Homemade Date Paste Recipe {Caramel + Chocolate Sauce} (2024)
By Amanda Le
Fall is here which means the holidays are right around the corner. Most of us probably hate to admit it but this also means consuming more sinful foods than we normally would, quite possibly in larger volumes as well. I know I’m guilty of this. Many of our favorite classic holiday dishes contain large amounts sugar that are dangerous to our health.
Desserts are not the only foods that contain high amounts of sugar either. There are plenty of savory dishes that call for sugar, but we need to be especially wary of the sugar in sauces. This is where people may not realize the presence of sugar.
It’s important to understand that not all sugar is the same. Refined sugar is stripped of all it’s nutrients during the refining process, leaving us with a byproduct that studies have shown is more addictive than heroin or cocaine. I was blown away when I first heard about this. We’re now at a point in our society where we are comparing sugar and drugs. Thinking about it makes me worry about the direction our country is heading in, if only I could spam everyone with my this recipe….
Refined sugar is everywhere these days, disguised with so many new names that it has become impossible to keep up with. Just because a label reads “no high fructose corn syrup” doesn’t mean it hasn’t been replaced with another harmful sweetener. Even more alarming, if foods do contain high fructose corn syrup they can still be labeled “100% natural” or “made with all natural ingredients” since there is absolutely no regulation over the term “NATURAL.”
The food industry has found every possible way around the rise in concerns regarding refined sugar, marketing their products with misleading and deceptive labels. That’s why sticking with ingredients you are 100% certain of is the only way to avoid the sugar trap.
When we know exactly what is in the foods we eat there’s no worrying about artificial flavoring or sneaky processed ingredients that are designed to trick us into thinking we are eating something that we are not. When we trick our minds into thinking we are having real food, we are only harming ourselves by depriving our body of the proper nutrients it needs.
All you really need for this recipe are dates and water if you want to simplify things, but I think adding vanilla gives the paste an even more enjoyable flavor. You can easily add powders like cacao and cinnamon if you really want to get fancy! I recommend buying dates in bulk since I use them in so many recipes, it’s my go to sweetener for pretty much everything. Plus they make for a great snack!
This date paste recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for three weeks. I personally can’t imagine it lasting any longer than 3 days in mine though. Use date paste in recipes to replace liquid sweeteners, drizzle over desserts or swirl into a smoothie. One of my new favorite things to do with date paste is spread it on apple slices and add crunchy toppings like nuts, cacao nibs and coconut.
If this is your first time making date paste, you are going to realize how amazing it is and you’ll wish you had known about it sooner but no worries, you know about it now! Let me know if you try out this recipe and what you do with your date paste in the comments below!
Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender or food processor and blend until you get a creamy, uniform consistency.
Add in cacao powder for chocolate sauce.
Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
Use date paste to replace liquid sweeteners in your other recipes. If you are not using fresh soft dates, soak them in warm water for at least an hour before blending. If using smaller dates, add more until you get a desired consistency.
Date paste will last safely up to 3 months in the refrigerator, however after 1 month it may start to dry out. Keep the paste sealed in an airtight container in the fridge to use as needed. You can also freeze date paste for up to 1 year! Simply put it in a freezer-safe airtight container or bag.
What's the difference between date paste and date syrup? Date syrup is thinner than date paste and is more concentrated in sugar. It does not contain the pulp of the dates.
Why is date paste good for you? Because, in addition to being a great natural sugar substitute and better for you than refined sugars, dates have many health benefits including: Being high in fiber, which is incredibly important for digestion. Being a source of potassium, copper, magnesium, manganese and B vitamins.
When substituting granulated sugar for Date Paste use a 1:1 ratio where for every 1 cup of sugar use 1 cup of Date Paste instead. If you are using it as a substitute for maple syrup use a 2:1 ratio where you double the amount of Date Paste per required amount of maple syrup.
How do you store date paste? Use an airtight container, like a Ziploc bag or a glass mason jar, to store your date paste in the fridge. With proper storage, it should last at least six months, and often longer.
It is mindboggling how rich date syrup is in various essential vitamins, as well as minerals, including potassium, magnesium, and iron. It also contains antioxidants and dietary fiber, making it a healthier sweetener option. On the other hand, Maple syrup is high in calories and sugar, with minimal nutritional value.
A 'normal' date (a pitted date in the baking aisle) is often half the size of a Medjool date and less chewy, use 2-3 to replace a medjool date. If you are using a pitted dry date in replacement of a Medjool date soak them in hot water for 5 minutes before using.
Dates. You've likely seen date syrup, paste, or even sugars, which is essentially ground up dates. McWhorter says date sweeteners are a better option than table sugar, honey, or agave since they include some fiber.
Dates are rich in antioxidants such as flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids, which can help protect against oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. In fact, dates scored the highest in antioxidant content compared to sweeteners like honey and maple syrup.
Date syrup, like its fruit, contains high amounts of fiber. This fiber has a laxative effect, helps with regular bowel movements, and reduces constipation. Natural date syrup is very good for the digestive system and helps it to function better.
Use double the amount of date paste when subbing for maple syrup. So, if a recipe calls for 1/2 cup of maple syrup, I'd recommend using 1 cup of date paste.
If you are looking for a sugar substitute for coffee, date paste is a great option to sweeten your next cup of joe. Dates are both naturally sweet and provide a creamy quality that are very welcomed in coffee.
How to Store Date Syrup. Once you have strained and reduced your syrup to your desired consistency, it is important to store it in a glass jar with a lid and keep it refrigerated. It is best used within three weeks. Once you have tried this delicious, sweet syrup you will be sure to enjoy it in a number of ways.
Date syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks. Use it where you might use maple syrup or honey — on fluffy buttermilk pancakes, waffles, biscuits, or oatmeal.
Dates should be kept in an air-tight container and can be stored at room temperature or refrigerated up to 6 months, and frozen for up to 1 year. If purchasing dates in bulk meets your personal needs, you may opt to refrigerate or freeze any excess dates.
Dates are best stored in the refrigerator in an air tight container to help them retain moisture. They can be stored up to 6 months in the refrigerator, but may lose moisture the longer they sit. Large quantities of dates can also be frozen for up to one year.
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