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Vegan Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints that require NO baking? Yup! The outer cookie is made with almonds, maple syrup and cocoa powder, while the "caramel" filling is made from dates. These cookies are easy to prep and just 6 ingredients!
What do you do when you have a chocolate craving? You make cookies of course. But what about days when you don't feel like turning on the oven? Insert: no bake chocolate caramel thumbprints. My buttercream thumbprint cookies are my typical go-to recipe, but these no bakes are fool-proof and taste incredible! Plus, they're made with good-for-you ingredients, so what's not to love?
My raw Nutella cupcakes were the inspiration for this recipe, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that these look way more like thumbprint cookies and less like cupcakes, hence the name change. Whatever you call them, they're delicious!
CHOCOLATE CARAMEL THUMBPRINT INGREDIENTS
- Almonds - preferably raw almonds vs. almonds with sea salt
- Cocoa powder
- Dates - buy pitted dates to make your life easier
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla extract
- Coconut oil
HOW TO MAKE THUMBPRINT COOKIES
Before you can make these cookies, you have to soak the dates for the caramel filling. In order to get the dates to turn into caramel, they have to be soft, so it helps to soak them in warm water for 10-20 minutes beforehand.
While that's happening, you can make the outer cookie. Rather than adding everything into my food processor at once, I did this in two batches so that everything blended up a little bit better. When I tried to add it all in, my food processor got stuck, and I don't want that happening to you 🙂
So, add HALF of the cookie ingredients to your food processor and pulse until everything is combined, then repeat that same process with the other half of the "batter".
Next, spray a muffin tin with nonstick spray or coat it with coconut oil, then use your hands or a spoon to form the cookie mixture to the muffin tin. Note: the mixture will be a tad sticky, and that's ok! If you want to minimize mess, dip a spoon in coconut oil and use that instead of your hands. Once that's done, stick the pan in the freezer while you make the caramel.
For the date caramel, simply add all of the ingredients to a blender and pulse for at least one minute so that the dates have time to turn into caramel. The end result should be a silky smooth delicious mixture that tastes eerily similar to caramel.
Scoop the caramel out of the blender and into the center of each thumbprint cookie. ...and that's it! These chocolate caramel thumbprints really are THAT easy.
HOW SHOULD I STORE THESE CHOCOLATE CARAMEL THUMBPRINTS?
Be sure to store these thumbprints in an airtight container in the refrigerator. That way, they hold shape and stay fresh for up to 5 days.
OTHER TASTY VEGAN DESSERTS
Vegan Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints
Ingredients
for the cookie:
- 1 cup raw almonds
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cups pitted dates
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
for the caramel:
- 1 ½ cups pitted dates
- 2 ½ tablespoon coconut oil
- ¾ cup warm water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Start by soaking the dates for the caramel filling: place 1 ½ cup dates in a bowl and then cover them with warm water and soak for 10-20 minutes, which will help soften them.
- Next, place HALF of the cookie ingredients into a food processor and pulse. You want to do this in 2 phases because it's a lot and when I tried to fit everything into my processor it got stuck and I don't want that happening to you 🙂 So, add HALF of the almonds, cocoa, dates, and syrup and pulse until everything is combined, then repeat that same process.
- Once everything is mixed, spray a muffin tin with nonstick spray and distribute cookie mixture evenly. You can use your hands for this, but I liked to use the back of a spoon coated in coconut oil so it's a little less messy. Whether you use your hands or a spoon, form a "thumbprint" into the center of each cookie, then place the muffin tin in the freezer while you make the caramel.
- For the date caramel: combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth*
- Remove muffin tin from freezer and place caramel into the center of each thumbprint cookie. Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Monique @ Burpees to Bubbly says
these- and the nutella ones- look so delicious! will have to whip them up this summer!
sarah grace says
ahhh this looks DELiciouS!
Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files says
These are what cookie dreams are made of! I love healthier spins on desserts and these have my name all over them!!
Erin says
Thanks Megan!
Catherine @ foodiecology says
Oh, I am so with you on date caramel...and keeping dates on hand. They're like nature's candy, and these cookies look fantastic.
Erin says
Yes! I need dates in my household at all times ha I'm glad you understand.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I'm in love with that filling!
Erin says
Thank you!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors says
Oh I just love date caramel - it's so addicting! Have you started stuffing your dates with cashew butter or walnut butter? OMG heaven!! Pinning for later!
Erin says
Thanks for pinning! YES I love dates dipped in almond butter... a match made in heaven if I do say so myself!
Lacey @ Runs & Roses says
I love making raw desserts like these! Especially naturally sweetened ones 🙂 And i've never made date caramel before but it looks delish!
Erin says
It is! You will become obsessed if and when you try it.
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen says
Pretty sure I need to make these ASAP. Just got a BA Breville food processor! 🙂
Erin says
Yes then you definitely have to!
Rachel @ athletic avocado says
love that these are no-bake! You always have the most creative recipes, yesterday I was roaming around your blog for an hour looking at them all! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Erin says
Ahh thank you!! ....no seriously you just made my night 🙂
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
Oh yum! I'd probably tear through a batch of these in one day too! They look awesome! And I love that you added extra almond-y-ness with the almond milk. 😉
Erin says
Almond-y-ness is where it's at 😉 Thanks Sarah!
Marisa @ Uproot from Oregon says
Love that you worked with the date caramel! These look super yummy 🙂
Erin says
Thanks for the inspiration lady 🙂
Les @ The Balanced Berry says
I am literally DROOLING on my keyboard right now. These look incredible! I'm a huge fan of date caramel - it's just way too good. When I go to the store, it's pretty much a given that I'm going to buy: avocados, bananas, nut butter. I go through those three way too quickly!
Erin says
Thank you!! Date caramel=the best. I also go through avocados like crazy!
Dani @ DaniCaliforniaCooks says
I LOVE thumbprint cookies. They are so festive. You whip up the best raw desserts!
Erin says
Thanks Dani! 🙂
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles says
I've never tried the date caramel thing, but I am curious! I'll have to get on that sometime. Preferably for making these 😉 I don't actually use dates all that often though! As for foods I'm always rushing out to buy: avocados, bananas and eggs. God forbid I run out of one of those 3 things.
Erin says
Ahhh those are 3 staples for me too. And ya gotta try the date caramel!
Ang @ Nutty for Life says
PSA to anyone reading: These were downright amaze. I'm glad I had the chance to personally taste them from the almond eater herself 😉
Erin says
Hehe thanks Ang!
Kelly @ Kelly Runs For Food says
This is why I don't make homemade treats very often, because they go so quickly! I had to laugh at how quickly you go through dates, because I've had the same batch in my pantry for months. I'm not even sure if they're good anymore haha.
Erin says
I'll take them!! 😀 But seriously..
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
How can something SO delicious looking be raw and vegan?! My brain is exploding right now. Can you send me some of these to start off my morning pretty please? Pinned!
Erin says
Haha thanks Taylor!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
WOWZERS! Pass the chocolate puhleeeze!!! These are sure to satisfy any craving - and seeing they are so healthy - I can easily eat more than 1 -right?! 🙂
I, too, love my dates, but after landing in the doc's office with an IV after overindulging in them (I had a bowl the size of three of my heads put together) when I was a teen, I have to pace myself these days!
Erin says
WHAT?! Oh my gosh.... that's good to know hahah I'm currently addicted but will remember this the next time I find myself shoving handfuls in my face..