Date Paste

Learn how to make date paste with just two ingredients! Elevate your baked goods and desserts with this delicious natural sweetener.

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Sweeten recipes like pancakes, overnight oats or beverages with date paste.

I love making a tasty date snack with a dollop of plain yogurt and granola for a healthy breakfast idea.

Ingredients

Dates - there are different types of dates but I prefer the flavor and texture of Medjool dates for the paste.
Water
If you're new to cooking with this sweet, chewy fruit, check out my Dates 101 Guide for everything you need to know, or explore my list of Best Date Substitutes if you ever run out.

How To Make Date Paste

STEP 1: Bring water to a boil, covering the dates.

Soak dates in hot water for 10 minutes (quick version)

Or soak the dates in room temperature water for 4 hours or overnight if preferred (longer version).

STEP 2: When ready, blend dates with ¾ cup of water until smooth, adjusting the consistency.

You can do it with a good blender/food processor or immersion blender (my preferred method)

Transfer the mixture to a covered container.

This recipe makes 1 + ¾ cup date paste.

Tips

Replace sugar with date paste - Maintain a 1:1 ratio, but be mindful, especially in baked goods, as it introduces both sweetness and moisture.
Use enough dates to cover the blades for effective processing.
Choose flavorful dates for your date paste; Medjool dates, with their sweet taste, are an excellent option.
Baking with date paste can soften texture and provide a mild caramel flavor. Substituting date puree for liquid sweetener might lead to slight dryness, especially in cookies. To address this, experiment with adding extra moisture like oil, applesauce, banana, zucchini, yogurt, or pumpkin to the recipe.

Date syrup vs date paste - syrup is thinner and more sugar-concentrated than date paste, lacking the date pulp.

Freezing And Storing Instructions

To Store. In the fridge for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
To Freeze. For 6 months. Portion into tablespoons in an ice-cube tray for easy use, maintaining a scoopable consistency even when frozen.
To Make Ahead. Prepare in advance by soaking dates for up to two days (in the fridge) before blending.

How To Use Date Paste

Sweeten hot drinks, smoothies, overnight oats and oatmeal with a spoonful of date paste.
Create a yogurt bowl or spread on toast, bagels, and more.
Use in dressings, marinades, and to naturally sweeten ice-cream.
In energy bites.
Pancakes.
In baking.

Healthy Breakfast Recipes

Before You Go

If you found this post helpful, I'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts, questions, or experiences. Your feedback helps me create content that truly serves this wonderful community. ❤️

Recipe Card

Julia

How To Make Date Paste

5 from 2 votes

Learn how to make date paste with just two ingredients! Elevate your baked goods and desserts with this delicious natural sweetener.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Soaking 10

Total Time 15

Servings: 2 cups

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 554

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

14.1 ounce pitted Medjool dates
¾ cup water

Method

Bring water to a boil, covering the dates.
Soak dates in hot water for 10 minutes (quick version)
Or soak the dates in room temperature water for 4 hours or overnight if preferred (longer version).
When ready, blend dates with ¾ cup of water until smooth, adjusting the consistency.
You can do it with a good blender/food processor or immersion blender (my preferred method)
Transfer the mixture to a covered container. This recipe makes 1 + ¾ cup date paste.

Nutrition

Calories: 554kcalCarbohydrates: 150gProtein: 4gFat: 0.3gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 1391mgFiber: 13gSugar: 133gVitamin A: 298IUCalcium: 131mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Replace sugar with date paste - Maintain a 1:1 ratio, but be mindful, especially in baked goods, as it introduces both sweetness and moisture.
Use enough dates to cover the blades for effective processing.
To Store. In the fridge for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
To Freeze. For 6 months. Portion into tablespoons in an ice-cube tray for easy use, maintaining a scoopable consistency even when frozen.
To Make Ahead. Prepare in advance by soaking dates for up to two days (in the fridge) before blending.

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Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.

Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.

FAQs

How do you remove the pits from dates?

Dates come whole or pitted. I recommend pitted ones to skip pit removal. For unpitted dates, slice, peel, and remove the pit-expect sticky fingers!

Is date paste healthy?

Dates are excellent natural sweeteners in recipes instead of sugar, offering fiber and nutrients absent in refined sugars. Their glycemic index rating ranges from 46-55, depending on the type. For more health details on dates, visit Weill Cornell.

How to make the paste without a food processor?

Making date paste without a food processor is doable but requires effort. Two methods: soak dates in hot water overnight and mash with a fork, or use a mortar and pestle after soaking. Add soaking water if needed, and microwave in 40-second intervals for a quicker process.