Caramel Dates Recipe

I was shopping my local Grocery store and wanted some caramel for my Apples and I could not find one that had ingredients that had nutritional value that I could eat it guilt free.
 

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Ingredients  Here include, Corn syrup, brown sugar, milk, butter (Cream from Milk, Salt), Molasses, Sodium Citrate, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt

I am not a fan of any of these ingredients. So I picked up some dates loaded with nutritional value and decided to make my own Caramel.

Each Date has about 6 grams of Fiber which promotes colon Health  and protects Your Heart in the following ways:

• Lowering Cholesterol
  
• Reduces the  risk of stroke and type 2 diabetes
  
• Help with weight loss
  
• Promote colon health              
  

​Caramel
 
Ingredients:

• 30 pitted dates
• ½ - 1 ¼  cup of boilng hot water (I used a tea kettle)

 
Directions:


Add the pitted dates to your blender (you don’t really need a big blender, I used a 1000 wattage Ninja) and ½ cup of boiling hot water.  Put the top on and let sit for 10 minutes so that dates soak in some of the water.
After 10 minutes blend until smooth.  If it is thick contiinue to add water until your desired consistency.
I also added Mexican Vanilla Extract to this mixture it gave the caramel a bit of a kick.  If you would like it sweeter you can add Maple Syrup or Agave.  Or add Honey for Honey Caramel.  So many things you can do to make this recipe yours.

I use the Caramel in my Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie ( can also use dates soaked ). I also used it for snacking as celery dip and apple dip.

To make this recipe a bit more saucy you can add almond milk or any non dairy milk to your desired consistency.  When I make this recipe saucy I use 2 cups of dates and 3 cups of almond milk ( can also add cinnamon and raw cocoa powder) and use the Vitamix soup setting to mix it so it gets hot and thick.  If you don't have a Vitamix after you blend it you can pour it in a pot and warm it on the cooktop for 5-10 minutes.   If you are on the whole30 diet make sure your almond milk doesn't have carrageenan and if adding vanilla extract use vanilla bean paste.