It’s October and all I want to do is drink cider, carve pumpkins, and eat caramel apples. Alas caramel is messy to cook, easy to screw up, and well, let’s face it, full of sugar and butter. Don’t get me wrong. I love my share of fat and sugar – but I don’t think it would be a good idea to consume it at the rate I’ve been craving caramel apples.
Medjool dates are an amazing alternative to caramel. I was skeptical at first, but it really does taste very similar to caramel. I’ve been doing it for years now.
Putting the medjool caramel in an apple is super cute. Also the apple-bowl absorbs some of the caramel and is delicious to eat at the end. =)
Medjool Caramel Ingredients
- 10 unpitted medjool dates (roughly 150g with the pits)
- Salt to taste, a pinch or two
- At least 6 Tbs non-dairy milk. You may need more to get desired consistency. Also, I used almond milk.
- 7 Tbs water + 3 cups for soaking
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
Other Ingredients
- Apples. You will have enough caramel to fill 4-5 apples but if you don’t want to eat it all at once you can save the leftover caramel for later.
- 1 lemon
Directions
- Rinse off the dates by running them under water for a few seconds.
- In a medium-size bowl, soak the dates in about 3 cups of water- or just enough water to cover the dates. Let it soak for at least an hour.
- When the dates are nice and soft, take them out of the water and remove their pits.
- In a blender combine the dates, salt, vanilla, non-dairy milk, and water. Blend until creamy. If the caramel is too thick, add more almond milk – 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Wash your apple and cut the top off.
- Using a melon baller, scoop out the insides of the apple.
- Run a lemon slice around the top edge of the apple-bowl to prevent browning.
- Fill the apple-bowl with the salty medjool date caramel.
- Slice up an apple to dip into the caramel.
And here is Marshall keeping me company again. <3
don’t know what I want, but I know how to get it « Almost Fa(nony)mous - [...] Vanilla-Date Smoothie (coconut milk, dates, vanilla Greek yogurt, peanut butter, so delicious) and Salted Date “Caramel”. Also, spaghetti squash. Trying to be healthy or [...]
micha @blissfulbites - Wow I can’t believe how much this looks like real caramel! yumm… love the idea with the apple bowl too. This will be a perfect fall treat :)
SnowfoxBandit - Looks delicious! I just picked up some medjool dates and am eager to try this tonight. I have a question for you though: is there a reason not to use real milk other than personal preference? Thanks!
Friday Favorites | Iowa Girl Eats - [...] recipe: Apples with Salty Medjool Caramel. You will not believe this recipe for “caramel” apples. Hello, healthy [...]
Food Inspiration: Vanessa Rees / H&H Blog - [...] with Salty Medjool Caramel? I'm pretty sure I would have no problem with that! Food photographer and recipe bad-ass Vanessa Reese is such an inspiration. I totally get into the "process" of her recipes & photos. Proof: the final image of many of [...]
Superbowl Snacks « Chapter Four - [...] vkreesphotography.com via Ashley on [...]
Trial and error [this is gonna be fun] « Move. Eat. Breathe. - [...] Apples with salty medjool caramel [...]
almond flour chocolate coconut cookies | Living the Gluten Free Life - [...] If you’re really wanting all the flavors from Girl Scout Samoa cookies, I bet this Salty Medjool Caramal sauce would be an excellent [...]
Deirdre @ladiesholiday - Somehow- earlier today I pinned those apples in pinterest- happy coincidence or is the internet getting smaller?
And if I do say, that is a handsome cat.
Caitlin - this looks absolutely phenomenal! i am craving this! and i love the effect on the pictures that makes them look old.
sip on this « the edible perspective - [...] water, prune juice, or what have you, here are some things to check out.1] This vegan recipe for apples with salty caramel from V.K. Rees Photography, looks 100% devour-able. Medjool dates are magical.2] Check out [...]
Cindy - Healthy alternative to caramel sauce! I must try it for an upcoming tasting party I’m planning.
food | Pearltrees - [...] Based in Brooklyn, New York and created by Vanessa Rees, V.K.Rees Photography is a food, still life, lifestyle, portrait, fashion, event, and wedding photography studio. After attending school for photography at Shepherd University , Vanessa attended The School of Visual Arts in New York. Upon completing her MFA, Vanessa launched V.K.Rees Photography in 2010. Beginning as a small wedding photography business, Vanessa now works with clients locally and internationally on a wide variety of assignments – from shooting the weddings of couples up and down the east coast, to food photography for Food & Wine, VegNews, and BUST magazine, to event photography for the School of Visual Arts. Vanessa brings her unique blend of versatility, quality, and experience to any project with any budget – big or small. A bit about V.K.Rees Photography… Apple with Salty Medjool Caramel. » V.K.Rees Photography [...]
Fanny - I just made this! It’s lovely, I didn’t use Medjool dates since I’ve never seen them here but it turned out lovely anyway. I think I will fill some cupcakes with it tomorrow. Thank you!
Salty Medjool “Caramel” Sauce « Insatiable - [...] I tackled a recipe I’ve been dying to try for weeks. I found it here. It’s a Salty Date “Caramel” Sauce… I thought it sounded [...]
Sarah - What a sweet cat!
sarah @ two tarts - Yummy recipe, and pretty photos! Have you ever checked out My New Roots? She has recipes along these lines, you might like it!
Kristina @ spabettie - I love a tart apple paired with caramel – dates make a crazy good caramel sauce! I will have to try salting it next time, I love a salted caramel…
gorgeous photos!
Pumpkin Gingerbread Buckwheat Bake with Salted Caramel Sauce | The Tie Dye Files - [...] daily dose of iron thanks to the molasses! I topped it with a salted date caramel sauce inspired by this sauce, and these cupcakes from Cupcakes and Kale. The sauce gives a bit of a savory component, and [...]
Quyen - Kitchen Runway - Love it!! Tart apples with a sweet & salty caramel. I love the addition of dates!
Rachel - Yum! That looks so tasty, yo! We just went apple pickin’ – we gotta get in on some of this. Thanks!
Jenny - My god your photos are gorgeous! And you have a tabby cat that looks just like mine :)
amber - I’m going to take this idea with me to Savannah when we go on vacation in a couple of weeks, I think it would be a great snack to have on Halloween night while sitting on the porch of the old B&B we stay at. I’ll just have to figure out how to “gut” the apples. ;) P.S. I love Marshall. =^.^=
Angela - Gorgeous! Love the little apple cups and the helper kitty. But especially love this healthy caramel. Can’t wait to try it – thanks!
jess @ cupcakes and kale - gorgeous photos – and i’m in love with the idea of a salted date caramel! this will be perfect with some cupcakes i plan on baking later this week…
Clara - Supercool idea, supercute cat!
Mandee - Marshall is a very handsome cat!
And this is such a good idea, I like the idea of combining apple & dates.
Jeni Treehugger - Drink Cider?? I hear ya!
Those apples are seriously looking good but I don’t eats me apples I drinks ‘em!
(old West Country saying)
:-)
Jojo - Amazing! I’m seriously loving your food / kitty photos!
Lacey Walker - Adorable, healthy and delicious looking!
Cara - Okay, really though??? I was just thinking about this last month and wondering if I could make a caramel sauce from dates. And now you show up like a little angel and… Wa-la! My work is done for me :) These sound so good, Vanessa! I cannot wait to try it.
coldandsleepy - Heh. I too think that fresh dates (barhis are my date of choice, but medjools are good too!) taste really caramel-y but don’t know that I’d ever get so far as cooking anything with them… they just get eaten up around here. Love the apple bowl!