This sweet and creamy homemade date paste recipe is a nutritious natural sweetener perfect for spreading, dipping or baking in your favorite recipes.
Homemade Date Paste Recipe
Lately I have been using date paste in my baked goods, smoothies, oatmeal and on toast. My husband makes fun of the name "date paste" and says I should come up with something better but it is what it is! This recipe is super easy and requires only two ingredients: dates and hot water. All you need is a jar for soaking and a blender to make this gooey and amazingly sweet paste.
Date paste is a healthier, all-natural way to sweeten your baked goods (and more). It is an excellent natural sugar substitute and best of all it is entirely homemade so you know exactly what is in it. It can easily be used in most baking recipes and instantly up the health factor!
Dates are a fresh stone fruit that come from a date palm tree. They are not considered dried; instead, they are naturally "dehydrated." They are naturally sweet, moist, juicy and have a distinct caramel flavor.
From a health perspective, they are full of amazing benefits. They contain loads of fiber which aids in weight loss, digestion and heart health. Dates are fat-free, sodium-free and cholesterol-free while also containing nutritious vitamins and minerals including zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6, niacin, calcium, iron and vitamin K.
Woah, that's a lot. And this fact blows me away: dates contain 50% more potassium than a banana (weight for weight). Potassium builds muscles, regulates your heartbeat, controls fluid balances and breaks down carbohydrates. We all need it.
What can I use date paste for?
Date paste really does make for a perfect sugar substitute in baking. It is just as sweet but with fewer calories and lots of healthy fiber, vitamins and minerals. You can also spread the gooey date paste on toast in place of jam, stir it into oatmeal or include it in salad dressing or any smoothie recipe.
I always have this date paste on hand and often use it for a boost in sweetness and nutrients in my morning smoothie. You might not notice the flavor as much, but the sweetness and subtle caramel of the date paste definitely makes any smoothie better!
If you're in a hurry in the morning and need something quick to munch on, spread some date paste on toast for a filling, healthy breakfast that can power you through your morning. You can leave it simple or add your own toppings like nuts, seeds, and nut butter.
I like to make a big batch to keep on hand for easy access whenever I'm baking or cooking. You can even get creative and add some spice such as cinnamon. Or try a drop of vanilla. Adding a dash of salt can also help to bring out the flavor. Start with the below basic recipe and then experiment and add on to flavor it to your liking.
Some other DIY nutritious recipes you might enjoy:
- The Best Homemade Almond Milk (+ What to Do with the Leftover Pulp!)
- Homemade Vegan Chocolate (Refined Sugar-Free)
- Easy Homemade Pumpkin Puree
- Three-Ingredient Vegan Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce
Now, let’s get to making this Homemade Date Paste!
When you make this recipe, snap a pic and use the hashtag #eatingbyelaine on INSTAGRAM to be featured in my stories.
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Homemade Date Paste Recipe
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Description
This sweet and creamy homemade date paste recipe is a nutritious natural sweetener perfect for spreading, dipping or baking in your favorite recipes.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces (340 grams) large pitted Medjool dates (about 22 pitted dates = 2 ¼ cups)
- 2 cup boiling filtered water for soaking (reserve ¼-1 cup for blending)
Instructions
- Place dates in a 4-cup measuring cup and cover completely with boiling filtered water (about 2 cups). Let dates soak at least 20 minutes. For even better results (think creamier less gritty), let them soak overnight. If you soak overnight your water does not need to be boiling. Just use regular filtered water and place in the refrigerator overnight.
- Process dates with one cup of the filtered water used for soaking in a high-speed blender or food processor on the highest speed for at least one minute until creamy and smooth. The longer you let the motor run the better. If you want a thinner paste add more of the soaking water. For a thicker paste reduce the water. You can discard whatever soaking water you do not use.
- Transfer date paste to a mason jar or airtight storage container and store sealed in your refrigerator for up to two weeks. This recipe makes a little over one cup of date paste depending on your dates and how much water you use.
Notes
You can add a pinch of salt if desired.
For a thicker paste use less water. If you do this soak the dates for longer (preferably overnight versus the quick boiling soak). You will need a high powered blender and might need to stop to scrape down the side a couple of times. I wouldn't recommend using less than ¼ cup reserved water.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Sweetener
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
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Chetan Mehta says
We are realising how important it is to fuel our body with healthy food and have have been looking out for healthier alternatives to foods that could harm us and our bodies in the long run. Sugar has it’s disadvantages.
I am super happy I got to read and try this recipe and I loved it, Dates have been a staple but having them as spreads is a brilliant idea altogether. I have https://everythinghappy.in/product/date-butter/ as my ideal healthy and natural sugar for my breakfasts and snacks