Salted Caramel Milkshake (Vegan)

I’m often amazed at how easy it is to transform some of the most decadent sweets into healthy, plant-based treats.

Even though it seems counterintuitive, sometimes the whole-food version is easier to make – and tastier – than the sugar-laden, traditional recipe.

Take, for instance, this salted caramel milkshake.

If you made it from scratch, you’d spend more than a half-hour standing over a hot stove, stirring butter and sugar and cream together until caramelized. Then you’d have to allow it to cool before spooning it into ice cream (which would take about 6 to 12 hours to make).

Or, maybe you’d skip the homemade prep and just buy all of the ingredients from the grocery store. Which, of course, would leave you with a batch of preservative-laden, refined-sugar-spiked ingredients.

Thanks … but no thanks.

Vegan Salted Caramel Milkshake

Here’s a secret: You can make raw, vegan caramel in a blender in only about 5 minutes.

All you have to do is put pitted dates, pure maple syrup, vanilla, a bit of water and pinch of salt into the blender and puree until it’s smooth. Boom: salted caramel.

But, wait. It’s about to get even better, because we’re going to take that raw, plant-based, vegan caramel and blend it into a dairy-free milkshake.

And this frosty combo is going to make your entire weekend: mouthwatering, creamy caramel-vanilla almond milk, topped with maple-kissed coconut cream and salted caramel almonds.

Are you running to your blender? Me too!

If You Like This Recipe, You’ll Love:

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• Vegan Creme Brûlée with Caramelized Bananas. An elegant dessert with cashew cream and caramelized, pan-fried bananas … made in the blender!
• Paleo Blondies. Enjoy your favorite chocolate-chip cookie flavors, without flour or refined sugar. So yummy, you’ll want to make these once a week.

Print Recipe

Salted Caramel Milkshake (Vegan)

Dive into this plant-based milkshake that's made with a delicious salted caramel, dates, figs, and almond butter. And yes, it's better than the original.

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Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

5 minutes

Servings

MetricUS Imperial

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup raw honey or maple syrup (+ 3 tbsp)
• pinch cinnamon
• 12 Medjool dates (pitted)
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4-1/2 tsp sea salt flakes (like Maldon)
• 3 tbsp warm water
• 6 oz frozen figs or frozen sliced banana (about 1 cup)
• 1-1 1/4 cup almond or coconut milk
• 2 tbsp raw almond butter
• 3 tbsp coconut cream

Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 5 minutes Servings MetricUS Imperial Ingredients 1/4 cup sliced almonds 1/4 cup raw honey or maple syrup (+ 3 tbsp) pinch cinnamon 12 Medjool dates (pitted) 2 tsp vanilla 1/4-1/2 tsp sea salt flakes (like Maldon) 3 tbsp warm water 6 oz frozen figs or frozen sliced banana (about 1 cup) 1-1 1/4 cup almond or coconut milk 2 tbsp raw almond butter 3 tbsp coconut cream

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Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, heat almonds, 2 tbsp maple syrup and cinnamon together until syrup begins to bubble and almonds turn golden brown. Transfer to a piece of parchment, sprinkle with salt. Allow to cool.
2. In a high-speed blender (like a Vitamix) or food processor, combine 1/4 cup maple syrup, dates, 1 tsp vanilla, salt to taste and just enough water to make a smooth, soft caramel. Remove half of the caramel from the blender. Set aside.
3. To the caramel in the blender, add figs, almond milk and almond butter. Blend until smooth. Add more almond milk, if needed, until desired consistency is reached.
4. Dip the rims of 4 half-pint mason jars into the date-caramel mixture. Fill with milkshake. Whisk or whip together coconut cream and 1 tbsp honey. Spoon on top of milkshakes.
5. Top with almonds. Enjoy with a straw ... and a spoon.

Recipe Notes

If desired, swap in 1/2 cup decaf cold brew coffee instead of almond milk for tasty coffee flavor.

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Yuri Elkaim

Yuri Elkaim is one of the world’s most trusted health and fitness experts. A former pro soccer player turned NYT bestselling author of The All-Day Energy Diet and The All-Day Fat Burning Diet, his clear, science-backed advice has transformed the lives of more than 500,000 men and women and he’s on a mission to help 100 million people by 2040. Read his inspiring story, “From Soccer to Bed to No Hair on My Head” that started it all.