Learn how to make date paste with this easy date paste recipe. Makes a gorgeous natural sweetener and easily replaces other sugars in your raw dressings, sauces, sweets and desserts.
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What is date paste?
Date paste is a heavenly tasting natural sweetener with a slightly caramel flavour.
You make it by blending softened dates with water. That’s it. Yes really!
Date paste is deliciously rich and intensely sweet in flavour. It makes the most brilliant alternative to other sweeteners, including maple syrup.
I know right.
I use fresh dates rather than dried, although you can use either. The larger Medjool dates are very good, or Deglet Nour. My favourites though are the smaller Zamali dates which are often squishy to begin with, so don’t take long to soak.
Use whatever you have available.
You can use a blender to make the smoothest paste. Or use a mixer with an S-blade. Although with a mixer, the paste may not be quite so smooth when finished. It still makes a super sweet paste and is totally worth doing.
What is it used for?
- smoothies
- nice cream
- salad dressings
- sauces
- sweets
- and of course raw desserts.
How long will it last last?
Date paste is an absolute delight to use in raw recipes. I substitute maple syrup with it at a ratio of 1:1. You can use the same ratio with honey (not vegan) or agave syrup. Give it a taste test and see what you think.
Use it as a dip, a spread, or a healthy sugar substitute in
Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I don’t like to keep fresh produce for too long simply because I like to enjoy food at its freshest.
It gets used up pretty darn fast, mostly because I use it to make my weekly salad dressings as a sweetener to replace maple syrup.
If you want to make a larger batch just double the recipe.
Freezing
You can also freeze date paste by scooping tablespoon size portions into ice cube trays with the larger sections. Once frozen you can then remove them from the trays and store in a container in your freezer for up to 3 months.
Is it healthier than sugar?
Yes. Dates are a plant based whole food and gluten free. They are rich in dietary fibre and contain nutrients including calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, B vitamins and more.
Can you use date paste in coffee?
Yes, you can use date paste in coffee to replace sugar and other sweeteners at a ratio of 1:1.
Recipe variations
You can add your own natural flavourings to date paste before blending, making it even more irresistible in your raw recipes.
Vanilla - add ½ teaspoon vanilla essence
Cinnamon - add ½ teaspoon of powdered cinnamon
Citrus zest - I like to add 1 teaspoon of finely grated zest like lemon, lime or orange. I like to dry the zest and remove the pith from the peel so that no bitter aftertaste is left.
For a thicker paste - use less soak water when blending. I like mine quite thin in consistency since I’m not using it in dry baking recipes to replace dried sugar.
Recipe
How to make date paste.
Equipment
- a blender or food processor with an s-blade.
- a spoon or spatula.
- jar or container with a lid for storing.
Ingredients
- 1 cup or about 12 small dates / approx. 115 g, pre-soaked until soft and pitted.
- ½ cup or 125ml soak water
Instructions
- Soak fresh dates in water for a minimum of 30 minutes. Once softened remove dates from the water, reserving ½ a cup (125ml) of soak water for blending.
- Make sure that pitts are removed from the dates before you begin, then add pre soaked dates to a blender together with the reserved soak water.
- Blend until smooth then using a spoon or spatula scrape out the paste into a container. May be kept fresh in the refrigerator if covered for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
I hope you love this recipe as much as I do.
I’m off for some tea.
XOXO
Juliette
May says
I loooooved this recipe! My boyfriend and I are trying to reduce sugar in our diet, this is perfect for our morning coffee and muffins. Great recipe!
Tavo says
I love using date paste for my infusions to avoid using refined sugars. I am saving this recipe for later. I need to make it soon so I can stop buying nectar syrup.
nancy says
i love dates. i can't believe this date paste was so easy to make. I'm adding this to all my desserts
Cindy says
Thanks for the tip about freezing! This is perfect!
Juliette says
Glad you like the tip!
Holly says
Just what I needed and I love how easy this is to make!
Juliette says
So happy you like it 🙂
Shsron says
I love this! It’s so simple to make myself
Keri says
I love everything about dates, and this was just what I was looking for. So many uses for this date paste, and it's so easy to make!
Nora says
Wow, this date paste is the hit! Perfect condiment, but also ideal as a spread! Thank you!
Sunrita says
Love this, I added a tiny bit of Taramind paste along with the date paste for a sweet sour balance. It tasted great.
Stephanie says
Excellent recipe! Your tips are so helpful and this will be a staple going forward for adding to smoothies (will also try in my coffee as you suggest!)