This date paste recipe is perfect for sweetening cakes, muffins, and other treats. Dates are full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and provide a source of nutrient-dense energy. Cooking and baking with date puree is an easy way to eliminate refined sugar while still satisfying a sweet tooth. All you need to make it are dates, a blender, and water.
Using date paste as a natural sweetener
Some of my favorite date paste recipes are cakes (like this gluten-free vegan chocolate cake) and muffins because the water content in the blended dates adds moistness to these types of baked goods. Date paste can also be used to sweeten sauces, condiments, marinades, jams, or just stirred into plain yogurt or smoothies to sweeten them up.
Date paste has a slightly caramel-like taste, yet it’s neutral enough that it doesn’t overpower the other flavors in recipes. Treats made with dates are a good option for picky kids because they’re a delicious way to sneak in some extra nutrients and antioxidants.
Is it a 1:1 sugar substitute?
If you’re wondering how to substitute date paste for sugar, it isn’t a 1:1 swap, so it’s helpful to follow recipes that have been tried and tested to ensure delicious results.
Which types of dates are best?
There are many different types of dates and all of them will work well in this recipe. Medjool dates are particularly delicious, but any type will do. Just be sure to remove the pits if you’re not using pitted dates (and even if you are using pitted dates it’s still a good idea to check to make sure no pits snuck through the pitting process).
How to make date paste
This recipe is quick and easy to make. Start by measuring one cup of tightly packed, pitted dates.
Next you’ll transfer the dates to a bowl and soak them in 1/2 cup of boiling water, covered, for approximately 20 minutes.
The last step is to blend the dates and soaking liquid together until smooth. You can use a regular blender, immersion blender, or high speed blender (the high speed blender will give you the smoothest results, but other blenders will work too). If your dates are particularly dry and don’t blend easily, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to the blender to achieve a smooth, date puree consistency.
Storage
Store date paste in an airtight container in the fridge for up to seven days.
Date paste recipes to try
- This baby kale salad has a sweet, tangy dressing made with date paste and balsamic vinegar.
- This paleo ketchup is easy to make and loaded with flavor.
- This refined sugar-free blueberry freezer jam is quick and easy to make.
Date Paste Recipe
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup of tightly packed pitted dates
- 1/2 cup boiling water
Instructions
- Soak the dates, covered, in boiling water for 20 minutes.
- Add the soaked dates along with the soaking liquid to a blender, then blend until smooth.
- Makes approximately 1 cup of date paste.
Notes
- If your dates are particularly dry and don’t blend easily, add an extra tablespoon or two of water to the blender in order to achieve a smooth, date puree consistency.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Nutrition
More date-sweetened recipes to try
- These peanut butter date cookies are soft, chewy, and delicious.
- These amaranth cookies are quick and easy to make.
- This spelt flour cake is refined sugar free and sweetened only with dates.