Date Paste

Date paste is a delicious addition to any kitchen. This paste is an all-natural fruit-based sweetener made from 2 simple ingredients. In this post I will show how to make date paste.

Did you know that date paste is a versatile ingredient in your (plant-based) kitchen? Date paste or date syrup is my sweetener of choice, and I always have a batch in my fridge. I love dates because of their sweet caramel flavor. You could buy it in the store, but to be honest, I think the homemade version is sweeter. 

How to make Date Paste

MAKING DATE PASTE

I always use Medjool dates; these dates are considered the softest dates with that typical caramel flavor. But feel free to use the smaller dates if you wish, such as Deglor Noors dates. 

It might be helpful to check whether your dates are not sweetened with sugar / glucose-fructose syrup. 

What I also always do is open the dates and check the inside. Sometimes a date can be moldy inside. You will know because the interior will be filled with dark black powder. Discard a moldy date. However, you can still use the other dates in the same batch if they don’t have any mold inside. 

If your dates are very dry or if you don’t have a high-speed blender, soaking your dates in water will help a lot. Place the dates for 30-40 minutes in lukewarm water to soften them. After that, any blender will be able to blend the dates perfectly. I personally don’t do this every time, but I do use a high-speed blender (Vitamix).

The amount of water versus dates will vary. It can depend on how dry your dates are, but I usually start with equal amounts of dates versus water. While blending, I might add more water, but I usually never use more than 3 cups of water for 1 cup of dates.

When you measure your dates in a cup, I usually use about 13 dates for 1 cup. But again, this depends on the type of dates you are using. In grams, this will be about 190 grams.

And, of course, take out the pit first.

FINAL TIP

When you make date paste to bake with and for most other recipes (or snack), you want to create a really smooth but thick date paste. This means probably less water than you might like to use. So no runny watered-down date paste. I usually want to create a date paste that is as thick as possible but still smooth.

My number one tip for blending up the perfect thick and smooth date paste is to turn the blender up to high speed right away.

How to make Date Paste

DATE PASTE SERVING SUGGESTIONS

In cakes
For dipping apple slices
As a topping over your oatmeal- or buckwheat porridge
Sweeten and add moisture to (baked) recipes such as cookies or brownies
Sweeten raw and no-bake treats
A sweet base for frostings and spreads
To make a caramel sauce
Sweeten and thicken puddings and sauces

Date paste is easy to make yourself. It hardly takes time and is basically made out of only two ingredients, dates and water.

So simple, so delicious and really a perfect substitute for sugar in many recipes!

Do you use (or make) date paste? Let me know what you think on Instagram or Facebook. If you make a picture on Instagram don’t forget to tag #thegreencreator since I’m sharing all of your creations now under the highlights ”recipes you love”.

How to make Date Paste

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How to make Date Paste

How to make Date Paste

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: The Green Creator
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 5 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Yield: 1 cup / 200 grams 1x
  • Category: snack, sweet,
  • Method: blender
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Date paste is a delicious addition to any kitchen. This paste is an all-natural fruit-based sweetener made from 2 simple ingredients.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup Medjool dates ( about 13 dates / 190 gr), remove the stone/pit
  • 1 to 3 cups water (1 cup = 240 ml)

Instructions

Start by soaking the dates in a bowl with some water. Soak the dates for several hours (or overnight). The longer you soak the dates, the softer they will be and easier to blend. If you’re using the small hard dates, you probably need more time to soak to soften them.

After soaking, remove the pit from the dates and place the dates with more or less 1/4 of the soaking water in a blender or food processor.

Blend the dates and water until you have a soft creamy syrup; add more water if it is too thick. Store the date paste in a glass jar. You can keep the date paste in the fridge for about 10 days.



Notes

For a deeper flavor, you can use plant-based milk instead of water. 

A teaspoon of vanilla extract created a subtle hint of extra sweetness.


photos and text by the green creator (c) (copyright)

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