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?
Hello Angela! I want to say thanks for that yummy and sooo easy recipe. My friend at work just fall in love with those rolo bites, as I do, and I’m sending the recipe to my best friends too throught email… translated in French ;) Thanks from Sherbooke, QC. :)
Made these today and they are really good. I gave one to my 6 year old and said nothing about what they were. He took a bite and first thing out of his mouth? “mmmm, tastes like a rolo!”. Consider it a major hit if you can fool a candy obsessed 6 year old.
haha that’s awesome to hear!!
I just made these and as usual they are amazing!!! Every recipe I have tried from this site is delicious.
Hi-I see that salt is in the list of ingredients.. when do you add the pinch?
You can add it to the date caramel :)
figured but had to ask, thanks!!
Hi Ange, I just made these babies and oh my god!! They are soooo good – I literally ate 6 of these in one day! Just couldn’t resist them. It is the best treat I have had in forever. Thank you so much for this recipe :)
Glad to hear that Heidi! Enjoy :)
Wow those look delicious!! I need to try it. My favorite chocolates are Areo, Kit Kats, Coffee Crisps, Caramilks and Crispy Crunch.
I just made these Angela, they are SO good, my husband (who claims he hates dates) ate half the batch already, these are my new favorite candy! Thank you for your amazing ideas. :) Happy Halloween!!!
I’m happy to hear that! Happy Halloween to you too :)
I just made these and gave one to my niece and told her it was chocolate & caramel. She thinks she doesn’t like any of my “healthy” food (dates). She said it was a piece of heaven! I haven’t told her yet that it is really dates.
hah that’s great! Enjoy :)
Oooh, we are having a Halloween party at the library I work at and I wanted to make sure the treats I brought in were inclusive of all dietary needs. However, because of allergies, I don’t want to bring anything with nuts in it. Is there a possible alternative to the nut butter? Thanks!
I would suggest using sunflower seed butter. Enjoy!
Oh, now I see that you can use seed butter. I’ve never had that before. What would be the effect on the taste to use that instead of peanut butter?
Yum! Made these today and they’re super easy and fantastic. I found the 1/2 cup chocolate chips was enough to make two batches. I used “milk” chocolate chips (couldn’t find dark chocolate) and it was still yum. I have never had dates before this and I’ve got several ideas for their use now :) Thank you!
what do you do with the salt? does it go in the date mixture, the chocolate mixture, or do you sprinkle it on top?
I added it to the date mixture :) enjoy!
I made these yesterday in preparation for Hurricane Sandy…because yes, we’re directly in her path, and yes, I DO need chocolate to survive, That said, they’re wonderful and my kids are obsessed. You’re a genius.
I made these on the wknd, so easy and delicious! Plus they looked super pretty. I topped some with coconut, pecans, rice crispies and chia seeds before the chocolate hardened.
Thanks Angela!
Oooooo…I like your topping idea! Guess I’ll have to make them again.
Making your recipes has become a bit of an obsession and, thanks to you, I have more unique ingredients in my pantry than the local co-op. These little balls of heaven were so addictive. I fully intended to share them with my house guests. And I did mention it but maybe it was a noisy room and maybe I whispered and just maybe I didn’t mention it again. I’d like to add you to the very exclusive list of ladies I have proposed to.
bahahaha….oh man your comment just made my day. I am so honoured – and yes, I accept obviously. I will have to tell Eric in a noisy room while feeding him Rolos…
I just have to say I LOVE these. I stumbled upon your website and I have to say you have inspired me. I was looking for vegan recipes because my husband was diagnosed with cancer and I truly believe “vegan” is the way to go!! Long story short his prognosses is good and we are continuing to slowly transfer over to vegan. Let me also say I am from the midwest where meat and potatoes were always on the menu at almost every meal. This is quite a change but we are determined. If you have any suggestions please send them my way :) You are an inspiration and thanks for making our journey to “vegan” much easier than I expected. PS We also love your Veggie Burgers and Green Monsters (which my husband and parents have every morning)!!
Hi Carol, Thank you for your kind words! I wish you and your husband all my best. xo
Oh my goodness, I just made these and tried one and they are ridiculously good! Over the past week, I’ve come to the conclusion that you, my dear girl, are a geee-nius! :-) I found your blog the other day and keep sneaking back, when I really should be busy with other things, to see what else I can try out! Thank you so much for all that you do and Happy Halloween and 4th {Blog} Birthday! I am so grateful to have found you. Now… the rest of those rolos (I only made half measures, so there are already only 7 left) are sitting in the freezer and the question is, do I wait for my husband to get home and share them with him, or eat them all now and pretend they never happened?! ;-)
I’ve made these twice now to rave reviews! Love them. Now going to try your Kit Kat Bars!
Thank you. :)
They are so yummyyyy!!! Thank you so much for this recipe,it’s amazing,so easy to make and delicious! My husband and friends loved them too ;)
I’m pretty new to your blog, but loving it! Just a little tip I picked up from my mom when melting chocolate: put some water in a pan over medium-high heat and put a glass bowl over the pan (it must NOT be immersed in the water but should be a bowl big enough to perch on the pan edges). Put the choc chips in the glass bowl. The steam from the bubbling water will cause the choc chips to melt slowly. I use this every time and it’s flawless. Hope it made sense :-)
great tip!
OMG!!! The date carmel is amazing I wish I would have discovered that along time ago. My carmel has not made it to the rolo stage because I can’t stop eating the carmel by the spoonful.