Easy Vegan Date Caramel Hummus Recipe- No Refined Sugar (Dessert Dip)

Ready to dip some apple slices in a plant-based creamy caramel dip? This Easy Vegan Date Caramel Hummus Recipe is sweetened naturally without oil or refined sugar.

That makes it perfect for your healthy eating lifestyle.

This easy vegan date caramel hummus recipe is a healthy alternative to traditional dessert dips.

Dates provide a natural sweetness, chickpeas are the base, while vanilla adds flavor and depth making it taste just like caramel.

Why you should make this vegan dip

This creamy dip is made mainly with antioxidant-rich dates and other whole food plant-based ingredients, like chickpeas.

That makes it more nutritious than most desserts and when you dip in fruit, like sliced apples or pears, it’s the perfect whole food plant-based dessert!

This vegan caramel dip has no added oils and delivers on flavor – leaving your taste buds satisfied while fitting into your eating plan.

Dip in some apple slices and it tastes just like caramel apples.

What is sweet hummus?

Dessert hummus is a sweet dip that usually uses a base of pureed chickpeas. It may seem counter-intuitive, using beans in a dessert, but it works really well.

In the Great Vegan Bean Book, I created a ton of dessert recipes including chickpea chocolate chip cookies, black bean fudgesicles, cherry crumble bars, and these double chocolate chip cookies.

The trick is that the beans are the base and you use other flavors and sweeteners to cover up the bean flavor.

This vegan caramel dip gets its caramel flavor from dates. Dip in some apple slices in this vegan caramel for a healthy fall treat.

What is date caramel hummus made from?

This vegan date caramel hummus recipe is a healthy dessert option because it has no refined sugar. It has no added oils like canola, olive oil, or sunflower oil.

All you need to make this healthy and protein-packed dessert dip is water, dates, chickpeas, and vanilla extract.

You will need a little aquafaba, water, or nondairy milk to blend it up to a smooth creamy consistency.

It is refined sugar-free and has no: coconut sugar, brown sugar, cane sugar, or cane syrups in it at all.

The recipe is only sweetened with only dates, but you can add a drizzle of maple syrup if you want to add that flavor.

How do you make healthy dessert hummus?

Add the dates to a bowl and cover with some filtered water to soak for 30 minutes. Drain the dates before blending so it’s not too thin.

You can save that liquid to sweeten your tea a bit if you want. If you do be sure to store it in the fridge.

Strain the aquafaba from the can of chickpeas and save it to use in baking or to thin the caramel hummus later. You can freeze the bean water in ice cube trays to use later.

Combine the dates and chickpeas to your blender or small food processor along with the vanilla.

Blend until smooth, adding water, aquafaba, or almond milk to thin it out enough to blend smoothly.

The amount you need to use will depend on your blender or food processor, plus how well you drained the dates.

Date caramel hummus variations

If you want something beyond the plain caramel hummus there are so many ways you can change up this basic recipe.

Try any of these:

• add in a few tablespoons of cocoa or cocoa powder to make it a chocolate hummus – it tastes like brownie batter and you can add more to make it dark chocolate
• mix in a few tablespoons of chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips to make a loaded candy bar hummus
• use only soaked dates and vanilla if you have a friend that can’t have beans at all
• blend in some mashed sweet potato, cinnamon, and allspice for a Thanksgiving hummus
• you can substitute white beans for garbanzo beans
• if you are ok with a little maple syrup, you can add in a drizzle of it and top with minded walnuts for a maple walnut dip
• top with a little sea salt to change this into a sea salt caramel hummus
• blend in a tablespoon or two of almond butter or peanut butter to make it creamy and it will give the dip a toffee flavor.

How can I thicken caramel hummus if it’s too thin?

My first choice is to add more soaked dates that you strain very well and blend again.

You could add more strained chickpeas, a handful of cashews, or use another nut.

What should I eat dip in dessert hummus?

My number one go-to is crisp autumn apple slices. It’s a great way to get that sweet bite after dinner without ingesting a ton of refined sugar.

It’s also great on bananas, pears, berries, and after you dip you can sprinkle chopped nuts, dried fruit, or even some mini chocolate chip on it.

Try vegan graham crackers, crispy vegan cookies, or even spread on sweet potatoes or toast.

I like to dip in pretzels in a pinch.

How do you store this vegan caramel dip?

You can store it in the fridge for up to a week in a sealed container. I like to store it in small reusable containers so I can grab one serving out at a time to put on my plate with my dippies.

It also freezes great, so you can make a double batch less frequently. I also freeze in single-serving portions

What else can I use this for?

Caramel hummus can top cupcakes, be used as icing on a whole food plant-based cake, or even sandwiched between homemade vegan cookies.

More vegan dessert hummus recipes

• Pumpkin Pie hummus
• Chocolate hummus
• Instant Pot channa dal caramel hummus
• Not hummus, but turtle butter is a great sweet spread too
• Coming soon: vegan dessert hummus recipe roundup!