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.
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:
How To Make Date Paste
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
- Place pitted dates in a bowl and cover with water.
- Let soak overnight.
- Drain soaking liquid and reserve.
- Place dates in a food processor or high powered blender.
- Add reserved soaking liquid one Tbsp at a time until mixture reaches desired consistency.
- Add additional flavorings if desired.
- Store in the fridge- color will darken as it sits.
Recipe 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
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!
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–
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!
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
This is quite a useful little idea with a lot of yummy applications — mind in overdrive now!
you are genius. that is all. and i love you. <3 pinning
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
oooh love the veggie dip idea!
Loveeee using date paste in my vegan muffins! The perfect way to get that sweetness without added sugar! Pinned!
oooh yum! will have to try in muffins!
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!
yum!! i love the natural sweetener option. do you know approx how long date paste will last in the fridge?
I have wanted to try this for a long time, but never get around to it. Thanks for making it seem so easy!!
hope you give it a whirl!
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?
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.
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.
haha i can’t stand when they’re dry 🙂
I love dates and have never thought of date paste – what a great idea! I must try this. – so simple but elegant
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this before but I am really intrigued to see what you make with it!
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!
Can you use dried dates? It seems you would (since I can’t imagine soaking fresh ones), but I could be wrong. Thanks!