When I first became curious about raw desserts, I was skeptical, to put it mildly. How could any variation of dates and cashews be anything but, well, healthy-tasting? But I tried a few simple date balls, “just in case”, and I fell in love. Fast. Not only did these raw takes on traditional desserts please my palate, with their rich natural sweetness and nutty depth, but I never felt the sheer guilt that typically accompanied desserts formed from processed sugars and flours. Instead, I had to remind myself (as your tastebuds quickly forget) that these treats were raw, live, full of nutrients and vitamins, that their sweetness came from the earth and not a machine. Cheesy, yes, but dammit, this is love!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This paleo salted caramel dip was one of the first raw desserts I made, and rightly so. A couple years ago I filled dozens of jars with buttery salted caramel, chock full of white sugar, butter, and cream, topped off with flaky sea salt. Salted caramel became my obsession years ago when I lived in Paris and took a quick trip to Normandy where I first tasted caramel au beurre salé (salted butter caramel) both in soft candy form and in–my personal favorite–booze form. So I knew I had to transform the heady treat into a healthy snack – sugary, butter salted caramel, meet paleo salted caramel. Hi. Hello. And I was not disappointed. Ughhhh. The rich sugars of the dates give this dip a true taste of caramel, while the vanilla provides a luxurious quality that tastes anything but “healthy”. Paleo salted caramel ftw!
Nutritional Benefits
Dates are high in potassium and magnesium, as well as dietary fiber, and almonds are known for their high levels of vitamin E, copper, magnesium, and high quality protein. This recipe also includes no processed ingredients. Pretty good for a “dessert” huh?
