Learn how to make your very own homemade date sugar using an air fryer. This is a much quicker and easier alternative to the oven roasted method (a new and improved recipe).
If you have been following my blog from the beginning then you will already be familar with my oven version of date sugar along with my homemade date paste.
This was a recipe that was I created some years ago. At the time when I showcased this recipe to my readers, it resulted in a mixture of results/reviews.
Some people were able to make it with no problems while others struggled.
The common theme seemed to be getting that balance of the correct oven temperature for the dates to yield powdered date sugar.
I take pride in each and every recipe, testing them tiredlessly, so for me a readers recipe fail, feels like a disappointment.
I hate doing recipe fails myself but it is a part of my job whether I like it or not. Truth be told, it is a waste of time and money so to have my readers experience the same thing definitely bothers me.
I went back to the drawing board and decided to take a totally different approach to making date sugar, this time using the air fryer.
I've learnt a lot of do's and donts from the first version which I will incorporate into this method.
The great thing about this method is that is it which a timesaver. What would normally take hours is now reduced to less than an hour.
In my humble opinion, the most appealing thing about making date sugar in the air fryer, is how it saves time, energy and most importantly money.
Especially in this economic climiate where the cost of living is ridiculously high and with so many of us looking for ways to budget, this method is perfect for you.
If you have tried this recipe before and struggled, my new, updated version should hopefully yield better results.
The steps
- Place the pitted dates in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
- Place each date on a chopping board, using a paring knife, chop the dates in half lengthways .
- Then chop each half into thin strips (this is very important).
- Preheat the air fryer.
- Place the thin strips of dates into the air fryer basket being careful (you may need to do this in batches).not to overcrowd.
- Roast the dates at 180C/356F until semi solid (I roasted mine for exactly 6 minutes).
- Leave the dates to completely cool down and become solid. To speed this process up I recommend putting them in the freezer, checking periodically until solid.
- Once the dates are solid, inspect them with your fingers, they should snap in half and NOT be soft at all.
- Place a small amount of solid dates in a spice/coffee grinder (2-3 tablespoon at a time).
- Pulverize the dates by stopping and starting the grinder to make a ground/fine consistency and repeat the above step with the rest of the dates (being sure to work in very small batches at a time).
- Store the date sugar in an air tight mason jar in a cool place.
Notes and tips
- Be sure to use dates that are already pitted (meaning the stone is removed).
- For this recipe I used my Proscenic T21 air fryer.
- My dates took exactly 6 minutes to roast but depending on your air fryer model, the time may differ.
- I cannot emphasize how important it is to slice the dates into very thin strips, this allows a much better chance for the dates to become solid quicker.
- DO NOT over crowed your air fryer, you will want to seperate the thin strips and work in batches if needed.
- DON'T over crowd your coffee/grinder, you run the risk of damaging/destroying the spindle. Once the sugar is ground remove it first before adding more dates.
- You can use any type of pitted dates to make the sugar.
- It is extremely important to allow the dates to be completely cool before grinding them.
- You may want to fast track this step by placing the roasted dates in the freezer.
- Be sure to store your date sugar in an air tight container, in a cool place.
- The sugar should last for a few months.
- As the sugar has no starch/addictives it will lump together, this is normal, just break any parts up with a spoon and it should granulate again.
More recipes to try
- Plantain Flour
- Sweet Potato Flour
- Powdered Coconut Sugar
- Ginger Syrup
- How to Dehydrate Peppers
- Caribbean Curry Sauce
- Mango Jam Recipe
- Sea Moss Gel
- How to Make a Flax Egg
**Don't forget to comment below and star rate if you have tried my recipes. Let's be friends and engage on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram I also like to pin on Pinterest, where you can find more amazing recipes.**
Air Fryer Date Sugar
Equipment
- Coffee/spice grinder (Very important, DON'T USE A FOOD PROCESSOR)
- Air fryer
- Paring knife
Ingredients
- ½ lb Pitted dates (230g) any dates will work
Instructions
- Place the pitted dates in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
- Place each date on a chopping board, using a paring knife, chop the dates in half lengthways .
- Then chop each half into thin strips (this is very important).
- Preheat the air fryer.
- Place the thin strips of dates into the air fryer basket being careful (you may need to do this in batches).not to overcrowd.
- Roast the dates at 180C/356F until semi solid (I roasted mine for exactly 6 minutes).
- Leave the dates to completely cool down and become solid. To speed this process up I recommend putting them in the freezer, checking periodically until solid.
- Once the dates are solid, inspect them with your fingers, they should snap in half and NOT be soft at all.
- Place a small amount of solid dates in a spice/coffee grinder (2-3 tablespoon at a time).
- Pulverize the dates by stopping and starting the grinder to make a ground/fine consistency and repeat the above step with the rest of the dates (being sure to work in very small batches at a time).
- .Store the date sugar in an air tight mason jar in a cool place.
Notes
- Be sure to use dates that are already pitted (meaning the stone is removed).
- For this recipe I used my Proscenic T21 air fryer.
- My dates took exactly 6 minutes to roast but depending on your air fryer model, the time may differ.
- I cannot emphasize how important it is to slice the dates into very thin strips, this allows a much better chance for the dates to become solid quicker.
- DO NOT over crowed your air fryer, you will want to seperate the thin strips and work in batches if needed.
- DON'T over crowd your coffee/grinder, you run the risk of damaging/destroying the spindle. Once the sugar is ground remove it first before adding more dates.
- You can use any type of pitted dates to make the sugar.
- It is extremely important to allow the dates to be completely cool before grinding them.
- You may want to fast track this step by placing the roasted dates in the freezer.
- Be sure to store your date sugar in an air tight container, in a cool place.
- The sugar should last for a few months.
- As the sugar has no starch/addictives it will lump together, this is normal, just break any parts up with a spoon and it should granulate again.
Nat
So excited to try this! Wondering why it needs to be a coffee grinder vs a food processor? Also, have you ever tried making a powdered sugar using date sugar? Thanks so much for the recipe!
Charla
Hi Nat. You could try using a food processor instead but my own food processor isn't as powderful enough to grind the dates into a powdery consistency which is why I recommend using a coffee grinder. I use it for making my spice blends and it has never failed me consistency wise. To answer your other question, no I haven't tried making powdered date sugar but that's a great idea and one I will be testing out very soon.