Date Paste
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~ raw, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free ~
Date Paste is a wonderful natural sweetener and alternative to regular table sugar and even agave due to its fiber content and other nutritional values. Date paste is an alluring sweetener with all the qualities of sugar without any loss of flavor and other sensory characteristics. Did you know that a date fruit has 25% more potassium than bananas while being free of fats, sodium, and cholesterol?
You can use date paste as a sweetener in raw cookies, smoothies, as a spread, etc. When a recipe calls for dates, it can be a good idea to get in the habit of making date paste. Dates come in various sizes which don’t give you accurate measuring, but once you process your dates into a paste, you can then be sure you have exact measurements. If you plan on using date paste as a substitute for Agave, you will need to use about 50% extra compared to agave nectar.
If you are looking for a quick and easy gift idea… How about packing it up in a glass jar and gift it alongside a loaf of bread or a bag of fresh organic apples?
Making a batch and keeping it in the fridge makes it really convenient when needing a sweetener on the stop. It will keep for 2-4 weeks in the refrigerator. Be sure to date your container as to when you made it, so you know the approximate expiration date. I use masking take and a black Sharpie. Blessings, amie sue
Ingredients:
Yields 2 1/4 cups
- 2 cups (350 g) packed, Medjool dates, re-hydrated
- 1/4 tsp (2 g) Himalayan pink salt
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice to help preserve freshness
Preparation:
- Remove the pits from the dates and inspect them
- Anytime you using dates you need to check the inside of each date for any eggs that bugs may have laid. It’s rare, but it can happen.
- I always pull my dates into two pieces and check the inside, and I have come across a few with small eggs in them, and a few that had a black powdery substance that I am guessing was a type of mold. Don’t let this gross you out, it just part of nature.
- As you pit the dates, create a pile of the pits and a pile of the dates. Don’t automatically toss into the blender or food processor. Once done, double search through the pitted dates to make sure that you didn’t accidentally toss a pit in that direction. It’s easy to do as it is a mindless activity. This will prevent accidental pits from getting into your recipe and ruining it.
- Soak the dates in enough warm water to cover them. Allow them to soak for at least 15 minutes, just long enough to help soften them.
- Once done soaking, drain the water and hand-squeeze the excess water from them.
- In a high-powered blender or food processor, combine ingredients and blend until completely smooth.
- If needed, you can add small amounts of water if you want to create a thinner paste.
- Another version that doesn’t require a blender or food processor is simply mashing the dates up by hand or with a mortar and pestle, no soaking, no adding water.
- Will keep 2-4 weeks in the fridge.
- Make your Date Paste in bulk freeze it for up to 3 months.
- Store in a ziplock bag, press all the air out of the bag, seal it, and lay it flat, spreading it out into a sheet.
- This is an excellent way to get your kitchen raw food ready. The more food prep you do in advance, the better you eat!
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Place the whole, pitted dates in the food processor fitted with the “S” blade.
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This is what it looks like after 15 seconds.
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and 30 seconds…
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After 60 seconds it turned a light golden color and is ready to use!
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© AmieSue.com
Tags: Gluten Free, Vegan
Hi Amie Sue!
Love this site…once I am ready to I will be trying your recipes. I do have a question concerning this particular recipe: how many dates are used in the ingredients?
Hugs :)
Hello Marla! So wonderful to hear from you! 2 cup of dates….I am sorry that I had forgotten the main ingredient for this post. haha I appreciate that you pointed that out and have since made the correction. I love hearing from you! hugs :)
Thanks for the dates cleaning tip. Better apart of nature than apart of my dish :)
Great way of putting it JoyAnn, lol
so if using date paste instead of a dates in a recipe, how much date paste would equal one date?
Good question but I don’t have the exact answer to that. Dates come in different varieties and sizes. amie sue
Does it matter what sort of dates? What’s so special about Medjool dates? I can get fresh ones at my local supermarket rather than in a packet – what do you think? Or should I use Xylitol/substitute instead? I love your site – thanks for your efforts – you are wonderful xxx
Verity,
You can use different dates. They all lend a different flavor profile. Some are softer than others as well. If you choose to use a drier date, I would rehydrate them in hot water for about 15-30 minutes. I am not sure what dates you can get in your area, but google the variety that you can get to get an idea how it will taste. Have a great day, amie sue
Hi beautiful site: I have two questions: 1. I’ve seen other recipes for date syrup that require cooking the dates down and just using the liquid and then thickening the liquid. Do you know if a recipe calls for 1 cup of date syrup would your recipe work for just thinking the date paste or do you think the recipe is expecting a more concentrated date syrup? 2. How much date paste is equivalent to a cup of sugar, is it a one to one comparison for baking purposes? Thank you!
Thank you Helane…
I really don’t know the answers to your questions Helane. I don’t do much “baking” so I am not sure how the ingredient responds along with other ingredients. It would also depend on what is being made, what the consistency is suppose to be and what the level of sweetness is suppose to be. Sorry that I can’t help much here. amie sue
I keep making batches of date paste, and keeping it in a glass jar. It always develops a very alcohol-y, fermented smell in less than 2 weeks, so I throw it away and start over. Am I doing something wrong?
I am not sure what or if you are doing anything wrong. But if I were you, only make what you need or know that you will eat within a shorter time period so you don’t keep wasting it. amie sue
I made the date paste but it turned very liquid, I made it in my Vita Mix,
It sounds like to much water was added. Just add a few more dates until it reaches the consistency that you want. It is not an exact science when making raw foods. With date paste it can differ due to how the dry or how moist the dates are when you even begin the process. Have a great weekend, amie sue
Which bread is pictured here with the date paste? Thanks!
Hi Holly… aah that bread! I haven’t shared the recipe YET. I will soon. amie sue
I must not be seeing the bread pictured with the date paste……is there really bread there??? hummm….well, what i wanted to post was…to make a nice smooth date paste, soak the dates in the water until they are soft…much easier to blend up. I like the idea of a squeeze of lemon.
What are referring to Kate?
I m in love with not only your recipes but also your utilities/containers/ decoration. Where dd you get that so small cutie containers size :)
Thank you Elzbieta… As you can see, I love jars. :) I pick them up every where. The ones in this photo are these ones… https://nouveauraw.com/equipment/storage-containers/jarden-home-brands-4pk-8oz-platinum-jar-1440061162-canning-jars/
Have a wonderful day! amie sue
Thank you..I just ordered it. :)
When will you share with us that bread in picture? I m yearning for that. :)
I will work on that really soon. I haven’t been feeling so well so I am a bit behind, in life. :P Have a great evening, amie sue
I hope u are feeling better now, Amie Sue, could you. Share your bread recipe now?Thank you, penelopey
Which bread recipe Penelope? Refresh my memory please. :)
Hello Amie*Sue!
Another keeper for the books! :D
Excited to make gingerbread people with this!!
I just wanted to leave a helpful comment to those ready to get pasted : It sucked to make this in my food processor. There wasn’t enough ingredients to reach the blade, so once the dates broke down there was no way to make the little bits grind down as beautifully as they do in your pictures. All the stopping and scrapping did little good.
It may work better in the blender, or double the recipe for more volume.
Still tastes great! and I’m sure it will work just fine too. But I strive for perfection ;)
Thanks again for sharing !
~Amanda
Good evening Amanda,
Thank you for sharing. :) Doubling the batter is helpful in some machines for sure. When I make date paste, I made large quantities these days. I use what I need and then freeze the rest. It keeps beautifully. It doesn’t freeze hard so it makes it great for taking it out and scooping out what is needed.
Have a great day Amanda! :) amie sue
Howdy, this tastes so good!!! I needed to make some up tonight, for a recipe from a dear friend . I had to pry the bowl out of my hand….it just wouldn’t release it!!:] It’s very yummy, and it reminds me of date pinwheel cookies that I had as a little girl!! Yum!!! I best get to bed as it’s 1 a.m. , but my dehydrator is humming, and I am gonna have visions of me eating my cookies in the morning for breakfast in my head!!! :] Thank you!!!!! Lyn :]
Yes, date paste is addictive. Date are addictive! lol How did the cookies turn out? I hope you didn’t stay up too late young lady! hehe Happy Valentine’s Day! amie sue
Hi there, love love love your website. Just wondering how many cups of date paste this recipe makes? Thanks :)
Are there other fruits that work as comparable substitutes in texture and sweetness? A friend juat shared your twizzler recipe but I can’t have dates. Thanks for the recipes and any help on this!
Hello MG, you can try dried figs or even apricots… of course the end flavor profile is different but worth a try. amie sue
I’ll have to try one of those, thanks!
ami-sue, in your ingredient list, you list 1 cup of water and 2 cups of dates, but in a question at the beginning of this stream, about how many cups of dates, your answer is 1 cup. Would you please clarify for me. I am wanting to play with your rolo recipe and don’t want to make a costly mistake. Thank-you, Suzie
Please discard the earlier comment that I had left years ago.. that was a typo. Make the recipe as indicated, 2 cups of packed dates, 1 cup of water, etc. I hope this clears things up :) Let me know. Have a great weekend! amie sue
Can’t wait to try this recipe. But I was wondering if you could tell me the knife information (brand, style, etc) ? It is absolutely beautiful !
Hello Shelly, I have several of those knives. I have picked them up at antique shows. There isn’t a name or brand on it. Sorry! Have a great evening. amie sue
LOVE your site, A.S,
Excuse abreviation. I don’t type well & don’t want to awaken my husband this early.
I understand.. it’s funny how loud typing can be when you want to be quite. hehe Have a blessed and joyous holiday season Penelope. Keep in touch. amie sue
thank you very much for your ideas, what do i add to the date paste as a preservative to keep it fresh for a longer time period, without keeping it in refrigerator.
Hello Kamil,
Not sure Kamil. I keep mine in freezer. It will keep a year and it doesn’t freeze solid. I am sure that if you just blended dates and didn’t ANYthing else, that it would keep for some time… not sure how long without sending it off to be tested for an expiration date. Blessings, amie sue
Dear Maria
i notify that the life shelve for the dates paste from 2-4 weeks,i know that dates will stay preserve for 1 year at room temperature.how i can increase the expiry date for dates paste??should i add dates syrup instead of water in the blender or processor
I am not real sure Abdul. I had some date paste that I made without anything in it, ferment on me at room temp after a week. Date paste freezes perfectly and doesn’t get hard, so that is my way of preserving it. Blessings, amie sue
Hi Amie Sue,
I am so glad you warn people to inspect their dates! I had never thought of that so, of course, never did. I started doing that after your warning and one time did come across some kind of bug eggs. Bleah! That was enough. Now they are always checked.
I know just what you mean, I cringe when I think about how many I popped into my mouth whole, not knowing this info. lol I check figs too. Thanks for sharing. Blessings and have a wonderful holiday. amie sue
dear sir
i notify that life shelf of dates paste 1-2 weeks in refrigrator.
is there any way to preserve the dates paste more than 3 months??like adding citric acid ??
I am not really sure Abdul. It would need to be tested to know for sure what the shelf life would be. Blessings, amie sue
I make a snack of this but include prunes, apricots and quarter cup of cystralized ginger, When blended, I mix in peta seeds, sunflower seeds, coursely chopped cashews, walnuts and pecans. At times when available I include coconut. Once everything is blended I make into balls, and dust as light as possible with pwdr sugar but I prefer using coconut flour or almond flour.
Sounds yummy Tom!
This is a test.
Wheee mr IT fixed it!!