Date shakes. Date cakes. Recently, dates started taking over the dessert section, which makes sense since they add natural sweetness and a pop of sugary crystals to recipes. Because they’re sticky, they act as a perfect binder for granola bars and cookies. And when heated in a pan, they also make a great stand-in for caramel. <br /> <br />Although homemade caramels are generally low in sodium as long as you skip salted butter and salt, this recipe is a perfect example of how easily you can boost the flavor of a dish just by switching up the ingredients—like dates for sugar, coconut oil for butter, and coconut milk for heavy cream. If you want to see what the date hype is about, give this recipe a try and get ready to be impressed. Cover your date caramels in chocolate and chopped candied ginger, crushed nuts, or toasted coconut—or even crumbled Salt-Free Bacon (page 93) for a real low-sodium surprise. <br /> <br />Recipe reprinted from Low-So Good by Jessica Goldman Foung <br />

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