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
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?
This looks like a yummy treat for next week!
I will be making these for sure. I will be selecting a costume this week, hope the costume stores are still well stocked!
Did you use the Vitamix to mash up the dates?
Or a food processor?
Thanks
A food processor :)
LOVED them. Can I consider this a health food? ;)
I don’t have a processor so I chopped up the dates as best as I could and added more peanut butter. Turned out great:)
Thank you
So glad to hear you enjoyed them!
Just made these! I love that they are so-flippin-easy!!!!! And you are right, they taste very similar to rolos!! YAYYY!!
I’m craving something sweet right now and you’re the first one I turn to for the “yummy + healthy” combo. I’m making these this weekend!
These are SO yummy! They taste more like Milk Duds (my favourite!) to me. I may have to bring a baggie of them to the movies…
Yum! These are inspiring me to run to the kitchen right now! I am sure my kids will be happy that I did when they taste them. My husband just said, “What no caramel?” I can’t wait to serve him one. :)
I made these yesterday, and my gosh they truly taste like the real thing! My Dad will usually go nowhere near my healthy creations but he LOVED these and has nearly eaten them all! Thank you so much for creating these!
I’m going to have to make these! I can eat quite a few rolos, I love them!
I was soooo an eighties child…. I had the side pony and the neon pink skirt.
Ok, I’ll admit it- at first I thought “yea right, I bet this tastes nothing like caramel.” Well, it totally does and now I have to buy dates in bulk and experiment. Thanks, Angela!
I made these this afternoon and they came out wonderfully! Only difference was that I had to add a smidge of water to my blender to get the dates/PB to process smoothly and I mixed the chia seeds directly into the date-caramel. SO Yummy!! Thanks!
I made these and they are amazing. I think they taste better than Rolos because they don’t include the guilt associated with eating massive amounts of candy.
Made these today and we LOVE ’em!!! Thanks for another great recipe!!
The best thing to come out of this recipe is date caramel. I’ll have to try that.
I made these on Saturday and they are amazing! Thanks again for another great recipe!
I made these twice this weekend because they went so fast! They are delicious. Blew my mind :)
Angela, these were amazing! It took a while for my date paste to come together (I was getting worried about crumbly centers), but it worked out in the end. My husband is a total dried-fruit-a-phobe, but he said these tasted like Milky Ways! I’m definitely making these again :)
Oh I just bought medjool dates tonight- Yay! But I may top these with sea salt instead of the chia. I love the trader Joes dark choc caramel black sea salt bars and I’m thinking this may be very similar:)
I made these, and they are delicious! I followed the pictorial steps, and I found they are missing instructions on when to add the salt. I ended up sprinkling it on top with the chia seeds because it was too late to add it too the date blend. Still superb!
I’m lovin’ your Rolos. Pair those little cuties with a latte and suddenly a frosty morning gets a nice warm “glo” on.