The crust is a crunchy, salty-sweet, seed situation, topped with smooth and creamy caramel made from dates, cashew butter, and miso! It may sound strange, but the miso helps to recreate that distinctive tang of caramel made with dairy. Just a couple teaspoons adds tons of umami flavour, plus enzymes and good bacteria to your indulgence! Use a milder miso – like white or yellow – instead of red or dark brown, and feel free to increase the amount if you’re wild about the magic it brings to dates. I hope you love this little treat as much as I do. Such a tasty way to go deep!
Salted Miso Caramel Cups
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup / 150g raw hulled sunflower seeds (almonds, pecans or walnuts also work)
- 1 cup / 200g pitted soft dates
- ¼ tsp. sea salt
Filling
- 1 ½ cups / 300g pitted soft dates
- 4-6 Tbsp. recently boiled water
- 2 Tbsp. coconut oil virgin or refined / flavour neutral
- ⅓ cup / 80ml cashew butter or any nut / seed butter
- 1 ½ Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tsp. white miso or more if desired
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Topping
- 150 g dark chocolate 80% or higher
- flaky salt for garnish
Directions
- Start by making the crust. In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast sunflower seeds until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside to cool for a minute.
- Place seeds and dates in a food processor with sea salt and pulse to chop until they are to your desired fineness (process a finer crust longer than a chunky one). Test the crust by spooning out a small amount of mixture and rolling it in your hands. If the ingredients hold together, your crust is perfect (if it’s too dry, add more dates, if it’s too wet add sunflower seeds).
- Press the crust into silicon muffin cups, or a muffin tin lined with plastic wrap. Use about 1½ tablespoons of crust per cup.
- Make the caramel by adding the dates and a couple tablespoons of the hot water to the same food processor (no need to wash it) and blend on high until the dates form a smooth paste. Add more hot water if necessary. Next add the coconut oil, cashew butter, lemon juice, miso, and vanilla. Blend on high until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Spread a heaped tablespoon of caramel over the crust layer of each cup. Use wet fingers to smooth it out.
- Lastly, melt the chocolate over a double boiler. Spoon on top of each cup and sprinkle with flaky salt, then freeze.
- Remove cups from the freezer, pop off the molds, say thank you, and enjoy! Store leftovers in the freezer for up to one month.
Notes
Makes about 17
