Whenever I say that I have dessert every day, people ask me how I can still be in shape. My answer is quite simple. First things first, I allow myself to eat a bit of everything in moderation. Over the last few years I have let go of food restrictions, and this keeps me from overeating on “forbidden foods”.
Second secret is making my own healthy desserts at home, with wholesome ingredients and better macros (protein, healthy carbs and fats ratio).This means I can avoid all the nasties (like truckloads of refined sugar and unhealthy oils) in many commercial products that can send my blood sugar wacko and destroy my healthy eating efforts.
Anyone else trying to limit their intake of refined sugar but still struggling with a demanding sweet tooth? There are all kinds of theories about WHY we crave sweet food but I’m more interested in figuring out HOW to satisfy my sweet tooth without putting refined sugar in my body. The struggle is real — I’m trying hard to minimize the amount of sugar that I consume and today I’m sharing my simple secret to satisfying my own sweet cravings – dates. Natures natural sweetener and I do love the sweetness that they add to almost any recipe.
Its dates. Dates are a super fruit! They are a great source of nutrients and vitamins such as potassium, magnesium, vitamins B6 and K, calcium and iron, which contribute to various health benefits. They also provide a natural energy boost and are low on the glycemic index so your blood sugar won’t spike when eating them.
I love to use dates as a base in most of my snack balls, no-bake bars, or if I need a natural sweetener in a cookie or frosting. They are little morsels of natural sugar and a great alternative to refined sugars. You don’t need many dates to make something sweet! They are just one of those snack cabinet staples I can’t live without. In my quest to find healthier snacks, I have started buying more dates, to use as a natural sweetener in a cookie or frosting.
Dates are a great snack on their own and they are high in fiber, rich in antioxidants, great for heart health and they provide a little energy boost thanks to the natural sugars. They are little morsels of natural sugar and a great alternative to refined sugars. The dried fruit has a caramel-like sweetness that can also help reduce cravings for sugary snacks. I’m always on the hunt though for creative ways to dress up my dates, and I just knew these bars would be delicious! If you haven’t cooked with dates yet, you have so many delicious uses just waiting to be discovered!
Eating a few dates for a 3 p.m. sugar boost is good, but it can get a little boring, so I started to look for ways to jazz them up. There are lots of date-focused recipes on social media these days, but when I came across this viral date caramels made in an ice cube tray I knew I had to try them. And they did not disappoint!
Dried dates are the main ingredient in these date caramels. They are softened first. You can also use fresh dates, but they are quite expensive and when all blended up with the other ingredients you cannot tell what type of dates have been used.
If there’s anything that can make a dessert more adorable, it’s miniaturization, and making mini versions of a rich, creamy, decadent cheesecake is no exception. By using an ice cube tray as the mold for mini desserts, it’s super simple to make your own mini-cheesecakes that are as delicious as they are cute.
Sweet, creamy, and satisfying, these little individual “bites” of date caramel are actually a decent source of protein, thanks to the almond butter and some protein powder.
These mini date caramels are the perfect bite-size for parties or for a daily sweet treat to end your long day. And since they are frozen, you can just eat what you want and save the rest for later. Sometimes you just need a ‘lil something’ at the end of a meal to signal that its time to stop eating. These little treats are perfect for that!
Stock up your freezer pronto with these gorgeous baby snacks. So easy to make and the perfect little healthier treat you didn’t know you needed until now!
PS. You can thank me later. 😊
Ice Cube Date Protein Caramels
Ingredients
Date Caramel
- 1 1/2 cups dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
- 1/4 cup protein or collagen peptides powder
- 1/4 cup almond (or any other nut or seed) butter
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Coating
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- Flaky salt
Instructions
Date Caramel
- Place all caramel ingredients into a food processor and process until a smooth sticky mixture forms.. Spoon the mixture into ice cube moulds or a 7 x 5-inch loaf pan lined with parchment paper.Freeze for two hours or until solid.
Chocolate Coating
- Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave with 20 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.Remove the date caramels and after checking they are firm and set, pop out of ice cube trays or remove from loaf pan and cut into 12 or more smaller squares.Working quickly, using two forks, dip one caramel at a time into the bowl of melted chocolate until it is fully coated. Lift it from the bowl of chocolate and let any excess drip off, then place it onto a tray lined with baking paper. Repeat with the remaining caramels.Or hold each one with a fork over the melted chocolate and spoon it over letting the excess drip back into the bowl. Sprinkle with flaky salt if desired, then chill until chocolate has set.Store in fridge for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 3 months.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites
