Snack game en pointe.

(Yes, it’s “en pointe” because I come from a ballet background.)

Anyway, this Salted Caramel Cashew Butter is 5 ingredients, whips up in about 2 minutes and is so lush and creamy and salty and sweet, it’s the perfect accessory to fresh fruit. Or just off the spoon is good too.

Lately my friends and I have been laughing at all of the “crack” recipes on Pinterest. Apparently, if you add cream cheese to a recipe it becomes addictive to the point of drug abuse. Eh, no. I’m not vegan – I’m not even vegetarian – but I do stay away from processed foods. And I’ll fully admit, I love a good, chewy bagel slathered with delicious cream cheese. But unfortunately, most cream cheese has additional stabilizers and preservatives that I’m just not into. And, since my doctor has banned all grains and most dairy from my life, the above duo just isn’t in my life anymore. And, yes, I feel better for not having those. Much better. My thyroid is on the mend, drug free.

I digress…

Anyway, if you’re looking for something with that creamy, luscious mouth feel, a little sweet, a tad salty, this is it. Plus: whole food. No additives. Cashews are heart healthy, raising the “good” cholesterol and contain elements like copper and iron that help your cardiovascular and immune systems. Medjool dates are blazingly sweet, replacing the need for any refined sugars or even honey, keeping this recipe perfect for both vegan and non alike. A 1/4 cup of dates contains about 291 milligrams of potassium. Potassium is the third most abundant mineral in the body. It helps the body regulate fluid, send nerve signals and regulate muscle contractions. And those dates give a natural, caramel flavor and texture. They’re pretty perfect.

Whip up a batch and serve with fresh cut fruit, breads (or those amazing grain free biscuits!), or blend into smoothies.

Recipe available for download here. Xoxo, Erica