Healthier Chocolate Caramel Bites
Who doesn't love caramel slice? It's ok to admit that you do. I do, too, though I know it's chock-full of ‘not-so-healthy’ ingredients. Not this recipe, though! It's a healthy take on this sweet treat.Old school Chocolate Caramel Slice - a timeless classic of epic proportions. Loved by young and old and it is unlikely to ever go out of style. But with the growing number of people looking for healthier options on these old classics it was time for a change.Chocolate Caramel Slice…oh how I love you but it IS time to have a ‘healthified’ version. And what a joy it is to have created an authentic healthy recipe that tastes just like the original, but is made with wholesome ingredients and doesn't require any baking.Gone is the processed flour, the loads of sugar, the golden syrup, the sweetened condensed milk and the butter which made this slice a super high sugar, high fat, calorie dense offering. This new beautiful Chocolate Caramel Bites recipe is made with a base almond-coconutty crust, topped with a rich date caramel layer and finished with a layer of decadent chocolatey goodness!A much higher protein, no bake, no dairy, no gluten, no refined sugar, no junk, lower calorie, low fat, gluten free and healthy caramel slice made with all clean ingredients. The idea was to improve the macro balance (protein, carbohydrate, healthy fats). This is not about calorie counting: It's about paying attention to key nutrients and taking in the daily recommended portion your body needs to maintain your energy levels and overall wellbeing. When you find your optimal balance and amounts of macro nutrients, you take a major step toward reaching your health goals and this balance has been improved in this by the addition of healthy protein.This is one of the best dessert/sweet treat recipes I have made in along time! The recipe can look a bit daunting but it’s not at all, just 3 simple steps. I bought all the ingredients at my local health food store, very easy to find. You will love these caramel bites made with whole food ingredients. This indulgent treat features gooey caramel, dark chocolate and a simple almond crust. Perfectly textured, full of nutrition and all plant based. This recipe involves three layers which are all very easy to make. All you need is a food processor to make each layer. Although this is still a 'sometimes treat', you can eat it knowing that you are ingesting some of Mother Nature's finest ingredients, made with love.I love storing these healthier caramel bites in the freezer to have on hand for whenever that sweet tooth craving hits! For a perfect creamy texture, remove from freezer 10-15 minutes before devouring.The taste? Just pure bliss! Go ahead and make these you will be sooooo happy you did! It just might be the best raw dessert ever. You can’t beat the combo of the nutty base, the gooey caramel and the chocolate on top.
Servings 12
Ingredients
Base Crust
- 1 cup almonds or walnuts
- 1 cup dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
- 1/2 cup oats, instant or quick
Caramel Layer
- 1 1/2 cups dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
- 1/4 cup tahini (sesame seed butter) or any nut butter
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Layer
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
Base Crust
- Prepare a 12 hole muffin pan ready with liners or use a silicon muffin pan.In a food processor add almonds, coconut and oats and process until broken down and crumbly. Add dates and continue to process until well combined into a sticky dough. Be careful not to over process as its nice to have texture variance and different sized “bits” in your bites bases.Spoon about a tablespoon of the base in each muffin cup and smooth out evenly with the back of a spoon.
Caramel Layer
- Blend the dates with the tahini until smooth and creamy. Add in the coconut oil and vanilla and blend until you get a smooth paste.Spread a tablespoon (ish) on top of your bases and pop in the freezer for 1-2 hours.
- Chocolate Layer
- Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave at 50% power with 30 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.Pour around a tablespoon on top of the caramel layer and smooth out with the back of a spoon. Make sure the caramel is set before you do this step or they will run into each other!Leave to set for 5 minutes in the freezer then pop the bites out of the muffin tray and keep in the freezer or fridge until 30 minutes before serving. You can also enjoy them straight out of the freezer.They will store well in the fridge and will last for 3-4 days in theory, but mine are usually eaten before then and don’t always make it to the freezer.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites
