Healthy Caramel Yogurt Apple Dip is creamy, decadent, perfect to jazz up your apple slices but made with clean whole ingredients. When you are craving caramel but don’t want sugar or butter, this dip is for you!
WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE
There are so many reasons to fall in love with this addictive dip!
- It’s creamy, sweet, salty and delicious.
- Perfect for a healthy snack with some apple slices, strawberries or gluten- free pretzels.
- It’s only made with 6 clean ingredients.
- It will curb your caramel cravings but there is no sugar involved.
- It is ONLY sweetened with Medjool dates.
- It’s super quick and easy to make. All you need is a food processor.
- It stays fresh in the fridge for days.
- It is kid friendly.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
Medjool Dates: soft, sweet, creamy and naturally tasting like caramel, these dates are the best kind to use for this dip. The fresher, the better! If they seem hard, make sure to give them a good soak in hot water to soften.
Greek Yogurt: I like 2% fat Greek yogurt by Fage but you can use whatever brand you like, as long as it says Greek yogurt on the package. Regular yogurt is too thin for this recipe.
Cashew Butter: I like to use cashew butter because it has a neutral taste, compared to other nut butters. I buy mine at Trader Joe’s but most grocery stores carry it these days. You can also swap it for peanut or almond butter, though for the most “caramely” flavor, I recommend sticking to cashew butter.
Sea Salt: for a true salted caramel flavor! I used fine sea salt for this recipe.
Vanilla: I use vanilla bean paste because I find it to be the most flavorful and I love the black specks of black vanilla in my food but if you don’t have it, don’t worry, all natural vanilla extract will also work well.
HOW TO MAKE CARAMEL YOGURT APPLE DIP
STEP 1: Pre-soak the dates. Pour some boiling hot water over Medjool dates and soak them for at least 15 minutes to soften. If your dates are super fresh and soft, you may get away with skipping this step but I always soak my dates before processing, just to make sure they will blend well.
STEP 2: Process dates until smooth. Place the pitted, pre-soaked dates in the food processor with a splash of hot water and process until smooth paste forms. You will probably have to stop the food processor a couple times to scrape the sides. If you are having trouble with this, add a little more hot water. They will eventually blend but it does take some patience!
STEP 3: Add all remaining ingredients: Greek yogurt, vanilla, cashew butter and sea salt. Process together until creamy and smooth. Give it a taste and add more salt, if desired.
STEP 4: Serve at room temperature or chill in the fridge until ready to use.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
The most obvious pairing for this delicious dip is fresh apple slices but you can enjoy it with other foods, too. Here are some suggestions on what to dip in healthy caramel yogurt dip:
- strawberries
- pineapple chunks
- grapes
- bananas
- pretzel sticks or mini pretzels
- crackers
HOW TO STORE IT
Store this caramel yogurt apple dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freezing dairy products is not recommended.
FAQs AND EXPERT TIPS
Is this dip healthy?
It is definitely healthier than the traditional mix of cream cheese and store bought caramel. It is naturally sweetened with dates only and it provides a nice boost of protein thanks to the addition of Greek yogurt and cashew butter.
Do I need to soak the dates?
If your Mejool dates are super fresh, soft and creamy, you may get away with skipping this step but I tend to always soak my dates to help them blend into a paste.
Can I use plain (non-Greek) yogurt?
No. Regular plain yogurt is too thin and the dip won’t have the right texture. If you don’t have Greek yogurt available, you could replace it with Skyr (thick Icelandic yogurt, usually low-fat).
Which brand of Greek yogurt is the best?
There are many great brands on the market. My favorite is Fage (2% fat) but sometimes I buy other brands, too. A good rule of thumb when choosing Greek yogurt is to pick one that has a minimal list of ingredients (usually milk, cream and active cultures bacteria). Many brands on the U.S. market add starch, gelatin, other thickeners and preservatives to make the yogurt thicker but true Greek yogurt is basically strained cultured milk.
Can I make this vegan?
Yes. The only adjustment you need to make is to swap dairy Greek yogurt for a non-dairy kind such as this one from Kate Hill.
Can I use a standup blender?
I tried making this dip in a food processor, a mini chopper and a standup blender (Vitamix). I have to say that food processor definitely does the best job. If you don’t have one, it is certainly possible to make it in a standup blender but it will require some time and patience. Blenders work best when you add liquid so you may need to add a bit more hot water to the dates.
What to do if my dates don’t want to form a paste?
Just be patient, keep stopping the food processor, scraping the sides and add more hot water, if needed, but only 1 tablespoon at a time.
What can I replace cashew butter with?
You can use whatever nut butter you like: peanut, almond or mixed nut butter. Cashew butter has a neutral and almost caramel-like flavor which is why I like using it for this dip but other nut butters will also work.
Can I make this dip nut-free?
Yes! Instead of cashew butter try using tahini or sun butter.
OTHER HEALTHY SNACKS TO TRY
Chocolate Bliss Balls
Apricot Bliss Balls
Peanut Butter Bliss Balls
Almond Butter Brown Rice Cups with Chocolate
Healthy Banana Mug Cake
If you’ve tried this Healthy Caramel Yogurt Apple Dip recipe, I would love for you to leave me a comment! No time to make it now? Pin it for later!
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Healthy Caramel Yogurt Apple Dip
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 15 minutes for soaking dates:
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Description
Healthy Caramel Yogurt Apple Dip is creamy, decadent, perfect to jazz up your apple slices but made with clean whole ingredients. When you are craving caramel but don’t want sugar or butter, this dip is for you!
Ingredients
6–7 Medjool dates, pitted
½ cup Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
1 tablespoon cashew butter
½ teaspoon sea salt
1–2 tablespoons boiling hot water, as needed
Instructions
- Soak the dates in hot water for at least 15 minutes, then drain.
- Place the pre-soaked, pitted dates in the bowl of a food processor and pulse several times until the dates are finely chopped. Then turn the food processor on and pour in a tablespoon of hot water to help blend the dates into a paste. Add another tablespoon of water, if needed. You may need to stop and scrape the sides of the food processor a couple times to help the process.
- Turn off the food processor. Add yogurt, vanilla, cashew butter and sea salt. Blend until smooth.
- Serve at room temperature or chilled.
Notes
Soaking Medjool dates will help blending them into a paste.
If you don’t have cashew butter, you can swap it for peanut or almond butter.
For a vegan version of this dip, use fairy-free Greek yogurt, such as Kate Hill.
To make this dip nut-free, swap cashew butter for tahini or sun butter.
- Category: dessert
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: healthy caramel dip, caramel yogurt dip, apple yogurt dip
That dip looks amazing. The texture and the flavors…yum! I bet this tastes super delicious. I’m going to whip it today and serve it as a snack for my boys. Thanks!
★★★★★
Sounds like the perfect fall dip. I will make some for Halloween and take it over to the grandkids.
★★★★★
This was absolutely scrummy and tasted so decadent! Loved how easy it was to make!
★★★★★
This is such a great idea!! A healthy and delicious dip everyone loved! Thanks!
★★★★★
I see why it goes perfectly with apple slices! And I love the taste combo:)
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