Where to begin, there are so many! Place dried dates in hot water for 10 minutes prior to using, or soak them in room temperature water overnight. It’s just a feel and a finesse that only comes with making copious batches of both . Yes it is made from dehydrated dates ground up very finely, but I do not think it will work to make date paste. I love dates now too, but when I was younger I had this terrible preconceived notion that they were gross and mainly found in fruit cake. Apartment Therapy is full of ideas for creating a warm, beautiful, healthy home. I have yet to put date paste actually hidden in baked goods (I had it in cinnamon rolls once, but mostly just no-bake recipes and smoothies) so I am PUMPED to try your recipes!! October 13, 2014 betty How To Comments. Dates made into bliss ball or bar form lessens the textural weirdness of the straight fruit. You will still see them pop up in a large percentage of my recipes, most of the time blended with some sort of liquid to make the ever-so-verstatile date paste! Still if one falls on the floor and I just see it out of the corner of my eye I’m probably going to jump and scream lol. I often have stuff stuck on the bottom of my vitamix when making pesto, for example. -Sweeten and add moisture to low-fat baked goods like cookies, cupcakes, or brownies -Sweeten frozen treats and keep them from freezing too solid ★☆ I do pack the cup pretty tight when measuring or if you were measuring by number and your prunes are small then you may need more than 12. Soak the dates in water. If you're pressed for time and only have a few minutes for soaking, use hot water. Now I’m not perfect here, I use plenty of maple syrup and coconut sugar, but if you don’t eat a lot of other sugars then dates really can start to taste candy-sweet. I absolutely love dates, this post, and you!! Dates contain more nutrients than standard table sugar which is highly processed. , Sure, just keep in mind that they do have a different flavor and are less sweet for using the date paste in recipes. In tomato soup–that’s a new one to me. I saw that Cotton Candy Ice Cream Cake and know sprinkles are your fave ;). It did seem a bit thinner ..thanks for help!! When it comes to baking and most applications, you want a really smooth but also really THICK date paste. To reverse the process (somehow) you can use the microwave to soften it up. It’s totally different and smooth. And yes they are pricey pretty much no matter where or how you buy them. Hey, can i use normal dates in this recipe? If that sounds like you and yet somehow you are here reading this, don’t leave yet! So my goal is to keep the date paste as thick as possible but still able to blend. Bake (or no-bake) with them. 4 Surprising Health Benefits of Dates The taste of whatever you use the paste in will be much fruitier, I use dates mostly since they are more neutral tasting, but it will still work in most recipes . If you think to do this an hour or more in advance, it's fine to use room temperature water. Seriously, I’ve never knowingly eaten them. Speaking of dates…have you ever tried date syrup? And I think this goes without saying, but pit the dates first. What are your tips for replacing sugar with date paste in a recipe? I can’t get past the cockroach appearance of them, which probably doesn’t help me and my trying to like them, lol! This way you avoid adding too much moisture. Similar to the blender tip, sneaking dates into recipes surrounded by lots of other ingredients let’s your tastebuds get used to the subtle date flavor. No watered down not-very-sweet stuff, please! Taking a few minutes to soften stale dates makes them way more enjoyable to eat out of hand and easier to blend into drinks and sauces. Example is its use in roasted chicken dishes. Pitted dates are Mother Earth’s all-natural candy. Want to give your dates even more flavor? If you blend on low speed to start, it will quickly get stuck and you will still be left with chunks of dates hiding amidst the caramel-colored paste. Prior to blending dates for smoothies, dates balls, or other recipes it is a great idea to soak them. That means more concentrated date sweetness and moisture per cup of date paste. I’m retired but my wife still works, luckily she enjoys coming home to my experiments. I personally do not usually bother. Lol. 3 ways to use Soft Light Blending Mode 1. Plus they still are the best natural healthy replacement for sugar, and sugar-free but still so sweet and scrumptious treats can never really go out of style, right?! This will help break down the dates quickly so your date paste is smooth and chunk-free without having to add more water to get it to blend. For the quickest results, place a lump of hardened sugar in a small microwave-safe bowl and cover it with a moist paper towel. Calories – 822 Let sit in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Let dates sit for 10 minutes to soften. Tastebuds are very adaptable, which is what makes this whole date love process possible. For the entire batch: Soaking the dates returns lost moisture to the fruit and softens the flesh, leaving them with the same super-sweet flavor. I’m just so excited that I can use it instead of syrup now for things for her. Even just plain date paste can be a delicious spread, dip, or by-the-spoonful treat. i.e 1 to 1? And, as for recipes to help you love it (other than the wonderful ones posted here! If it helps with the old people thing, I’m 19 and dates are my favorite food! Way too easy to just grab, pit, and snack straight from the fridge all day long and before you know it that container is gone. Two weeks in the fridge is my safe answer, it may be fine for up to a month but sometimes it will start to mold. Place the dates and 1 cup of the reserved water into a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Vegan Gluten-Free Date Squares from Nadia’s Healthy Kitchen Of everything I’ve ever made with date paste, my two favorite recipes have to be these Healthy Chocolate Cupcakes and this Monkey Bread Mug Cake. You can use a food processor, but it will never get quite as smooth I have found. The fruit will be plumper, juicier, and softer. If you are using a mason jar, shake for 2-3 minutes or simply stir in a glass. One of the many things I love about your blog is your genius use of dates to sweeten your desserts and do all kinds of other magical things! Four Ingredient Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies from Feeding Your Beauty How long can I store it ,once it’s made ? If you are using a cup measure, be sure to really pack them in. I finally got a chance to read it all and am amazed at all you put together! I would love to leave the peel on for added fiber…. Kelli is the Food Editor for Plan & Prep content for Kitchn. Place gummy bears in a bowl of warm water. There are going to be times while you are painting your washes and charging your watercolors that you will want an edge or several edges not to appear hard, but soft, as when rendering the gentle folds of fabric and lace, or a kitten's fluffy fur. Date paste is a STAPLE in my kitchen! Love that you covered soaking. I use date paste to make trail mix – roasted nuts, dried fruit, coconut, etc. I’m so happy you are enjoying them too and having fun experimenting! I am on a bit of date roll right now! I’ll sometimes put in a little cacao powder, I use Hershey’s Cocoa, 100% cacao, but not too much, it packs a lot of flavor and will overwhelm the dates and almonds. I make my date paste the exact same way, and you’re so right – it definitely takes a little bit of experimenting to figure out the best method! Am I right? Date paste would work as a substitute for silam in many of these delicious dishes. For using in recipes it’s no big deal, but for frostings and puddings and things that are supposed to be really creamy it’s not ideal. If you need to make the paper pulp for a specific date, plan ahead so you have enough time for soaking the ripped pieces. My faves. This softens the dates and allows them to release even more of their sweet flavor. Thank you again! I also love savory dates – not a healthy choice but for a quick appy try manchego cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon bake at 350 – yummy (I par-cook the bacon). Preferably Medjool dates, those are my go-to with more moisture and sweetness than smaller Deglet Noir (a.k.a. Buy from a trusted source. Hello! That’s it! First soak your pitted dates in 1 cup of HOT water for at least 5 minutes. -Be the base for flourless baked treats As I mentioned in a reply to someone else, dates are seriously my favorite food. On a semi-unrelated note, I saw a recipe for UNICORN hot chocolate… hahah immediately thought of you! If your dates are very dry or if you don’t have a high powered blender, soaking your dates will help a lot. Obviously a high speed blender is best for this job, but even in my Vitamix it can be tricky sometimes. Regards Your method is the only one I’ve seen that doesn’t require soaking (awesome, as I’m not patient), and you’ve totally solved my Vitamix problem! Try this by grinding up date seeds in an industrial strength processor and mix with honey if you have a cold or other viral infection. How to Fade the Edge of a Photo in Microsoft Word ? That is all I could think about for months when I saw them, and those things freak me the heck out so not a good association. Hi! My #1 tip! all you have to do is throw your pitted dates in and process till smooth. And because date paste adds so much more moisture than a granulated sweetener, it’s really best used in recipes that are designed for date paste. While there are several ways to soften stale or extra-firm dates. It’s quick, about 30 seconds, and just enough time to give those thick and sticky dates a … Could you tell me what blender you use to grind/blend your nut and fruit pastes. Well I wasn’t born with a natural affinity for them either. A Bowl of warm water; For softening gummy bears, you need to re-hydrate them. This helps soften the dates so they blend much easier with the pecans. If an error message, say “No pixels are more than 50% selected,” click OK and create a larger selection. With how much I love date paste and how often I use it, this really should’ve been the first post on FF, but better late (and with much more attractive photos than if it was actually my first post) than never! Starting on high worked like a charm! Got a tip, kitchen tour, or other story our readers should see? I too have fallen in love with dates! Would love a reply, my wife has a 2 pound container of Medjools that needs to get used. How to Puree Dates. and make some Indian based stuff and spicy lunches .I will love you forever !. <–see what I mean by overthinking? I’m going to try your blender method. I grew up thinking they were what “old people” ate, and I often confused them with prunes…….I guess I’m old now, because I now want to try dates!!!! How to Soften Gummy Bears? And you crave what you know. Monk fruit–yes I think I tried that once upon a time too. Well who’s the fruit cake now?! You will also need a high power blender or food processor. Anyhooo – so excited about date paste! But they do wonders for baked recipes, I can’t wait for you to experiment with that too Thanks for the lovely comment and happy baking! Dates are a whole natural food that happen to be sweet with a rich caramel like flavor. Oh my goodness, that sounds like the most delicious triple-decker dessert ever!!! Seeds and nuts can also be soaked. Okay I must admit I’ve never tried them in a savory recipe before, but wow does that sound amazing–like a perfect super flavorful bite! I'm always on the fence about it… but then overthink whether or not soaking adds too much extra moisture and then potentially messes up the recipe. Maybe adding some oil in together with the paste might make a difference? Easy to chop up and include in recipes that call for dried fruit. I’ve seen them at my local store, but they were rather pricey. Blending is also the perfect opportunity to flex those creative muscles! Required fields are marked *, Rate this recipe This post is amazing. Mission figs or prunes are the only substitutes I can think of. Chia seeds soak ratio: Mix 1/3-cup chia seeds to 2 cups water. The whole rolling into a ball thing is seriously messy and sticky. I personally don’t do this every time, but I do have a high speed blender (a Vitamix). For baking and apple dipping and putting on top of everything–yep absolutely a fridge must . Well, isn’t this the most amazing post everrrr?! And I am loving the sound of your super simple coconut date balls–those sound like the perfect little snack And such an intriguing method too, almost sounds like DIY date rolls with the sausage maker method. Learn how your comment data is processed. It was a process for me too, so here are my tips for learning to love them…. Please forward copy your reply to Karineyong2008@gmail.com To give your fruit some extra flavor, swap the water for fruit juice or a liquor, like rum, bourbon, or brandy. Blending techniques are such a tricky thing to get across in words, I feel the same way with nice cream. Preferably Medjool dates, those are my go-to with more moisture and sweetness than smaller Deglet Noir (a.k.a. Method 4 – Using the Microwave to Soften Hard White Sugar. Luckily you’ve saved people lots of time, and probably saved them these sweet little gems from going to waste. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. I don’t usually include nutritional information with my recipes, that is a very intentional choice. I always start by blending the liquid and dates together first, along with any greens (particularly tough greens, like kale or collards) if I’m using them. In all cases of the the above two steps (sipping or snacking), chocolate is a good idea. Soften the dates with warm water. If you’ve ever brought a package of dates home, on at least one occasion you’ve probably pulled them out to find them looking kind of crystallized on the outside and way more firm than you remember. Without fail, just a few minutes of soaking in hot water transforms once-hard dates into fruits with an incredibly soft and tender texture. And oh my goodness YES on measuring dates. Don’t use cold water as gelatin is soluble in warm water. They also sell fresh medjool dates in the produce section. Hmm I haven’t tried it but I definitely think it could. single. I’ve seen dates referred to as ‘nature’s candy’, I can understand why. Transfer the dates along with the water into a blender. Transfer the mixture to a small saucepan and bring to a boil; then reduce the heat to low. While the dates are soaking you can get all your other ingredients out, measured and ready. Reading through the comments is giving me cooking ideas. The ultimate natural, healthy, fruit-based sweetener made from 2 simple ingredients and in just minutes! Yesssss!! Similar to stevia, it would take some getting used to for me. Zap the sugar in the microwave, on high in … Enjoy . Made Monday so much better. xoo!! Anyways, this is an amazing post and wonderful that you put it together…especially me being newer to using dates. This will help them soften up and perfect for blending. Add the date-water mixture and select "Smoothie" or blend on a Medium to Medium-Low speed for 60 seconds Add the remaining ingredients - both flours, baking powder and salt in the blender and secure lid. Thanks for what you do! It's definitely gonna be a happy Monday with this tutorial today! The fruit will be more plump, juicy, and soft. Chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel–the best parts of every candy bar ever combined into one <3 Thank you for all the lovely tips and thoughts, much appreciated Emily . The “liquify golf balls” is a hilarious but almost accurate description Those things are definitely powerful. My problem isn’t that *I* don’t like dates. I use a Vitamix blender for all my recipes, the one shown here is the 750 with the smaller 32oz container. Hi thanks for the geat post. I’m also a recent convert to dates and truly pi$$ed at all the years I missed out. But that is not all it can do. My mind is totally working on healthier unicorn hot chocolate right now , Hooray for dates! Your email address will not be published. Do not discard the water. That is the best combination for making date paste. As I have said, you should never let the cream cheese— or any other type of cheese— sit on the counter for any longer than 1 or 2 hours, depending on the heat. Soak 2 cups of dates in 1 1/2 cups of warm water for at least 30 minutes. I agree too, they are so ugly. Ps thanks for linking up to my pb cookies recipe. Four Ingredient Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies, The Ultimate Vegan Date-Sweetened Roundup, http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2017/01/unicorn-hot-chocolate.html, https://shop.naturaldelights.com/products/whole-medjool-dates-8oz-tub, https://rabbitfoodformybunnyteeth.com/medjool-date-bbq-sauce/. However since date paste also adds a lot of moisture its best to find recipes that are designed for it than try to substitute! It really depends on the recipe, but you typically will need more date paste than sugar since it’s not as sweet. My best tips and techniques, the right ratio, a video tutorial, recipes, and more! Those are a bit pricier, have pits, and need to be kept in the fridge, but they are more moist, a bit sweeter, and better for making things like date paste (although I have successfully made date paste with Deglet Noors!) Date-Sweetened Banana Bread from Sweet Simple Vegan, And if you are still in need of more date-sweet inspo, check out this epic roundup of 65 recipes all sweetened with dates -> The Ultimate Vegan Date-Sweetened Roundup. Soak dates to soften them before blending. I literally use dates in almost every. If anyone can “healthify” it, it’s you! But honestly I just can’t get enough – too much caramely sweet richness to leave out! This looked amazing! This way it is vigorously blending and pulverizing those fibrous dates while there is the most liquid around the blades and the best flow. In a blender, combine the dates and their soaking water with the balsamic vinegar. This simple method quickly delivers the best results every time. It’s a miracle. It works great it recipes on it’s own that call for a granulated sweetener, but date paste needs the moisture and bulk of whole dates. My next experiment will be to mix the chopped almonds (and maybe cashews) with dates cut in half (on the equator, not longwise), run that through a meat grinder to mix it all together and goopify the dates, then put the goo into a sausage maker and cut the mix as it extrudes, every inch or so, letting the pieces drop into a bowl of shredded coconut. If your dates are exceptionally dry or if you don’t have a high powered blender, soaking them for 30 minutes to an hour in warm water before blending can make things much easier on your blender and lead to a smoother finished product. Fresh dates have a lot of fiber, so use the maximum blending setting of your blender. To the point that like you mentioned, I’m wondering whether people are over them. The idea is to soften the dates so that they're easily blended into a soft paste. There are enough horror stories out there about things people find in dates (or say they do, don’t google it), so buy from a trusted source. Middle Eastern references touting the benefits of dates suggest eating powdered date seed as an aid to help cure colds. , Bahahaha loved the sassy fruit cake comment? If I am soaking them for a recipe, I will usually do so in the exact amount water/liquid called for and then just throw all of that in the blender together as opposed to draining and adding more liquid to blend. You definitely want to keep it in the fridge, and in an airtight jar it will last 2-3 weeks , Natalie, “jumbo-sized raisin” <— YES!! The fact that they are a little pricey is probably actually a good thing, helps me remember to pace myself I love them raw and in no bake treats too, those really showcase their flavor best. It totally serves a different purpose than the paste, but I love that it can be an easy straight sub for maple syrup or other liquid sweeteners which date paste isn’t always. After that, any blender will be able to blend the dates perfectly. Blend until smooth. Date syrup–yes I love that stuff!! One of my favorite ingredients. Method 3. This was the original link if you want to take a look – http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2017/01/unicorn-hot-chocolate.html. Can’t wait to make this and very happy to have found your wonderful website , I am interested to see if the paste goes well with meat cooking in any sort or way, such as smoking, grill, rub etc. Soaking. If you are measuring by weight, 1 cup of dates (before pitting) would be roughly 160-170 grams. Thank you for reading Brandi <3. I’ve seen multiple date-sweetened barbecue sauce recipes floating around the web before (like this one: https://rabbitfoodformybunnyteeth.com/medjool-date-bbq-sauce/) so the sweetness combined with spices and some sort of acid perhaps could make a great rub/sauce for cooking meat as well. 5. Prunes…dates…close enough Well maybe just maybe enough chocolate and blending can convince you! So if you are completely new to baking with date paste, than I highly recommend starting with one of those to see what this sweet stuff is all about! Add more water only if absolute necessary. I've seen folks squeeze like 100 into 1 cup (okay… I'm exaggerating) to folks gingerly placing 2 into 1 cup. -Fill a streusel-sprinkled tart Potassium – 1686mg Add punch to your image Cold Brew Caramel Frappuccino from Minimalist Baker Cacao brings the bitter, dates bring the sweet. Then your only option is to add more water, use a tamper to help it along, or blend on low for a long time to try to eliminate as many chunks as possible. And snacks . I’d like your readers to know that silam (also known as date syrup or date honey) is used in many savory recipes of the Middle East. Yes, yes, I know that there is beauty in every bit of nature and all that jazz, but let’s be honest they are not going to win an award for prettiest fruit anytime soon. That’s so helpful thank you! Turn on the blender and immediately turn the speed up to high. You could certainly use figs or prunes here! Once it is smooth, transfer to an airtight jar/container. Thicker date paste, no chunks, and it’s faster to make–I highly suggest you give the straight-to-high-speed method a shot! Haha they are dangerous for me too! So for simplicity (and for many of my recipes) that comes out to be 1 cup dates to 2/3 cup water. Transfer the dates and water to a high-speed blender. Put your dried fruit in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Plus you will see just how amazingly versatile they are! If there's one person I could pick to create a very thorough tutorial/guide on date paste, it would absolutely, 10000000% be you. A complete guide to this natural healthy sweetener with my top quick and easy blending tip, VIDEO tutorial, and tons of uses and recipe ideas. Oh good question, I will add that. Thanks for sharing . Here’s the thing about dates — these sweet fruits continue to dry out (and eventually harden up) as they age. It’s dangerous to leave me alone with a box of them I regularly pack them with my lunch for a little sweet kick! (I promise it’s way less fussy than it might sound.) This is the one I have: http://bit.ly/2BLnvH4. Add the lemon and blend until smooth. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, The Probiotic Kitchen,
Fat – 0g If your gummy bears are hard, you can soften it easily. Place the dates for 30-40 minutes in lukewarm water to soften them up. They add moisture, they add natural sweetness, they add a slight caramel flavor–why wouldn’t you want all those things in every baked good ever? Haha I think we most certainly are long lost baking friends!! Perhaps this is the gateway to slowly get you to like dates hahaha Ugh yes, just like cockroaches!! Trade water for fruit juice or liquor, like brandy, bourbon, or rum. Fiber – 18g Okay that is the most amazing mug of hot chocolate I’ve ever seen!! Cold air, humid air, and moisture probably caused your sugar to harden up. Add the dates and pecans to a food processor, and add a pinch of salt which helps offset the sweetness of the dates. Soak the dates in boiling water covered for 30 minutes and make sure they are roughly chopped for ease of movement in your blender/processor. Combine the dates and hot water in a heatproof bowl and set aside for 1 hour to soften the dates. Protein – 6g. If you have a powerful food processor or blender. Carbohydrate – 198g Note : I used the prunes on your vanilla breakfast bar recipe. baking dates), but any will work since you are going to be blending them up anyways. ★☆. Prunes are naturally slightly less sweet than dates, but still quite sweet and the paste should be fine to use in recipes. Soaking the dates returns lost moisture to the fruit and softens the flesh, leaving them with the same super-sweet flavor. I’m Natalie, the recipe creator around here sharing simple snacks and treats that are secretly healthy under their sweet dessert disguises! Date paste is a lovely way to sweeten things. Not these dates. Thanks for sharing something so helpful and awesome. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes, and then strain the fruit and discard the water. Gabriella, It really depends on the recipe, there is no set substitution formula unfortunately. I seriously snack on them all the time. -Be the sweet base for frostings and spreads Remove the dates from the water and set the water aside (don’t toss it!). If you do not have a powerful processor, you can soak pitted dates in water overnight (at least 8 hours). More delicious date paste recipes from around the web… 3. Just pit them before blending, and yes lots of fiber! There really is no end to what you can do with them, and isn’t having to taste our kitchen experiments what family is for? Totally makes me wonder… Haha. ! Have an awesome weekend, Ed! xoxo. If you are using smaller dates it will obviously be more. https://www.chatelaine.com/recipe/desserts/date-squares-recipe It will keep in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. It isn’t as sweet as syrup, but sweet enough and I was totally amazed by the texture and taste. -Coat a crunchy sweet-tart caramel apple Taking a few minutes to soften stale dates makes them way more enjoyable to eat out of hand and easier to blend into drinks and sauces. Thank you times a million! Cholesterol – 0mg Mmmm I want a piece right now. But I get it, some people don’t. These deglet noor dates without the pit are loaded with natural sweetness and can be used for noshing or baking. I added nuts, vanilla, etc. Nothing is worse than having to dunk your hand into a blender full of half-blended date paste and rummage around for that one pit that slipped by. Nowadays I have to consciously refrain from putting them in every single baked or raw recipe on FOF. I’m on my second Whole30, and I was looking for a way to incorporate that Korean sweetness into bulgogi. Loved how informative this post was, I rarely make an actual batch of date paste these dates but now I think I’m going to have to! For best results, leave overnight. Nope, you don’t need to peel dates. ★☆ In fact, they kind of freaked me out with their jumbo-sized raisin resemblance. I satisy my sweet tooth with a concoction of my own – almonds chopped in a blender, mixed in with dates in a food processor (VERY thick), rolled into balls and tossed in bowl with shredded coconut to coat them. Soaking.If your dates are exceptionally dry or if you don’t have a high powered blender, soaking them for 30 minutes to an hour in warm water before blending can make things much easier o…