Vegan & Gluten-Free Chocolate Caramel Squares

Nicolette Stramara

by

Mar
09

These squares weren’t the first to combine salted caramel and dark chocolate, but they surely take the combo up a notch – or several notches. What makes them so special? They’re made with a gluten-free oat flour crust, date-based caramel and vegan dark chocolate spiced with hints of cinnamon and cayenne. It’s a flavor experience unlike any other! For a fun twist, use cookie cutters – shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day, hearts for Valentine’s Day, pumpkins for Halloween – to make them into festive shapes!

 

Stack of Chocolate Caramel Squares & Shamrocks | Vitacost.com/blog

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Vegan & Gluten-Free Chocolate Caramel Squares

Servings 24
Calories 219.79 kcal

Ingredients

Crust

Salted Caramel Filling

  • 2 cups dates pitted and soaked in water for 30 minutes
  • 1 cup coconut oil melted
  • ½ tsp. salt

Spiced Chocolate Topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
  2. In mixing bowl, combine crust ingredients. If too dry, add additional coconut oil or water until dough to hold its shape. If too wet, add additional oat flour.
  3. Transfer crust to baking dish. Evenly spread out and press down, covering bottom of dish with crust layer.
  4. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden. Remove; let cool.
  5. While crust is baking, drain dates. In food process or blender, combine ingredients for caramel filling, including drained dates. Process for about 8-10 minutes until completely smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary.
  6. Once crust is cool, evenly spread date mixture on top of crust layer.
  7. Melt chocolate in microwave or with double boiler. Mix in cinnamon and cayenne.
  8. Pour chocolate on top of date mixture. Refrigerate until it hardens.
  9. To serve, slice into 24 even squares or cut out shapes, like clovers.

Recipe Notes

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Nutrition Facts
Vegan & Gluten-Free Chocolate Caramel Squares
Amount Per Serving
Calories 219.79 Calories from Fat 115
% Daily Value*
Fat 12.74g20%
Saturated Fat 8.47g42%
Cholesterol 0.44mg0%
Sodium 57.02mg2%
Potassium 226.37mg6%
Carbohydrates 24.77g8%
Fiber 3.32g13%
Sugar 12.44g14%
Protein 3.09g6%
Vitamin A 14.36IU0%
Vitamin C 0.05mg0%
Calcium 21.61mg2%
Iron 2.31mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.