Date sugar recipe – A one ingredient alternative sweetener that couldn’t be made any easier by using this step by step guide.
It’s been quite some time since I did a tutorial post. I don’t like to overwhelm my readers too much with “how to” posts so I often submit them periodically. Anyway, today I’m going to teach you how to make your own date sugar and I promise you will LOVE it.
If you haven’t noticed before I’m quite found of using dates in my recipes and I like to use them in various forms.
Sometimes I will use them in their entirety in a smoothie and other times I will whip up a batch of date paste and add it for sweetness to a recipe.
Nowadays more people shy away from processed white sugar and seek healthier ways to get their sweet fix. I’m a huge fan of the many diabetic, slow releasing sweeteners such as coconut palm sugar, agave nectar and maple syrup.
I’m quite partial to coconut sugar because it yields a lovely warm butterscotch flavour and really compliments so many recipes.
The sweetener that I would like to introduce you to is date sugar, yes you read correctly, DATE SUGAR…..now before you recoil in horror, there many health benefits in dates, so please bear with me.
As a society we quickly get so transfixed on the word sugar that we fail notice that some of these fruits actually contain other health properties that actually nourish the body.
The health benefits of date sugar
Dates are great for promoting bowel movement due to their incredibly high fiber content. If you’re afflicted with constipation I would highly suggest adding a teaspoon or two to your beverage.
We all know antioxidants contain cancer fighting agents, well dates are packed with them.
Also potassium which is a crucial mineral and eletrocyte that not only induces muscle contraction but also has the ability to reduce sodium levels and boost the body’s metabolism.
Another mineral to note is magnesium, great for keeping teeth and bones strong which lowers the risk of osteoporosis.
How to make date sugar in steps (with pictures)
This is how to date should look which is quite dark after roasting and will turn hard as the cool down.
Use a coffee/spice grinder to pulverise the dates into sugar date
What you will need to make date sugar:
- A baking tray
- A bag of fresh medjool dates
- Parchment paper
- Coffee grinder or food processor
How long should I roast the dates in the oven for?
Roasting the dates, it will take about 2hrs and 3o minutes. Please note the dates won’t be rock hard when they are taken out of the oven.
Allow them to cool completely and you will notice as picture, the dates have darken and harden the colder than become.
Grinding them in a coffee/spice grinder. I will go into much more detail further down, but you get the gist of what needs to be done.
How should I store the date sugar?
Once you have pulse the dates you can store the “sugar” in an air tight container for up to several months.
Suggestions for using date sugar
- Use as a sweetener
- Baked goods
- Porridge or puddings
How to make date sugar (paleo/gluten free)
Ingredients
- 1 large baking tray
- A bag of fresh medjool dates pitted
- Parchment paper
- Coffee grinder or food processor
Instructions
- Preheat the oven 150C/300F/gas mark 2.
- Spread the pitted medjool dates evenly on the entire baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Place the baking tray in the oven and allow the dates to roast in the oven until they are rock hard to not charr, so keep a watchful on them during the entire process.
- The dates should have reached the desired stage in approximately 2 to 3 hours..
- Once done remove from the oven, set aside and let the dates cool completely.
- Once cooled and hardened, pulse the dates in segments using either a food processor/coffee grinder into a powdery form. The sugar may lump after pulverising, don't worry this is normal and still be used.
- Store in an airtight container (can last for several weeks)
Nutrition
So after 1 hr 45 mins they are totally charred/burnt but mushy on the inside. I’m confused. How are they to get hard as a rock without getting burnt?
You need to leave them to cool down completely, they will harden as they cool down. Also, depending on “hot” your oven is (this varies from brand to brand) you may need to turn down your oven to the lowest temperature.
Okay. I had already turned off the oven and decided to let them sit in there as the oven cooled down. Now they are hardened! I would probably use a lower temp next time, and turn the oven off at 2 hours leaving them in the oven as I said above. Not sure if this batch is too charred or not, but at least I only used 9 dates to see if it worked first.😃
Okay, that is good to know! Definitely adjust accordingly.
This is the second time I’ve tried.
The first time I had them on low heat for the set time but not even half way, they burnt.
Then today I tried again with a smaller batch and had the oven on low heat for about 1 to 1.5 hours. I let it cool down as I felt it go slightly rock like. Blended it and it totally was burnt.
I use a gas oven with a grill at the top and the baking fire at the bottom. So, where do I win?
Hi Serena. Let’s see if we can troubleshoot here. First of all are you using the lowest possible setting in your oven? If not reduce the oven to as low as it will go. Secondly. Reduce the roasting time to under an hour instead, around 50 minutes instead and keep your oven door slightly ajar too. This should be enough time for the dates to turn semi hard and harden as they are completely cool, you may need to leave them to dry out in the air alittle longer usual. Once the dates are hard and cooled blend your sugar.
My dates burned before the 2hr mark, the whole kitchen smells like char. Is 300F the right temp? Seems a little high for a “low and slow” roast.
Hi Kristen. I’m so sorry to hear that the recipe didn’t work for you. I have tested the recipe several times prior to posting with no problems with 300F being the temperature. My only suggestion is to roast the dates on the lowest temperature that your oven will permit. Reduce the time to 1hr 30 minutes. Keep a watchful eye on the dates after the first hour, until they have hardened but not burnt/charred. Hopefully by reducing the temperature/time you will have the desired results.
I’m wondering if you could use a dehydrator to dry out the dates instead of the oven, that way I could make a bigger batch
Yes, most definitely. It will work the same way.
Just finished roasting them in the oven, it looks great. Cooling them now. Are they supposed to taste bitter after roasting?
Hi Pelumi. Are you referring to the dates once have finished roasting? If so, not it shouldn’t have a bitter taste. They might be a very subtle burnt taste due to the length of time it takes to roast but definitely not bitter.
Tried the recipe delicious ! I enjoy all your recipe keep sharing please ? date sugar is amazing
Hi Sha. So glad to have another fan on board with date sugar.
Have you tried it with raisins? Do you think it could work? Thanks.
Hi Sylvie. No I haven’t tried it with raisins. I think given how small raisins are you would need a VERY large quantity in order to successfully mill them into sugar. I’m not sure if you could successfully get them to become rock hard during roasting. I think a good alternative to dates would be prunes.
what is Parchment paper
and why you put it with the dates
thank you i got it so it will not got sticky
Yes, that’s right!
It’s non stick paper that stops the dates from sticking to the tray. It acts as a layer.
Does baking for so long remove the nutrients in the dates?
While any form of cooking will always remove some of the nutrients, because the dates are baked on such low heat, most of the nutrition can be retained.
I placed the Medjool dates in the oven at 170°, and, after one hour they were moist. After two 1/2 hours, they were still moist.
Sorry to hear that. Try increasing the temperature a bit more? Has some of the moisture been removed? It doesn’t need to be super hard to achieve the date sugar just as long as most of the moisture is removed to make the sugar.
This is brilliant!
How many grams of dates did you use for this recipe?
Hi Mariam, about 300grams at a guess
Do you use less or more date sugar in things compared to white sugar? If so, what’s the ratio? Do you use date sugar at all in baking?
I only use date sugar in some recipes as the taste is like caramel incomparison to white sugar. If using it in baking of would use 1/4 cup more as the sweetness is subtle compared to other sugar.
Thank you! Do you grind the pits as well?
Hi Monique. No I used I removed the pits. If you have a high speed blender like a vitamix or blend-tech then leaving them in would be fine. However, to be on the safe side I would suggest removing them first.
Have seen it in the store before but never realized it was so easy to make. Thank you! I may try it with deglets instead of medjool just because they are cheaper.
Awesome, yes any dates will do the trick 😉
I’ve used blended dates in recipes before instead of refined white sugar but never come across date sugar before. Great idea! Thanks for sharing
You are so welcome Emma, happy to have helped.
Wow, I would never have guessed it is so easy to make the date sugar. Love this
Thank you!!
I’ve never had date sugar before. Looks perfect! Such a great alternative sweetener.
Yes it is, thank you!
Sweetening with dates seems to be very in right now! I do love coconut sugar, and of course maple syrup and honey, so I’m going to have to try this date sugar. Thanks for the great, easy recipe.
Yes, another contemporary sweetener to add to the never ending list.
I didn’t know you could make date sugar. Will have to try this!
Definitely! I hope you like it.
OMG this is so amazing! I never knew that dates could be used so! I’ve been trying to incorporate more dates into my diet. this is just perfect!!! Thanks so much!
We learn something new everyday and you are most welcome Tina 😉