating Pro-Tip: Use a fork when dipping to allow excess chocolate to drip, creating a thin, even chocolate shell that looks professionally finished.
  • Storage Strategy: Room temperature works for tempered chocolate versions, while coconut oil-based caramels require refrigeration to maintain structure and prevent melting.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 118
  • Sugar: 12.4 g
  • Sodium: 67 mg
  • Fat: 6.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4.9 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 15.3 g
  • Fiber: 2.0 g
  • Protein: 1.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sophie Reynolds

Sophie Reynolds

Co-Founder, Recipe Curator & Culinary Educator

Expertise

  • Home Cooking Innovation & Comfort Recipes
  • Flavor Development & Ingredient Pairing
  • Seasonal Produce Integration
  • Recipe Testing & Instructional Clarity
  • Culinary Education & Community Workshops

Education

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO

  • Degree: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern culinary techniques, emphasizing sustainable cooking practices, kitchen professionalism, and real-world restaurant experience through externships.

Oregon State University

  • Degree: B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management
  • Focus: In-depth study of human nutrition, food safety, meal planning, and food-service operations, with a strong foundation in public health, dietetics, and community-based nutrition programs.

Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café. 

Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.

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