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?
Angela, you’re amazing! I miss rolos soooo much.. Can’t wait to try your recipe out!
So much healthier to make rolo’s caramel with dates! I must try this!
And as a fruit lover… I’m being the Chiquita Banana Lady for Halloween!
Looking forward to making these for my parents, but I’m really excited for the Kit Kats. I was never huge on chocolate…but Kit Kats…MMMMMM.
That date carmel has be thinking about snickers…wonder if there is a vegan version of the nouget.
Thinking of going as a vampire.
So simple and so delicious!
I made these tonight, and my boyfriend, who is VERY picky about his sweets, adored them. The one change I made was to add a bit of vanilla to the caramel. I’m already thinking up variations…blending in some shredded coconut maybe? Yummm.
Also, to aid in the rolling of the very sticky caramel balls, I covered my hands in cocoa powder–it really helped!
Yum!! What a great halloween treat so as not to be tempted by all the mini chocolate bars :)
Mmmmm rolos! My favorites when I was younger (and still my faves!) are reese’s, snickers and kit kats. You could probably make snickers from this recipe with the addition of chopped peanuts and then the nougat part… not sure how you’d do that!?
Omg can’t wait to try making these!!
I was a Skor and Butterfinger kind of girl myself, back in my pre-vegan days:p
P.S. Your blog is AWESOME for vegan recipes, you should have a vegan cooking show on TV
Yummy! great idea!
I made these last night and they were soooo good and super easy. I tried to get people to guess what the “caramel” was made from, and they couldn’t! There’s something so satisfying about sweets that you make yourself from simple ingredients you can pronounce. Thanks for this. I will be making it again for sure!
I made these, just because I had ingredients for once! They are delicious! Perfect amount to satisfy the sweet tooth!
Oh My God! How can anyone say being a vegan is boring? We can have vegan anything these days. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
ooooooh….how about Twix!!!???
Angela!! These are amazing, I can actually say they are BETTER than a true Rolo!! Thank you for making such a great, east recipe. Keep them coming!
I made these delicious little marvels tonight. Wow! Tickled with how they turned out. I shared with everyone on my fb page!!! https://www.facebook.com/LivingOnGodsGreenEarth
Thanks for your wonderful recipes.
Yum! I tried this recipe today (also because I only had a small amount of dates left in the fridge and wanted to use them up) and I have to admit, I ate 1/2 of the recipe, if not, 2/3 of it (and I’ll shamelessly admit it too)! I’m having to ban myself from the kitchen just to keep myself from eating the rest!
I used to go as a witch, using my cousin’s old costume, for about a year or two, then I just began going as myself!
My top 5 favorite candy bars are: Snicker’s ICE CREAM bars, Butterfinger, Heath Bar, Pay Days, and Almond Joy. I’m so stinkin’ excited about this recipe! It looks so easy yet so healthy while being guilt-free! *stoked*
I will have to try these, always looking for healthy treats. For Halloween, last week my friend and I did a Halloween 5k Run and dressed up as hula girls! It was a blast! We had to make our own costumers – grass skirts out of rafia – since the 6 Halloween stores we visited did not carry the costume.
Oh wow Angela! These certainly are impressive! Can’t wait to try these out!