During my late teens and early twenties, my top 5 favourite chocolate bars were the following (in no particular order):
Chunky Kit Kat, Wunderbar, Coffee Crisp, Rolo/Caramilk, and Twix.
What about you?
For the next Halloween recipe in my Treat-a-thon series, I made a healthier version of Rolo caramels. Instead of making a traditional caramel, I processed Medjool dates into a caramel with a touch of nut butter. I really had no idea how close I could get the flavour, but I figured it was worth a shot.
Well let me tell you, we couldn’t believe how much these taste like Rolo caramels (only better of course because they are homemade). They don’t call dates “nature’s candy” for no reason!
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Homemade "Rolo" Knock-Offs
Yield
18 bites
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Chill time
40
Total time
Ingredients
For the caramel
- 200 grams pitted soft Medjool dates (about 11 large)
- 1/2 tbsp peanut butter (or other nut or seed butter)
- pinch of fine grain sea salt
For the chocolate coating
- scant 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tsp coconut oil
For the garnish
- chia seeds (optional)
Directions
- [Note: You want to use very soft Medjool dates. If yours are firm, soak in water to soften before using. Be sure to drain well.] Process pitted dates in food processor until a sticky paste forms. Now, add in the nut or seed butter along with a pinch of fine grain sea salt. Process until combined. The mixture will be SUPER sticky, but this is a good thing!
- Scoop out the sticky mixture into a bowl and freeze for about 10 minutes. Chilling it makes the caramel easier to shape into balls. After chilling, lightly wet your fingers and shape caramel into small balls to make about 18 balls total.
- Place balls back into the freezer for another 10 minutes on a parchment lined plate. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips along with 1 teaspoon coconut oil on the stove top over low heat. When 2/3 of the chips are melted, remove from heat and stir until everything is melted.
- Remove balls from freezer and dunk each ball into the melted chocolate, one at a time. Roll around to coat. Tap off excess chocolate and place back onto parchment-lined plate. Sprinkle with chia seeds (optional) and stick a toothpick into each. Repeat for the rest.
- Freeze again for at least 20 minutes until set. Bites taste best straight from the freezer and will soften (but will not melt) at room temperature.
Tip:
The chia seeds were added for a Halloween spooky bug-like appearance and for some sneaky nutrition!
You’ll need soft Medjool dates for this recipe. My favourite brand is by Bard Valley. If you are starting with firm/hard dates, you’ll need to soak them in water until soft. Make sure to drain the water off before proceeding.
Try them for yourself – I think you’ll be surprised by how much they taste like the real thing.
Next on my Halloween recipe list might have to be the Kit Kat bar…
In other Halloween news, I’m thinking about going as an 80’s girl this year. My inspiration came from these hot pink mesh gloves I found at Dollarama yesterday. Hot!
My mom was visiting on Monday and we were talking about my love for 80’s fashion as a child. Neon colours, side pony, teased curled bangs, spandex (neon of course), high top sneaks, leg warmers, stone-washed tapered jeans, slap bracelets, sweater clips, scrunchies….I rocked it all. There was no mistake that I was an 80’s child.
Anyone else have their costume idea decided yet?
Oh my gosh I love rolos!!! If you can make caramel perhaps you’d be able to make a vegan version of Mars bars??? I was obsessed with those as a kid! Have no idea how to recreate the nougat.
I’ve been thinking about that one too….I will have to look up some non-vegan recipes to see what they use to make it.
These look spectacular. I used to love Rolos! I am so making these. Until I cut out processed foods, my all-time favourite treat was Smarties. I think they’d be really hard to re-create, though, because of the candy shell.
maybe some kind of coconut oil + food colouring shell would work? They’d have to be kept chilled though :)
Can’t wait to try these, my favorite candy then and now is still Reese’s Peanut butter cups
Best idea EVER for that sort of gloppy stage of processed dates + nut butter. Just soft enough to be exactly like caramel yet still hold together! At that stage, I usually add oats or some sort of dry ingredient to make bars with, etc. What was I thinking?! I need to keep that state and keep the caramely love alive and make these! LOVE Rolo’s & this idea!
OMG I’m not Canadian but I LOVE coffee crisp!!! I live inmichigan and get at least 10 bars every time I go over the bridge!!!
These rolos sound great :)
hah I wonder why they aren’t sold in the US? I need to find a way to make them at home.
This look cute, healthy, fun and delicious! Can’t wait to make the asap!
Can’t wait to try! I loved Rolos and am always looking for a vegan substitute.
Love this idea! That caramel looks awesome.
Because my son has behavioral issues when eating artificially colored treats, I’ve been trying to entice him to eat other goodies instead. The hard part is that to him, nothing tastes as good as the real thing. I’m excited about this recipe and will give it a whirl. Last year I made him his own pumpkin chocolate chip cake in exchange for his trick-or-treat bag (I know that sounds so mean) and it worked to a point. I think I needed a few other treats to make it more of a fair trade. Thanks Angela!!
I just felt the need to reply to your comment. As a young child (I’m now 28, though no kids of my own yet), I also suffered from behavioral issues from artificial food dyes/preservatives. This was in the ’80s, when there wasn’t a whole lot of research (particularly in the Deep South of the US, where I’ve always lived). I have much empathy for you and your son! It was tough not understanding why I couldn’t have the same treats (M&Ms, Skittles, cheese-flavored snacks, etc.) as my friends, but I’m so glad my mother did her own research and stood up for me and herself when doctors basically said she was crazy. Luckily I grew out of it, but I still try to avoid artificial dyes as much as possible because of what’s in them. Luckily for you and your son, there are so many more options today–and awesome blogs like this one that have creative AND healthy ways to recreate some of those unhealthy (but enticing) treats.
I can’t wait to try to make these myself. Seems so simple. Rolos weren’t one of my favorites–I was more of a Reese’s PB cup or peppermint patty/Junior Mints girl (love those 2 flavor combinations in ANYTHING!)–but these look too delicious to pass up.
I’m glad you commented! I’m really impressed that your Mom linked artificial colors up to some struggles you had and that she stuck to her guns! I know my son struggles with not being able to eat the candy that the other kids can so I do try to make and get stuff that will help him to not feel ‘left out.’ I just went and got some dates so I can get going on these. I laughed because Rolo’s were never my thing either – Reese’s Peanut Butter cups are STILL my favorite. The cake I made last year though (in trade for his candy) was using Angela’s Spiced Buttercream frosting on her pumkin cake – it was to DIE for. Thanks for your comment – it’s always nice to know someone out there knows what I’m talking about! Love the pic of your doggy by the way. :)
Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins!!!
My substitute is Alicia Silverstone’s vegan peanut butter cups.
Delicious!!!
It sounds like you could easily take this recipe and make Twix – just spread the date/PB mixture on a Club cracker, then dip in chocolate. Club crackers aren’t exactly healthy, but it would work!
lovely idea! I was thinking I need to revamp my Twix recipe too.
Those look sooo good, can’t wait to give the recipe a try!
Rolo’s were my dad’s favorite candy- I’ll always think of him when I eat one [and it gets all stuck in my teeth] :P
They look delish! I’ll definitely try them!
Your Halloween treats are so fun! These look especially delicious!
I think I know what I’m making for my boyfriend’s welcome home treat tomorrow! nummy! And my favourite “Cheap” chocolate bar is a kitkat. Nothing else tempts me, but a kit kat…now that’s another story. I like the little boxes of smarties too, just enough for me.
Hi Angela,
Wow, thanks for the great recipe. I’ve already tried to make them, but I can’t seem to form balls. It’s too mushy and sticky. I’ve made the ‘caramel’ with soaked dates, so I think that’s the problem. Do you have any idea how I can solve it and make the date paste more solid (freezing it for 3 hours didn’t help)? Maybe I’ll add some whole grain rice crisps and call them Lion bars (Dutch name for the crispy, caramel, chocolate bar).
Thanks again for your creative idea, I love, love, love most of your recipes :).
Wow! These look incredible! I haven’t thought about rolos in years, much less eaten one. I used to love them while growing up (eaten while wearing my neon colors, of course). Thanks for providing me with the grown-up healthy version. :-)
Great treat idea! And cute decorations. I’d wonder how they would look fully covered with chia. I might have to try that. It’d look like fly eyes or something weird….Hahahaha! I am still trying to decide what to be for Halloween.
Yes, I’m going to be a mermaid! I found a green sparkly and scaly skirt from H&M, and I’m going to put tinsel in my hair and wear a shell bikini— probably over a flannel since I am in Maine!