Caramel Chocolate Bars

These Caramel Chocolate Bars combine sumptuous salted date caramel, an oaty biscuit base and lots of dark chocolate for a decadent, yet healthier treat.

Caramel Chocolate Bars you guys! Oh my gosh, these are so good. I'm so excited to be sharing this recipe with you today! Are you ready?

I've had these bars on my mind for ages and they're finally here! Ever since I made this Healthy Date Granola, I just knew that these bars had to happen. I used this incredible salted date caramel as the base of that granola but I knew it was just too good to use for granola alone! I needed to exalt that caramel to higher status. We're doing that today. Oh yes we are! Get excited.

I'm not one to restrict anything from my diet - I eat meat, dairy, gluten, eggs, vegetables, grains, refined sugar - the lot (except blue cheese of course). I believe in a healthy balance. So, I'm definitely not above eating a regular caramel chocolate bar. Or any kind of chocolate bar for that matter. But the thing is, I love food. Like, ADORE it. And I'm endlessly fascinated by all kinds of foods! I love to experiment, hence you'll find all kinds of recipes here on this blog!

So if I can make the most delicious, unctuous salted caramel out of dates, you betcha I'll do it. Especially if it's frankly easier to do than regular caramel most days. Yes, I'm also all for an easy life. And if there's a chance it might be a teensy bit healthier than the regular kind, I'm pretty happy about that too. And while once I'd have argued that the ingredients listed here were too outside the box, I really don't think that's true in 2018. I reckon most people will have most of these things in their cupboard already, ready to whip up these Caramel Chocolate Bars in no time. And if you don't, why not give something new a try? It's like an adventure - and adventure is FUN! Plus, once you've made them once, you'll definitely want to make them again!

Speaking of dietary choices, all of the above is absolutely true, but starting tomorrow my husband and I are challenging ourselves to eat solely vegan/plant-based food for 28 days! We're honestly so excited about it! For us, it's about stepping out and trying something different for a while but also about supercharging our diet with veggies for a month. I don't know if you can relate but personally, I find that during the winter months I tend to descend into a bit of a comfort food rut - especially as this winter has been particularly long and cold. So I'm using the next month as an opportunity to have a bit of a reset and to eat all the vibrant things! Eee I can't wait!

So, over the next month, all of the recipes posted here will be vegan! If you have any recipe requests or suggestions then please do send them my way! I love hearing from you 🙂

And! I totally didn't plan it this way (I wish I was that on the ball...) but these Caramel Chocolate Bars also happen to be vegan! So I can happily nibble away at the stash of these that is tucked away in my freezer right now. Yay!

Let me tell you more about them. Okay. The biscuit base is adapted from these vegan 7-layer bars from Minimalist Baker. It's made from oats and almonds and provides a tasty, crisp base to contrast the soft caramel on top. The caramel is a mixture of dates, almond butter and coconut oil and this time I blended the dates with almond milk to make the caramel super creamy. You can of course use water if you prefer. The bars are then coated with a thick layer of dark chocolate and topped with any sprinkles you fancy. I always reach for the ones with lots of flaky sea salt on top because I live for that sweet-salty combo!

I seriously hope you make the Caramel Chocolate Bars soon! When you bite through that crackly dark chocolate and reach the soft caramel and then the crunchy biscuit base? Heaven. I'm so excited for you!

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