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!
Homemade “Rolo” Knock-offs
To email, text, or print this recipe, click here.
Yield: 18 bites
Ingredients:
- 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
- scant 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- chia seeds (optional)
The chia seeds were added for a 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.
How to make:
1. Process dates with nut/seed butter until a sticky paste forms.
2. Chill date mixture in freezer for 10 minutes, then shape into about 18 small balls.
3. Freeze balls again for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, melt chocolate with coconut oil.
4. Dunk each chilled ball into chocolate. Tap off excess. Sprinkle with chia and stick with toothpick.
5. Place bites back into the freezer for at least 20 minutes to set. Bites taste best when they are firm and cold, straight from the freezer. They soften at room temp, but do not melt.
6. Enjoy!
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?
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!
I just made little energy snack from dates yesterday! I wish I’d seen this recipe first, it look delish!
Does the pinch of salt go into the date mixture?
Yes it does! It’s written in the recipe I linked to. Enjoy!
Ahh I love this! I actually could never have Rolos as a kid because they say “may contain traces of nuts” on the label. So now I can make up for all those years without them by making these! ;)
My favourite candy bars were/are Hershey’s cookies ‘n cream, Caramilk, Kit Kat, Coffee Crisp, and mint Aero!
Wow, I would have never guessed that the date mixture would turn out like caramel. Super creative Ange! My favourite chocolate bars were Crispy Crunch and Twix, and although I’m not really a big chocolate person, those would still be my top 2 today! As for costumes, I’m not sure what’s happening in my house as far as dressing up goes, but I think those gloves were made for you! ;)
When do you put in the pinch of sea salt?
the salt is added With the date mixture – please see the recipe link. Enjoy! :)
Thanks for the reply. I still don’t see where it mentions adding the salt in the recipe…LOL.
I made them last night without the salt and they turned out great. My daughter, a chocoholic, LOVED them. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
D’oh…now I see it on the link. I just made them from the blog post…LOL. Thanks again.
oh holy crap! Sooooo excited to make these =)
I have to bring in some treats for a Halloween thing at my volunteer gig and I was racking my brain trying to think of something not completely evil (like the candy currently flying off of the shelves), somewhat healthy but fun. Score!
Ole YUMMYYYYY!! I need to try this recipe.
I recently became vegan, and I used to LOVEEE rolos as a kid. I was so thrilled to see this recipe, but I have a nut allergy :( Any suggestions for a nut/seed butter substitution??
You are SO creative! Love this recipe! Such a great healthy halloween treat.
OMG! These look so good!
I love this recipe…can’t wait to try it!
I just finished making these, and they are awesome!!!! I am having to use all of my self-control to not go finish off the rest of them! Thanks for the great recipe!!!!
THANK YOU for actually making these, and THEN commenting on your experience (so tired of the ‘can’t wait to make these!!!! comments, and then no follow up).
I have no idea what to be! But I do know that I want to try making these!
Nice recipe! If I have some kind of holiday event I might make these :)
Oh my goodness! I just posted a recipe so similar to this a few days ago on my blog, “ShotglassTruffles” except with peanut butter whipped cream as the center! So decadent! Will have to try your version! They look delicious. Those toothpicks are adorable and so are the pics!! Can’t wait to try them.
Oh and of course they’re vegan…I use coconut cream as the peanut butter whipped cream :)
My favourite chocolate has to be Snickers! I love it because it has a bit of everything :) These rolos look awesome! I’m not a big fan of dates but might just have to try this!
Oh my gosh I haven’t had Rolo’s since I was a kid! I have to make your healthy version!!! What a great treat!!
“o” rings worn in bunches on your wrist like Madonna, oxford shoes, white Keds, wayfarer sunglasses in bright colors
Looks verrrrryy yummy!
If you use white chocolate and stick some green/blue/brown M&M candy on top, they would look like eyeballs :D
This is AMAZING! Can’t wait to try them out : )
I think I’m a little tooooo excited to try these. When I was younger, I was obsessed with rolos and once gave my dad one to throw away because I dropped in on the street. Let’s just say he didn’t realize any of this…ha he still makes fun of me today
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!