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How To Make Date Paste

October 24, 2020 by Lindsay 24 Comments

Learn how to make Date Paste (also known as date caramel) with just dates and water and use it to add natural sweetness and flavor to desserts and baked goods. 

Learn how to make Date Paste (also known as date caramel) with just dates and water and use it to add natural sweetness and flavor to desserts and baked goods.

 

 

Hi Friends!

Just popping in with a quick tutorial for you guys in preparation for tomorrow’s recipe. Have you heard of date paste? Or date caramel? It’s literally just dates….but you soak them up overnight, blend them up and then you have this delicious paste that takes a whole lot like caramel sauce. To take things a step further, you could add a splash of vanilla or some sea salt for extra flavor.

Learn how to make Date Paste (also known as date caramel) with just dates and water and use it to add natural sweetness and flavor to desserts and baked goods.

 

I’ve been seeing people use date paste for a while now but had never tried it myself. This month’s Recipe Redux challenge was to try a new ingredient, so even though dates aren’t a new ingredient to me, using them like this- as a paste- makes them something new to me! If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try replacing some of the sugar in your baked goods with some date paste to see if you like the taste. You could also add some to your smoothies or oatmeal, dip some fruit in it, use it as a sub for caramel in vegan desserts etc….PLUS it works really well in frozen chocolate desserts — just wait for tomorrow’s post!

So here’s how you make it:

Print

How To Make Date Paste

Date Paste 4
Print Recipe

With just dates and water, you can make your own Date Paste (also know as date caramel) to add natural sweetness and flavor to desserts and baked goods.

Ingredients

  • dates- pitted and chopped
  • water
  • optional: vanilla, sea salt, cinnamon, etc

Instructions

  1. Place pitted dates in a bowl and cover with water.
  2. Let soak overnight.
  3. Drain soaking liquid and reserve.
  4. Place dates in a food processor or high powered blender.
  5. Add reserved soaking liquid one Tbsp at a time until mixture reaches desired consistency.
  6. Add additional flavorings if desired.
  7. Store in the fridge- color will darken as it sits.

Notes

Quick soak option:
If you’re in a pinch, you can soak the dates in hot water with a lid on for 20 minutes and then follow the directions above but after testing both methods, I think the overnight soak makes it just a little bit smoother and better

Did you make this recipe?

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I usually do about 1.5 cups of dates at a time but you can make as much or as little as you want. Dates are a great natural sweetener and a good source of fiber, Vitamin A and Vitamin K, but also remember they’re still calorie dense and a source of sugar so consume in moderation!

Learn how to make Date Paste (also known as date caramel) with just dates and water and use it to add natural sweetness and flavor to desserts and baked goods.

[Tweet “Make your own date paste to use in desserts, baked goods and more! via @leangrnbeanblog”]

Looking for ways to use your newly made date paste?

  • Add some to the center of these Freezer Chocolate PB Cups.
  • Replace the maple syrup in these Almond Butter Banana Cookies.
  • Mix a little into your bowl of Microwave Oatmeal with An Egg.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

 

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Filed Under: Dessert Tagged With: Dates

About Lindsay

Lindsay Livingston is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, Ohio. On her blog, she shares simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and snapshots of her life. Follow her on Twitter @LeanGrnBeanBlog and Instagram @TheLeanGreenBean and be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you never miss a post!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Angela @ happy fit mama says

    January 20, 2016 at 5:14 AM

    Date paste has always been one of those things I know I should make ahead to have a stash. Usually when I use dates, it’s a last minute thing so I will let the dates soak for about 30 minutes and then give it a whirl in the food processor. I need to add this to my food prep on the weekend!

    Reply
  2. CARLA says

    January 20, 2016 at 5:32 AM

    WOW.
    and I will entirely surrender and admit IVE NEVER EVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE.
    !!!
    I swear if it werent for foodbloggers there would be no hope for my child.
    <3

    Reply
  3. jennifer says

    January 20, 2016 at 7:02 AM

    This is quite a useful little idea with a lot of yummy applications — mind in overdrive now!

    Reply
  4. lindsay Cotter says

    January 20, 2016 at 8:33 AM

    you are genius. that is all. and i love you. <3 pinning

    Reply
  5. Cathy says

    January 20, 2016 at 9:29 AM

    I have made date paste before and loved it. Thanks for reminding me about it again! I usually just used it as a dip, for veggies or fruit, crackers, rice cakes, etc

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:02 AM

      oooh love the veggie dip idea!

      Reply
  6. Chelsey says

    January 20, 2016 at 9:42 AM

    Loveeee using date paste in my vegan muffins! The perfect way to get that sweetness without added sugar! Pinned!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:02 AM

      oooh yum! will have to try in muffins!

      Reply
  7. Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says

    January 20, 2016 at 10:28 AM

    Date Paste, the I really want to make that recipe but I have no idea what that is ingredient! Thanks for shedding some light on it!

    Reply
  8. Bianca @ Sweet Dreaming says

    January 20, 2016 at 11:06 AM

    yum!! i love the natural sweetener option. do you know approx how long date paste will last in the fridge?

    Reply
  9. Hannah @CleanEatingVeggieGirl says

    January 20, 2016 at 11:47 AM

    I have wanted to try this for a long time, but never get around to it. Thanks for making it seem so easy!!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:01 AM

      hope you give it a whirl!

      Reply
  10. Karen says

    January 20, 2016 at 12:05 PM

    Thank you for your recipe for date paste! I am anxious to try it! I am not sure how much to use in a recipe. If a recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, how much date paste would you put in?

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 20, 2016 at 8:39 PM

      i’ve heard it’s an equal sub but haven’t done much experimenting myself. I’d try replacing maybe half with date paste and using half sugar and see how it turns out and then you can adjust from there.

      Reply
  11. Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says

    January 20, 2016 at 12:13 PM

    I love when I see new things that I haven’t seen before. This looks awesome! I need to restock my Medjool dates. I also like to caramelize them or just let them dry out bc I can’t stand soft, chewy ones! Then I just slather them in almond butter. MMMM.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      January 25, 2016 at 10:01 AM

      haha i can’t stand when they’re dry 🙂

      Reply
  12. Laura @MotherWouldKnow says

    January 20, 2016 at 7:29 PM

    I love dates and have never thought of date paste – what a great idea! I must try this. – so simple but elegant

    Reply
  13. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says

    January 21, 2016 at 12:14 PM

    I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this before but I am really intrigued to see what you make with it!

    Reply
  14. Serena says

    January 21, 2016 at 3:11 PM

    So I was just going to ask what proportion you’d recommend substituting for sugar in a recipe – but you already answered in the comments. THANKS for the scoop!

    Reply
  15. Marisa says

    February 3, 2016 at 6:21 AM

    Can you use dried dates? It seems you would (since I can’t imagine soaking fresh ones), but I could be wrong. Thanks!

    Reply
  16. Josten says

    December 4, 2017 at 12:33 AM

    Do you know if it works in coffee?

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      December 4, 2017 at 9:09 PM

      i would guess not…unless you’re blending it maybe?

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Chocolate Date Bites - Food, Pleasure, and Health says:
    January 2, 2018 at 3:09 PM

    […] baking as date paste instead of butter/oil. Here is a great post on how to make date caramel and date paste if you are interested for your next baking project, esp if you are into vegan baking. Chocolate […]

    Reply
  2. Date Cookie Butter says:
    January 28, 2019 at 4:28 PM

    […] Kitchen Hacks post on my blog, I tested Lindsay’s of Lean Green Bean recipe for Date Paste (aka Date Butter or Date Caramel), which you can use as a spread or a sugar substitute […]

    Reply

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Lindsay Livingston The Lean Green Bean Healthy Living Tips and Tricks

I'm a Registered Dietitian and mom of three from Columbus, Ohio. I use this blog to share simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, and an honest glimpse of motherhood!

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Learn how food affects your body.

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