Sweet Medjool dates, melted dark chocolate and creamy almond butter all come together in this simple and delicious recipe for chocolate covered dates. Enjoyed as a dessert or snack, you can feel good knowing this nutritious treat is free of refined sugars and is naturally both vegan and gluten-free. They also make for a wonderful food gift for the holidays or special occasions!
Let's finally give dates the attention that they deserve! For the amount of dates I use each week (anyone else buy them in bulk? Just me?) to satisfy my daily craving for smoothies, it surprises me that I rarely ever feature them as the focal point in any particular dish.
Dates are a naturally sweet stone fruit and their texture and flavor makes them perfect for adding to desserts in place of refined sugars. I use them in my pecan pie bars, vegan cheesecake and vegan chocolate banana ice cream specifically for that reason.
The moment I first tried dates dipped in chocolate, I was immediately hooked. Chocolate coating on the outside, chewy sweetness on the inside... it was incredible.
I experimented a few times on my own with different dates and fillings and landed on the perfect combination of Medjool dates, dark chocolate and almond butter for this delicious treat. It tastes like a Snickers bar, but obviously much better!
Why You'll Love these Dates
- Quick and easy sweet treat
- Simple ingredients with no added sugar
- Rich caramel and nutty flavors in a chocolate shell
- Delicious bite-sized chocolate bar for a snack or dessert
- Kid-friendly (fun to make with kids too!)
- Nutritious!
Ingredients
- Medjool dates - I like to pit the dates myself but you can buy pitted as well. Medjool dates have a uniquely sweet caramel-like flavor. Deglet Noor dates are a little smaller (meaning less space for stuffing) and not as sweet, but are still a fine option and can definitely be used in this recipe as well. I do prefer the texture and flavor of Medjool over all other dates.
- Almond butter - Almond butters vary widely across different brands in terms of consistency, so choose one that is on the runnier side for the creamiest results. My favorite is Trader Joe's creamy unsalted raw almond butter if I'm not using my own. Peanut butter or cashew butter would also be delicious here. Tahini or pumpkin seed butter work great for a nut-free otion.
- Vegan dark chocolate - Any dairy-free chocolate is fine (or make your own!), but my absolute favorite chocolate to use for melting are the rich dark chocolate gems from Hu (use code ELAINE20 for 20% off). Dark chocolate tends to balance out the sweetness of the dates a little better than semi-sweet chocolate.
- Fine salt - Salt helps to bring out all of the flavors.
- Melted coconut oil - Coconut oil adds a little flavor and also helps to solidify the almond butter for a slightly better texture. I like to use it but if you don't have it you can skip and it will still turn out.
Instructions
1. Pit the dates. Place them on a small parchment-lined baking sheet and set aside.
2. Prepare the filling. Combine the almond butter, coconut oil and salt in a small mixing bowl.
3. Stuff dates with filling. Insert 1 teaspoon of the nut butter mixture into the center of each date. Place the baking sheet in the freezer to set.
4. Melt the chocolate. Melt the chocolate chips on the stovetop or in a double boiler, or microwave in a microwave-safe bowl at 30 second intervals for 90-120 seconds.
5. Coat the stuffed dates in chocolate. Use a fork to submerge each date individually into the melted chocolate so that it is fully coated on all sides. Allow excess chocolate to drip off and then transfer back to the baking sheet, making sure the dates are not touching.
6. Let the chocolate set. Place the baking sheet full of chocolate-covered dates in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden. It will naturally harden at room temperature as well but that would take at least an hour.
7. Enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Recipe Toppings and Swaps
The combination of chewy dates, nut butter and chocolate is decadent on its own, but it doesn't need to stop there if you wish to dress them up further! Also, each of these ingredients can be swapped depending on what modifications you wish to make.
Toppings
Feel free to sprinkle any of these ingredients on top of the dates once they are coated in chocolate prior to letting them harden:
- Crushed nuts (almonds, pistachios, walnuts or pecans) for a bit of crunch
- Shredded coconut
- Flaky sea salt
Swaps
- Medjool dates: Deglet Noor dates are a simple swap if you are unable to find Medjool dates at your local grocery store. Deglet Noor dates are a little more bite-sized than Medjool dates in the event you are seeking smaller serving.
- Almond butter: Any nut butter works perfectly in these treats, so take your choice of fillings! Creamy peanut butter, hazelnut butter and cashew butter are all great options. Sunflower seed butter, pumpkin seed butter or tahini is an easy swap as well for a nut-free option.
- Vegan dark chocolate: Any kind of chocolate will suffice. I prefer dairy-free chocolate to keep it vegan. Milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate are sweeter options depending on your preference.
What Makes these a Nutritious Choice?
These dates are a healthier dessert option given the nutritional benefits of each ingredient:
- Dates are loaded with fiber and also contain zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6, niacin, calcium, iron and vitamin K.
- Almond butter provides plant-based protein from the almonds and is a good source of fiber, healthy fats, vitamin E and magnesium.
- Dark chocolate contains six times the amount of flavanols (an antioxidant) as milk chocolate and contains calcium, magnesium and potassium. Learn more about all of the health benefits of each type of chocolate.
More Vegan Chocolate Covered Desserts
- Almond butter crunch balls
- Almond butter cups
- Butterfingers
- Almond Joy
- Peppermint patties
- Reese's peanut butter eggs (made allergy-friendly)
I am so excited for you to make these chocolate dates! Please leave a comment below or tag me @eatingbyelaine so I can see your creations!
Print
Chocolate Covered Dates Stuffed with Almond Butter
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 10 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Sweet Medjool dates, melted dark chocolate and creamy almond butter all come together in this simple and delicious recipe for chocolate covered dates. Enjoyed as a dessert or snack, you can feel good knowing this nutritious treat is free of refined sugars and naturally both vegan and gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 10 large Medjool dates, pitted
- ¼ cup raw creamy almond butter (or any nut or seed butter)
- 2 tsp melted coconut oil (optional but recommended)
- ¼ tsp fine salt
- ½ cup vegan chocolate chips
Instructions
- Pit the dates. Place them on a small parchment-lined baking sheet and set aside.
- Prepare the filling. Combine the almond butter, coconut oil and salt in a small mixing bowl.
- Stuff the dates with filling. Insert 1 teaspoon of the nut butter mixture into each date. Place the baking sheet in the freezer to set.
- Melt the chocolate. Melt the chocolate chips either on the stovetop or in a double boiler, or microwave in 30 second intervals for 90-120 seconds.
- Coat the stuffed dates in chocolate. Use a fork to submerge each date individually into the melted chocolate so that it is fully coated on all sides. Allow excess chocolate to drip off and then transfer back to the baking sheet, making sure the dates are not touching.
- Let the chocolate set. Place the baking sheet full of chocolate covered dates in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden. It will naturally harden at room temperature as well but that would take at least an hour.
- Enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Equipment
Buy Now → - Prep Time: 15
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Freezer
Kushigalu says
Love every single ingredient used here. Looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing,
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you for taking the time to share!
Sara Welch says
These were everything a gourmet dessert should be, and then some! Easy, decadent and delicious; definitely, a new favorite treat!
Elaine Gordon says
Yes these definitely have a gourmet feel to them! I'm so glad you enjoyed them and took the time to share. Thank you!
Justine says
These were super fun and delicious! Easy to make, too!
Elaine Gordon says
Thanks so much! Yes my kids love getting in on the action whenever I make these!
TAYLER ROSS says
These have been my latest snack obsession! So easy to make and I don't feel guilty eating them
Elaine Gordon says
And you shouldn't! So glad you are enjoying them - I'm obsessed too!