Calling all CAVA lovers! This Creamy White Balsamic Date Dressing is sweet, tangy, completely oil-free, and made with just 6 simple ingredients. Everything goes straight into the blender, and in less than 5 minutes, you've got a delicious CAVA-inspired dressing ready to drizzle over your favorite bowls and salads.
Justin and I recently visited Baltimore and absolutely fell in love with the city! On our last day, we stumbled upon a CAVA, one of our favorite places to eat that we don't have anywhere near where we live in Michigan. I'm a little obsessed with their balsamic dressing, but since I try to avoid oil whenever possible, I decided it was time to make my own version. I pour it generously on salads, homemade bowls, even roasted veggies.
Want more delicious ways to dress up your veggies and bowls? Try my Quick & Creamy Vegan Italian Dressing for another easy oil-free favorite that's perfect for a cold pasta salad. Or switch things up with my Creamy Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing, perfect for any dipping occasion. And if you're building the ultimate big salad, don't forget a sprinkle of my Crispy Coconut Bacon Bits for a little smoky crunch!
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💗 Why You'll Love This Dressing
- Completely oil-free. All the creamy goodness without a drop of added oil. It's also gluten-free for those wondering!
- Just 6 simple ingredients. Everything goes straight into the blender. No chopping, cooking, or complicated steps.
- Naturally sweetened with dates. Just enough sweetness to balance the tangy white balsamic vinegar.
- Perfect for meal prep. Keeps in the refrigerator for up to a week and doesn't separate. No shaking required! Make a batch on Sunday and use it all week.
- So versatile. Drizzle it over homemade CAVA bowls, grain bowls, roasted veggies, or your favorite salad.
🧅 Ingredients & Helpful Substitutions
For the full list and measurements, see the recipe card below. Here are the main ingredients and easy swaps.
- White balsamic vinegar: Gives this dressing its signature sweet, tangy flavor. Regular balsamic works in a pinch, but white balsamic has a smoother, more delicate flavor that really makes this dressing shine.
- Raw, unsalted cashews: If using a high-speed blender like Viatmix or nutribullet, there's no need to soak them. For less powerful blenders, soaking the cashews in very hot water for 20 minutes first can help create a smoother dressing.
- Dates: Naturally sweeten the dressing and balance the tanginess of the vinegar. Use 6 Deglet Noor pitted dates or 3 pitted Medjool dates. If your dates aren't soft and squishy, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain.
- Onion powder: Adds a delicious savory flavor that perfectly balances the sweetness of the dates and the tanginess of the vinegar.
🥣How to Make White Balsamic Date Dressing
Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients
If your dates aren't soft and squishy, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain. If using a less powerful blender, you can also soak your cashews in very hot water for 20 minutes to help them blend smoothly.
Step 2: Add the ingredients. Place the cashews, dates, onion powder, salt, water, and vinegar in your blender.
Step 3: Secure the lid. Attach the blender lid securely and get ready to blend.
Step 4: Blend until smooth. Blend until the cashews and dates are completely incorporated and the dressing is creamy.
In my NutriBullet this only took 60 seconds.
Step 5: Check the texture. Your dressing should be smooth and creamy.
Even with my nutribullet I sometimes see a few specks of dates and that's totally okay, you won't even notice once you pour the dressing onto your main dish.
Step 6: Check the consistency. The finished dressing should flow easily from a spoon while still being thick enough to coat your salad. Drizzle and enjoy! Makes 12 ounces.
🧊 Storage & Meal Prep Tips
Refrigerator: Store your White Balsamic Date Dressing in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. It stays creamy and perfectly pourable without separating, so there's no need to shake or stir before serving!
Meal Prep: Make a batch at the beginning of the week and enjoy it on salads, grain bowls, or homemade CAVA bowls whenever you like. It's ready to drizzle straight from the fridge!
Freezing: I don't recommend freezing this dressing, as thawing may affect its smooth, creamy texture.
❓ FAQ's
I have made this dressing with regular balsamic in a pinch, and it's still delicious! White balsamic just takes it up a notch with a smoother, more delicate flavor. Regular balsamic will give you a deeper flavor and darker color, but both work beautifully.
Not if your blender can handle them! I use my NutriBullet without soaking. If you have a less powerful blender, soaking the cashews in very hot water for 20 minutes can help create a smoother dressing.
Absolutely! Use 3 Medjool dates in place of 6 Deglet Noor dates. Both add natural sweetness and balance the tanginess of the vinegar. Use what you have!
Not exactly! CAVA's dressing uses olive oil, while my version uses cashews for that rich, creamy texture without any added oil. It's inspired by the sweet, tangy flavor I love at CAVA, with my own little twist.
👩🏻🍳 Want to see some behind-the-scenes fun (and maybe a little kitchen chaos)? Keep scrollin’ — it’s all happening below the recipe card!
Print
Creamy White Balsamic Date Dressing (Oil-Free)
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1.5 cups (12 fl oz) 1x
- Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegan
Description
This creamy White Balsamic Date Dressing is inspired by CAVA's famous vinaigrette, but made completely oil-free! Naturally sweetened with dates, it's rich, tangy, and ready in under 5 minutes with just 6 simple ingredients. Perfect for salads, grain bowls, and homemade CAVA bowls!
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw, unsalted cashews
- 6 Deglet Noor dates, pitted or 3 Medjool dates, pitted
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Blend: Add the cashews, pitted dates, water, white balsamic vinegar, onion powder, and salt to a blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. *See my notes for tips on prepping dates and cashews.
- Serve: Drizzle over your favorite salad or homemade CAVA bowl and enjoy!
Notes
If using a less powerful blender, soak the cashews in very hot water for 20 minutes, then drain before blending.
If your dates aren't soft and squishy, try soaking them in hot water for 10 minutes first.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. The dressing stays creamy and pourable without separating. Freezing is not recommended.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dressings, Sauces
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
⭐Did You Enjoy This Creamy White Balsamic Date Dressing?
If you enjoyed this CAVA inspired Balsamic Dressing as much as we do, please leave a comment and rating below! Justin and I read every one! Your feedback helps more people find my recipes and keeps the delicious messy chaos going in the Fresh Fun Flavor kitchen. Plus, we just love hearing from you!
👩🏻🍳Creating the shot: A behind the scenes look
Meanwhile, offstage... Charlie is enjoying a lovely plastic salad. Apparently, my dressing wasn't good enough.
What you see: A pretty little salad. What I see: A kitchen turned upside down, a complete mess everywhere, and a cat eating the decorations.
But, I do always say, if you're not making a mess, you're not having fun!
"Another vegan recipe?" Charlie is starting to question whether he's living in the right household.
The glamorous world of food photography! Yes, that's my messy kitchen, and yes, Charlie is walking all over everything as always.
What Really Happened
So I've made this dressing twice now, and BOTH times I ate it up before remembering to measure how much it made. You'd think after the first time I'd have remembered, but nope! Here I am making batch number three. 😂
I've eaten homemade CAVA bowls every day this week. Not complaining one bit though! I've actually been eating them for breakfast because they keep me full for hours. Plus, I love this dressing so much I look forward to it first thing!
And yes, I've been eating it straight off the spoon too, I'm sure in some countries this could pass for a lovely little soup. Okay, if I am being honest, I have drank the last little bit straight from the jar.😂 It's THAT good.
Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided for Creamy White Balsamic Date Dressing is an estimate calculated using Nutrifox, an online tool. Please note that this information is for general guidance only and should not replace advice from a qualified professional. Additionally, this page may include affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through those links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Fresh Fun Flavor!
