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Home >> Dark Chocolate Salted Caramels For Valentine’s Day

Dark Chocolate Salted Caramels For Valentine’s Day

February 11, 2014 By Kaylee Pauley 6 Comments

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Clean-Eating-Dark-Chocolate-Salted-Caramels10I think I’ve trained my taste buds over time to love most healthy foods. Not all of them, but a lot of them. So sometimes I’m a little hesitant to rave about something I’ve made and love myself, in fear that those who maybe are not accustom to eating healthier meals, may be disappointed or turn up their noses at the typical things you’ll find here on Lemons and Basil.

Clean-Eating-Dark-Chocolate-Salted-Caramels1aBut today, I am going to throw caution to the wind and tell you that these Dark Chocolate Salted Caramels are AMAZING!

Clean-Eating-Dark-Chocolate-Salted-Caramels2

Clean-Eating-Dark-Chocolate-Salted-Caramels5bAnd while I love eating clean and can appreciate things sometimes tasting “healthier” as a tradeoff because they are healthier, I also know and love my sweets and know a good, rich, dark chocolate, salted caramel when I taste it. And these are exactly that!

Clean-Eating-Dark-Chocolate-Salted-Caramels3a

Clean-Eating-Dark-Chocolate-Salted-Caramels8I wouldn’t necessarily say they are healthy, I mean you can’t eat these and expect your body to respond like it would to a detox kale smoothie. But they are made using no refined sugars, and include ingredients such as dark chocolate, raw honey and dates, along with a little organic butter and coconut oil.

Clean-Eating-Dark-Chocolate-Salted-Caramels7

Clean-Eating-Dark-Chocolate-Salted-Caramels9If you break it down, there are several benefits to be found:

  • Dark Chocolate has antioxidants known as Flavonoids, which help soak up harmful free radicals from the body and may help improve brain function in older people as well as help prevent blood clots and strokes.
  • Honey contains antioxidants that neutralize free radicals which have the potential to lead to infections or cancer. It may also help with healing inflammation.
  • Dates are high in fiber and contain Triglycerides that have the ability to lower cholesterol levels. It is also high in the B vitamin family.
  • Maple Syrup contains high levels of manganese, which is needed for many enzymatic and antioxidative functions in the body. It also provides zinc, important for maintaining healthy endothelium cells.
  • Coconut Oil has been proven to contain thyroid stimulating effects, anti-aging properties, decreased levels of LDL cholesterol, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties that prevent illness, anti-cancer effects, as well as weight loss properties due to thyroid stimulation.
  • Organic Butter does not contain the toxic pesticides found in conventional alternatives and is high in Vitamin A, as well as other fat-soluble vitamins such as D, E and K. It also has other minerals such as iodine, calcium and potassium.

Convinced yet?

Clean-Eating-Dark-Chocolate-Salted-Caramels13b

Clean-Eating-Salted-Caramel-Rolos4And the best thing about these? They would make the perfect gift for you to make your loved one for Valentine’s Day! What better way to say I love you then to give these dark chocolate salted caramels that are not only homemade with love, but also better for you, ahem… I mean them. But you too, because even if they don’t share, you can sneak a few before packaging them up!

Clean-Eating-Dark-Chocolate-Salted-Caramels10
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Dark Chocolate Salted Caramels

These Dark Chocolate Salted Caramels are rich, creamy and made without any refined sugars!
Prep Time30 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: caramels, dark chocolate, salted caramel
Servings: 16
Calories: 80kcal
Author: Kaylee Pauley

Ingredients

  • For the Chocolate
  • 3 tbsp organic butter
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin organic coconut oil
  • 1.5 ounce 1 serving 70% dark chocolate - I used Dark Greens & Black Organic
  • 2 ½ tbsp. raw honey
  • 4 ½ tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1/8 tsp. sea salt
  • For the Caramel
  • 5 large pitted dates soak dates in warm water if they are firm, then drain
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/8 tsp sea salt

Instructions

  • In a double boiler or heatproof bowl over a simmering saucepan of water, melt organic butter, coconut oil and 70% dark Chocolate . Remove from heat and stir in honey until well combined. Slowly add in cocoa powder and salt, stir gently to combine until smooth.
  • In mini muffin pan, spoon in small spoonful of melted chocolate mixture (set some aside to add after the caramel). Tilt the pan slightly to allow chocolate to coat the sides. Place in the freezer to set for approx 10 minutes.
  • In a food processor blend dates, maple syrup and sea salt until smooth.
  • Remove the chocolates from the freezer. Spoon a little of the caramel into each mold on top of the set chocolate, spread caramel flat. Spoon remaining melted chocolate over top, covering the caramel completely. Place pan back in the freezer to set. Wait until the chocolate is totally firm before taking it out of the mold, 1-2 hours. Remove chocolate caramels from pan with small knife, store in tightly sealed container in the freezer for up to one month. Careful not to leave chocolates at room temperature for more than 30 minutes as they will soften quickly.

Notes

Sprinkle Dark Chocolate Caramels with additional sea salt if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 10.8g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 4.3g | Saturated Fat: 2.7g | Cholesterol: 5.6mg | Sodium: 29.5mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g

Recipe adapted from My New Roots. 

All health benefits taken from LIVESTRONG.com.

 

Filed Under: Dark Chocolate, Dates, Desserts & Snacks, Honey, Maple Syrup

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Comments

  1. Helen @ Scrummy Lane says

    February 11, 2014 at 2:18 PM

    I’ve just discovered how versatile dates are in making sweet things a little healthier … these look divine!

    Reply
    • Kaylee Pauley says

      February 12, 2014 at 2:28 PM

      As have I, love them! :-)

      Reply
  2. Grace says

    February 12, 2014 at 12:31 AM

    These look amazing! I’m salivating at the thought of them! I know what you mean about clean eating recipes. Sometimes I’ll enjoy them but my boyfriend will turn up his nose. He constantly asks me “what’s in this?” as if waiting for me to tell him what horrible healthy thing is in it!

    I think he’ll be able to try these, though he’s not a fan of dark chocolate. I should just tell him it’s unhealthy, then he’d love dark chocolate!

    Reply
    • Kaylee Pauley says

      February 12, 2014 at 2:36 PM

      It’s funny how “healthy” translates to “yucky” in the minds of some! You could always swap out the dark chocolate for milk, but I’m also all for tricking him into the dark, good luck! :-)

      Reply
  3. Taylor @ greens & chocolate says

    February 12, 2014 at 2:36 PM

    I’ve been loving using dates to make homemade Lara Bars lately…I can’t wait to use them to make dessert, too! These look delicious!

    Reply
    • Kaylee Pauley says

      February 12, 2014 at 8:35 PM

      I’m definitely becoming a huge date fan! Looking forward to trying them in a Lara Bar with chocolate and peanut butter like you recently posted!

      Reply

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About Me


I'm Kaylee, former full-time Interior Designer, now full-time mommy, part-time designer and part-time food blogger! My family and I live in Franklin, TN and this is my little piece of the internet where I enjoy sharing my love for healthy food as well as a look into our day-to-day lives!

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