This post is sponsored by Natural Delights, who I love for their ooey gooey tastes-like-candy medjool dates. Does anyone put medjool dates in their oatmeal while it's cooking? Seriously, the best thing ever. Omnomnom
There is something about the cold weather that just makes me want to stay inside, make 20 thousand cups of tea, and create delicious treats in the kitchen. The best part is, that everyone seems to be on board. Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas... so many excuses to make delicious treats.
One of the treats I love at this time of year are caramel apples. I rarely make them because they are so fussy and potentially dangerous. This is why I am SO excited about this recipe. The easiest way to make caramel apples ever! No candy thermometers, no working with hot liquid sugar (seriously the worst for burns, it might as well be lava). This is a safe, easy, and HEALTHY way to make caramel apples.
The (not very) secret ingredient? Natural Delights Medjool Dates. The fruit that basically IS caramel. No added sugars, just the deliciously sweet fruit doing it's thang. You're not going to bounce off of the wall with a sugar high, just to later crash and burn, medjool dates provide long lasting energy. Fun fact: Did you know that medjool dates contain 50% more potassium than bananas?
This is a great recipe to make with kids (warning: they will get sticky), but is also perfect if you just want to wow your friends.
To wow your friends, you are going to want to take these apples up a notch. Roll the caramel apples in fun toppings, such as peanuts, mini chocolate chips, coconut, melted chocolate, sprinkles, whatever your heart desires, and then drizzle with chocolate. Now that is some show stopping gorgeousness right there.
When I was testing out this recipe, I let my friends sample the caramel (stop by my house and I will likely make you taste test whatever recipe I am creating). Everyone was amazed at how incredibly delicious the caramel is. Like really, they would take a little taste and come back for seven. Even if apples on sticks aren't your thing, you can make this caramel, put it in a bowl and dip apple slices into it, or use anywhere you see fit. So yummy.
To make Medjool Date Caramel Apples, the first thing you want to do is remove the pits from the dates. Dates pits are blender breakers!! To do this just split the date open with your finger and pull out the pit.
Then add the dates along with the rest of the caramel ingredients to a blender or food processor. If your blender doesn't have a wide bottom, then your best bet will be a food processor. I actually would have probably opted for a food processor for this recipe but mine is currently lost... Did I mention I have been moving? I LOVE the taste of peanut butter in this recipe, but if peanut butter ain't your thang, you can use any nut butter you like. But seriously, the peanut butter. [Insert a Homer drool sound here].
Blend everything up until it is all delicious and caramel-y. You will probably have to stop to scrape down the sides several times as this stuff is sticky, but it is so worth the trouble. It will likely have little speckles of the date skin throughout and that is a-ok.
Shove a stick into each apple. I bought mine at the dollar store but you can buy them online here, or you can use chopsticks, or stick sticks... like from trees.
Use a spatula to spread the caramel in a nice thick layer over the apple. You can choose to do a thinner layer and make more apples, but thick caramel = scrumptious idea.
If you want to have just plain caramel apples (with no additional toppings) you might want to smooth out the caramel a bit to make them look prettier. To do this, wet your fingers and lightly rub out the bumps. Wetting your fingers help so your fingers don't stick to the caramel. This step is totally optional.
If you want to add toppings, just roll the caramel apple right into your toppings of choice. Drizzle with melted chocolate if desired. Then pop in the fridge for an hour so to firm up the caramel. Store in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
Medjool Date Caramel Apples
Ingredients
- 16 Natural Delights Medjool Dates, pits removed
- ¼ cup plant-based milk, (such as soy or almond)
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons peanut butter (or other nut butter)
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 6 granny smith apples
Additional toppings (optional):
- Chopped peanuts
- Coconut flakes
- Mini vegan chocolate chips
- Sprinkles
- Melted vegan chocolate
- Vegan candies
- Melted vegan chocolate
Instructions
- Add the pitted dates to a food processor or blender along with the plant-based milk, melted coconut oil, peanut butter, and vanilla extract. Blend well, stopping to scrape down the sides often until you reach a smooth caramel. It will be thick and sticky, so it might take awhile and lots of stopping to scrape the sides before everything is blended well.
- Push a stick into the center of each apples to create a handle. Use a spatula to evenly spread a thick layer of caramel over the apples. If you don't want any toppings, you can smooth the caramel down by wetting your fingers and lightly rubbing away any bumps. This is just for look and is optional. If you want to use toppings, you can skip that step and just roll the caramel apples into toppings of choice. Drizzle melted chocolate on top for extra glam.
- Put the apples on a tray and chill them in the fridge for an hour. The caramel will firm up, and if you used melted chocolate, it will set. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Bon Appetegan!
Sam
Tammy McDaniel says
Do you think if I halved every ingredient and only made 6 apples, that this work?
I eat medjool dates with apples all the time just because it does taste like a carmel apple. I never thought to do something like this! Sounds heavenly.
I would not have the ability to consume 6 apples though, but could see consuming 3 in a couple days! 🙂
I do like the idea of eliminating the oil too, but plan to try this with the oil first and then again without. This will help me determine if the oil is worth it.
Thank you for such a creative recipe!
Yulca says
Sam, this caramel is sooooooooooooooooo good (I followed your tip in the comments on making it oil-free)!
I am officially lazy & didn't want to clean my blender, so I soaked the dates in hot water prior to blending them with an immersion blender.
I am also officially selfish & didn't make any apples to share with others, just the caramel - which tastes amazing, is now in my fridge & makes my oatmeal/chia pudding/soy yogurt/socially distanced life sooo much sweeter & better.
Yet another staple from your site, thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! You're most welcome, Yulca!!
Stephanie Brown says
I'm wanting to make these for my daughter's preschool Halloween party. If I make them the day before (Wednesday), do I keep them in the fridge until time to leave on Thursday? Or can the apples be wrapped in cellophane after sitting in the fridge an hour and be fine left out?
Sam Turnbull says
They should be kept in the fridge until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Bailey says
Laughed at “stick sticks...like from trees.” Time to get back to nature!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha, glad I made you smile 🙂
Tara says
Is there something you could substitute the coconut oil for?
Sam Turnbull says
Not in this recipe. The coconut oil is what helps the caramel firm up.
Lauren says
This was the perfect dessert to make at our Family Fall Fun Night last weekend. The adults loved that it was healthy, I loved that it was dairy-free and the kids just loved that it was sticky and delicious! This is such a great recipe! Thank you 🙂
Sam says
Aww I am so super happy you loved it Lauren! Thank you for coming back and leaving your review. So happy you and your family had a great time 🙂
Stephanie owen says
Omg!! Delicious!! During the blending process before it turns to "caramel" the fluffy frosting like texture it makes is just as amazing. Me and my boys ate it by the spoonfuls!!!
Sam says
Haha! I love it!! So yummy isn't it!? Really happy you enjoyed the recipe Stephanie 🙂
Kristi says
Yum! I'm so excited when I check my email and there's a new blog post from you. So so excited! 😀
Sam says
Awwwww thank you!!! That's the best Kristi! You totally put some pep in my step for the day 😀
Alyssa McCord says
And you do it again! Seriously I love this blog. I will be trying these this year!!
Sam says
Awwww shucks, thank you Alyssa!!! That totally makes my day!
Julia (@Imagelicious) says
This is such a cool idea! Thanks for sharing!
Sam says
You're very welcome Julia 🙂
Bethery says
You are so clever. Do you think if I upped the plant milk, I could delete the oil?
Sam says
Awww thank you! Yes I do! I actually have a comment about an oil free version in the notes section under the recipe. Start with the 1/4 cup of non-dairy milk and gradually add in small amounts of milk as needed. The resulting caramel will be a bit softer because it doesn't have the firming qualities of coconut oil, so just use as little milk as possible. Enjoy!!
Bethery says
Thank you so much Sam. I clearly missed that. Now, I'm really in heaven.
Sam says
My pleasure 🙂
Emilie @ Emilie Eats says
Wow these look incredible! Apples are my absolutely favorite food ever so I just love to enjoy them plain, but this looks like a freakin' good treat.
Sam says
Thank you Emilie! I'm not gonna lie, they really are a freakin' good treat!! I have been happily devouring them 😉
Eya says
Well, well, well. I got up this morning saying, "Maybe I'll make baked apples for breakfast", but hey, I've got those little russet apples and I bet they would work just fine as the vehicle for all that medjool date caramel. If not, I can always just eat the evidence. Challenge accepted.
Sam says
Hahaha! Yes, I am sure any apples would work well for this. Evidence eating is always a good idea 🙂