A couple of weeks ago, I shared a savory Vegan Tuna Salad Recipe from Nava Atlas’s new coookbook, 5-Ingredient Vegan. And today, we have a sweet sample for you! This two-ingredient date caramel sauce is a healthy topping that’s naturally vegan, allergy-friendly, and paleo-worthy. It’s even Whole30 compliant.
Date Caramel Sauce is a Healthy Vegan Topping with just 2 Ingredients!
This date caramel sauce requires just dates and dairy-free milk beverage, that’s it! But here are a few tips for making and enjoying it.
Choosing Your Milk Beverage
Nava uses unsweetened milk beverage specifically because the dates have a lot of natural sweetness. For recipes like this, I typically use almond milk beverage, but you can use your favorite type. Oat milk, soy milk, rice milk, cashew milk, or coconut milk beverage will work great.
If you can’t find a vanilla version, then just add a little vanilla extract to the recipe. About a 1/4 teaspoon should do. I know, that’s three ingredients, but I think you can manage. 🙂
Other Ways to Customize Your Date Caramel Sauce
You can create more of a spread by using less milk beverage or a runnier sauce by using more. You can also up the caramel factor with a a little caramel flavor. Several brands are actually dairy-free, like LorAnn Super Strength.
What to Serve with Date Caramel Sauce
There are so many ways to serve date caramel sauce, but I do have a few favorites.
- You can spread or drizzle it on healthy vegan brownies, like these Flourless Instant Pot Brownies, Fudgy Raw Brownies, Blender Brownies, or Gluten-Free Black Bean Brownies.
- Another option is to swirl this date caramel sauce into dairy-free ice cream or drizzle it over top. Some great recipe options are this Bourbon Salted Pecan Ice Cream and Toasted Coconut Cold Brew Banana Ice Cream.
- Or you can spread it on healthy baked goodies, like these Baked Pumpkin Donuts or my Guilt-Free Banana Bread.
Make it a Date Caramel Dip!
If you want a thicker dip, substitute 1 (6-ounce) container of dairy-free vanilla yogurt alternative. Optionally stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon salt to really amplify the caramel flavor.
Special Diet Notes: Date Caramel Sauce
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, plant-based, paleo, and vegetarian.
- 1 cup pitted dates (preferably Medjool, but Deglet are fine)
- ⅔ cup (or as needed) vanilla unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage
- Soak the dates in hot water to cover for 30 to 60 minutes, then drain well.
- Combine the soaked dates in a blender with the nondairy milk and blend until very smooth.
- If the sauce is too thick to pour out of the blender, add just a touch more nondairy milk and blend again. On the other hand, if the sauce seems thin (it should have body, though it won’t be as dense or sticky as sugar-based caramel sauce), add a couple more soaked dates.
- Pour into a serving container and serve over non-dairy ice cream, vegan brownies, or as a dip with fruit.
Credit: Reprinted with permission from 5-Ingredient Vegan © 2019 by Nava Atlas, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. Photo by Hannah Kaminsky.
More Sample Recipes from 5-Ingredient Vegan by Nava Atlas
Vegan Tuna Salad (Tofuna)
Peanut Satay Tofu Triangles
Coconut Sweet Potato Bisque
