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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Date Paste
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.
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Recipe Card
How To Make Date Paste
Ingredients
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
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.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
FAQs
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!
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.
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.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
easy and healthy way to naturally sweeten your breakfast and desserts.