For work, I’ve tested out a variety of different bites for a sweet treat after lunch, and these were a huge hit! These are so easy and INCREDIBLE!

These are a perfect vegan, gluten-free, and macrobiotic treat. They have no added/processed sugar, only the natural sugar from the dates.

 Dates tend to be a pricey item, especially medjool dates, so I use the brand pictured above from Whole Foods, they are 8oz. for $3.99. Buying dates already pitted is much easier than pitting them yourself and I’ve found that they are actually more expensive with the pits. And just a quick tip, they claim these dates are all pitted, but I always double check for pits and stems.

I would recommend using a tablespoon sized ice cream scoop for recipes like this. It is so helpful in getting these all the same size, and it’s also useful for baking cookies. It’s one of those inexpensive kitchen tools that is worth buying and saves you so much time. A larger sized one could be used for baking cupcakes or muffins.

Salted Caramel Bites

Makes about 18-20, tablespoon sized bites

Ingredients:

1 cup dates, pitted
1 cups cashew pieces
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch of salt, optional

How to:

1. Place dates in food processor, after double checking them for pits/stems. Process until they form a paste. (The mixture will start to form a ball in the food processor)

2. Add the cashews, vanilla extract, and salt (optional). Process until the cashews are evenly chopped and distributed.

3. Place the mixture into a bowl and using a tablespoon scoop to portion, roll the mixture into bites.

4. Place bites into an airtight container and place in the fridge to set – the bites will hold together better and last longer in the fridge.

5. Enjoy!

If you have any questions, comments, or recipe requests, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me. Also, if you make this recipe, please let me know what you think!

(I found this recipe on Pinterest, from the blog Southern In Law.)