Salty Chocolate Date Caramels
These easy to make caramels are made with dates, almond butter, and vanilla. They're dipped in chocolate and topped with flaky salt!
Yield: 12 caramels
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed soft & pitted Medjol dates (161 grams)
- 1 tablespoon creamy almond butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon warm water
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 1/2 tablespoons almond flour
- 120 grams dark chocolate, at least 70%
- flaky sea salt for finishing
Instructions
- Add dates, almond butter, vanilla, salt and warm water to a food processor. Blend until completely smooth, scraping down the sides to make things easier. Add almond flour/meal and process until incorporated.
- Line a small bread pan or narrow pan with greased parchment paper (you can use coconut oil). Scrape date mixture out of processor, and smooth with another greased sheet of parchment paper, using your hand or a spatula to press on top of the paper and make even.
- The caramels should be about a 1/2 inch thick.
Place in freezer for one hour. Meanwhile, temper chocolate using these instructions. Remove caramels from freezer, and cut into 12 small squares. Then dip and coat with chocolate using a fork, tapping on the side of the bowl to get chocolate to drip off. Set on a piece of parchment paper to dry. - Sprinkle with sea salt as you work, waiting a few seconds so that the chocolate has started to harden a bit and the salt will adhere. Caramels will last at room temperature for 1 week if you temper the chocolate. You can also use the regular method of melting the chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave, and adding a 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil. If you make this way, the caramels will need to be kept refrigerated until serving.
Notes
A note about tempering chocolate: Although I’ve always melted chocolate in a double boiler and added a bit of oil to make it “set”, I was frustrated with the condensation that sometimes appears on the chocolate. I also noticed its susceptibility to heat and humidity, melting more easily and spoiling more quickly. Tempering is the process of slowly heating and cooling melted chocolate to certain temperatures while stirring. It's why the chocolate you buy at a gourmet candy store is so perfect. ow that I've done it myself, I have to say it really isn’t any more difficult than melting chocolate in the microwave, it just takes a thermometer and a little time.