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    BLANK » Recipe Index » Extras

    How to Make Date Paste

    Last Updated January 15, 2023. Published June 7, 2020 By Charla 4 Comments

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    date paste pin

    Love dates? Me too! Then you will definitely want to learn how to make some date paste. A healthy fruit based alternative sweetener using only 2 ingredients pitted dates and some tepid water.

    overhead shot of the date paste

    How to make date paste

    If you are looking for a sweetener that is healthy, wholesome and taste equally as awesome then look no further than following my step by step guide for making your own homemade date paste.

     Okay, now that I have your undivided attention, let's talk about date paste. In case you are wondering what is it, it's simply whole pitted dates which have been have pureed into a paste (the clue is in the same).

    I haven't seen date paste in the supermarkets while on my travels nor have I seen date sugar which is why you might benefit from Air Fryer Date Sugar  recipe post.

    I took the liberty of making my own just like I did when I learnt How to Make a Flax Egg.

    I always have dates lying around in my pantry and also like to nibble on them so why not experiment with them and make some paste with them.

    It's a great natural alternative sweetener and free from refined sugar which explains why so many people are now using it more than ever.

    You can use any type of date; be it - medjool, deglet noor, barhi etc..

    You can use this in your tea, coffee, smoothie, for baked cookies, stews or even marinades too.

    Reasons to make this paste

    • The taste is phenomenal - think caramel candy, but not overwhelming
    • You only need TWO ingredients to make it from scratch
    • It's highly addictive and incredibly versatile
    • Healthy substitute for brown sugar
    • It's suitable for paleo lifestyle, whole 30, gluten free and safe for vegans!!
    • You can make a BIG batch of this recipe and freeze it down.

    The difference between date paste and date syrup

    The major difference between the two is the texture and processing. Date paste is made my pulsing pure dates with the aid of water.

    On the other hand, date syrup is a lot thicker, more of a strong caramel colour and is typically made from simmering the extract of the dates.

    The steps

    adding the date to a bowl

    Grab your dates and place them in a bowl to soak in water.

    soaking then pureeing the dates

    Drain off the soaked dates and puree in a high speed blender

    Quick version vs overnight method

    You can make this recipe using a blender, immersion stick or food processor. Since making this paste over and over again I have figured out that you can short cut the softening the date. I think sometimes playing the waiting game can be off putting so I have a solution

    Quick method: Add the dates to a bowl with 2 cups of hot water and soak for 30 minutes then transfer to your blender/food processor and puree. You shouldn't have any issues with the dates breaking down as they should be super soft.

    Over night method: Add the dates to a bowl with 2 cups of lukewarm water and leave to soften overnight. Some people might want to do this method if they are concerned about destroying the nutritional value of the dates.

    Baking with date paste

    Date paste isn't as sweet as regular brown sugar. If you are using it to make baked goods be mindful that you will need to over compensate. For example if a recipe called for ½ a cup of sugar you will need to use double the amount.

    Also, because it yields a liquid texture you may want to scale back the use of milk by ¼ so you don't end up with batter that is quite runny.

    Can you use any other fruit instead of dates?

    • Prunes
    • Figs
    • Raisin, current or sultanas

    Storage

    Once you have made your date paste, be sure to store in a glass jar i.e mason jar in your fridge. The paste has a long shelf life of a few months but as a general rule of thumb I use within 4 weeks of making it.

    Alternatively you can whip up a batch and place in a freezer friendly container for up to a year.

    The good news is that date paste has a moderate shelf life. Store on the fridge for up to 3-4 weeks or alternatively freeze on the day it's made for up to a year.

    Notes and tips

    • Make sure to refrigerate (up to a month) or freeze for a year.
    • Use a immersion stick, food processor or blender to puree your date.
    • Any type of dates will work or use prune/figs/raisins instead.
    • You can use the quick (soak in boiling water) or overnight option to make the paste.
    • If adding to a hot beverage you will need to use more than what you would do if using brown sugar.
    • Pitted dates are more convenient if you can't get hold of pitted simply split the dates in halve to remove the stone.
    • This recipe makes about a small jar's worth of paste.

    spatula in the paste

    Recipes to use your paste in

    These recipes either contain date paste or fresh dates, just use how the amount state with the paste instead.

    • Vegan Banana Smoothie
    • Vegan Carrot Pudding
    • Blueberry Banana Smoothie Bowl
    • Coconut Cranberry Energy Balls
    • Vegan Sticky Toffee Pudding
    • Avocado Chocolate Crumble

    **Don't forget to comment below and star rate if you have tried my recipes. Let's be friends and engage on Facebook and Instagram I also like to pin on Pinterest, where you can find more amazing recipes.**

    overhead shot of the paste

    How to Make Date Paste

    Learn not to make this sugar free game changer for all your culinary needs.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: condiment
    Cuisine: American, middle eastern
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
    Servings: 1 jar
    Calories: 814kcal
    Author: Charla

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups of pitted medjool dates
    • 2 cups water see above for whether you need warm/hot water

    Instructions

    For the quick method

    • Add the dates to a bowl with 2 cups of hot water and soak for 30 minutes.
    • Drain off the water and add the dates to your blender/food processor and puree until smooth.

    Overnight method

    • Place the dates in a bowl with 2 cups of lukewarm water and leave to soften overnight.
    • Drain the water and puree in the dates in a blender/food processor until smooth

    Notes

    • Make sure to refrigerate (up to a month) or freeze for a year.
    • Use a immersion stick, food processor or blender to puree your date.
    • Any type of dates will work or use prune/figs/raisins instead.
    • You can use the quick (soak in boiling water) or overnight option to make the paste.
    • If adding to a hot beverage you will need to use more than what you would do if using brown sugar.
    • Pitted dates are more convenient if you can't get hold of pitted simply split the dates in halve to remove the stone.
    • This recipe makes about a small jar's worth of paste.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 814kcal | Carbohydrates: 220g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 2046mg | Fiber: 20g | Sugar: 195g | Vitamin A: 438IU | Calcium: 188mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @ThatGirlCooksHealthy or tag #ThatGirlCooksHealthy!

    « Pineapple Mint Infused Water
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    About Charla

    I'm Charla. Caribbean foodie & Certified Health Coach. Welcome to the heaven of gluten and dairy free recipes as well as modernised healthier alternatives to some of your favourite Caribbean recipes.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Melissa

      December 09, 2020 at 10:01 pm

      How would I use this in place of sugar or maple syrup in a recipe? Is it 1:1? And, could I use this in tea?

      Reply
      • Charla

        December 09, 2020 at 10:30 pm

        Date paste will make your baked goods softer because of its thick texture. It's also not as sweet as maple syrup or regular granulated sugar. As a general rule of thumb you will want to use 1/4 cup more in baking i.e a recipe which calls for 1/2 cup of maple syrup will need 3/4 cup of date paste instead. The paste offers subtle sweetness, so on the flipside, if you don't want your recipe(s) to be extremely sweet then date paste will work in your favour. I hope that helps and yes, it works really well in tea and smoothies (my preferred choice).

        Reply
    2. Sam

      May 19, 2016 at 3:26 am

      How much does this recipe yield?

      Reply
      • Charla

        May 19, 2016 at 8:40 am

        Hi Sam, it would be the equivalent to a small jar (a cups worth in total).

        Reply

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    I'm Charla. Caribbean foodie & Certified Health Coach. Welcome to the heaven of gluten and dairy free recipes as well as modernised healthier alternatives to some of your favourite Caribbean recipes. Learn more about me

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