Date Paste Recipe

This date paste recipe is perfect for sweetening cakes, muffins, and other treats. Dates are full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and provide a source of nutrient-dense energy. Cooking and baking with date puree is an easy way to eliminate refined sugar while still satisfying a sweet tooth. All you need to make it are dates, a blender, and water.

Using date paste as a natural sweetener

Dates can be used to sweeten sauces, condiments, marinades, jams, or just stirred into plain yogurt or smoothies to sweeten them up. Some of my favorite date-sweetened recipes are cakes (like this mouthwatering chocolate date-sweetened cake) and muffins because the water content in the blended dates adds moistness to these types of baked goods.

It has a slightly caramel-like taste, yet it’s neutral enough that it doesn’t overpower the other flavors in recipes. Treats made with dates are a good option for picky kids because they’re a delicious way to sneak in some extra nutrients and antioxidants.

The last step is to blend the dates and soaking liquid together until smooth. You can use a regular blender, immersion blender, or high speed blender (the high speed blender will give you the smoothest results, but other blenders will work too). If your dates are particularly dry and don’t blend easily, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to the blender to achieve a smooth consistency.

Storage

Store date paste in an airtight container in the fridge for up to seven days.

More date recipes to try

• This balsamic kale salad has a sweet, tangy dressing made with date paste and balsamic vinegar.
• This paleo ketchup is easy to make and loaded with flavor.
• This refined sugar-free blueberry freezer jam is quick and easy to make.