Soak dates in a bowl of hot water for 10-15 minutes to soften them.
Remove and transfer them to a blender jar along with the remaining ingredients.
Blend until you get a smooth paste.
Blend longer than you think you need to. Dates can look fully broken down while still leaving micro-grit that shows up on the tongue, so keep blending and tasting as you go.
Notes
Reserve a few tablespoons of the date soaking water and blend in a splash at a time to loosen the sauce if it’s too thick.
Start blending on low, then increase speed, stop and scrape down the sides a couple of times and blend again for the smoothest finish.
If you want the date caramel sauce to be warm and more pourable, briefly warm the cream before blending it, or microwave the finished sauce for 10–15 seconds.