Caramel Spread
This luxurious spread is incredibly addictive and super versatile: Use it as a dipper for fresh fruit slices (apples, bananas and whatever else you love), add it to frozen yogurt or drizzle it over popcorn to create DIY caramel popcorn.
The secret to my more nutritious rendition is, drumroll please…dates! Dates are naturally sweet and lend a rich, caramel-like taste to the spread. While you will get a subtly date flavor in every spreadable spoonful, it only adds to its deliciousness.
Try my Sheet Pan Caramel Apples.
Caramel Spread
This luxurious spread is incredibly addictive and super versatile: Use it as a dipper for fresh fruit slices or add to yogurt.
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates, firmly packed (~14 large dates)
- 1 cup boiling water
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon maple extract or natural flavor
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Equipment
Instructions
- Add dates and boiling water to blender and allow the dates to soak and soften for 15 minutes. Remove ½ cup water and set aside (you can add some later for a thinner consistency, if preferred).
- Add maple syrup, extracts and salt, and blend until velvety smooth. Stop and scrape down the sides if needed.
Notes
• The recipe calls for soaking the dates in a cup of boiling water to make them easier to blend. By removing ½ cup of the water before blending, you end up with the perfect sauce consistency that isn’t too thin. However, if you prefer a thinner sauce, save the soaking liquid and add 1 tablespoon at a time once blended.
• You can use other dates aside from Medjool, but those are my fave for this recipe. You can buy pitted or with pits; if you choose to purchase with pits, simply slice dates in half lengthwise (the pit will stop you from cutting all the way through) and then remove the pit.
• To lower the sugar, you can cut the maple syrup in half (or you can replace half with a zero-calorie sugar replacement like stevia or monkfruit).
• This will last about 1 week in the fridge.
Nutrition Information per serving
Serving Size: 2 tablespoonsCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 0gTotal Fat: 0g— Unsaturated Fat: 0g— Saturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 25mgFiber: 1gTotal Sugar: 14g— Natural Sugar: 8g— Added Sugar: 6g
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.
I’m hoping you loved this recipe!
If you made it and want to share feedback, I’d be so grateful to hear from you. Please leave a review below or tag @joybauer on Instagram!
It was delicious and took so little time to prepare. Love it!!
Hi Brenda. So happy to hear that you loved it! We love that there are so many delicious ways to enjoy it—as a dip for fruit, drizzled over popcorn…to create healthy caramel corn, over waffles or pancakes, stirred into yogurt, right off the spoon, LOL. Let us know how you’re using it.
—Team Joy
I made this sauce today! Absolutely delicious! I didn’t have maple extract but did have almond extract so I added a 1/4 teaspoon instead.
Thank you!
Kathy
Kathy, I’m so happy you loved it! And almond extract sounds like a delicious twist (I bet it gave the sauce a little nutty flair). Thanks for sharing your creative swap and this wonderful review!