Crave Worthy Date Concoctions to Satisfy Any Sweet Tooth

Sometimes, something sweet is a necessary evil. But dates are the perfect solution for those wanting to cut back on sugar. Their naturally sweet flavor and soft, chewy texture lend themselves to being the ideal swap for sugar in so many ways. Read on for some easy recipe inspiration to crush that next sweet craving:

“Snickers” Date Bark

The person who thought up the “Hungry? Grab a Snickers” campaign should get a raise! But this clever ad campaign is unnecessary for those that crave the perfect combination of peanuts, chocolate, caramel and nougat. The good news is this flavor quartet can be replicated at home without added sugar or ingredients. Perhaps even more clever than the person behind the Snickers ad campaign is the person who created date bark! Date bark recipes have been going viral for some time now, taking over social media outlets from YouTube to TikTok. 

One of the most popular is the Snickers bar date bark. It’s easy to assemble, contains no refined sugar and is a pretty close second to an actual Snickers bar. Here’s how to make it at home:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of fresh Medjool dates, pitted
• ½ cup nut butter of choice (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.)
• ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
• ¼ cup roasted salted peanuts, chopped
• Flaky sea salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Pit and halve the dates, then spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. The dates should be close but not touching. 
2. Next, cover the dates with another piece of parchment or wax paper and flatten them with a rolling pin to form one “sheet.”
3. Warm the nut butter just slightly so it is easy to pour. Drizzle it over the date sheet and use a butter knife or an icing spatula to spread it evenly over the dates.
4. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave (30 seconds or less at a time; do not overcook). Stir in between rounds, as the chips will continue to melt as they are stirred. Once melted, drizzle and spread the chocolate layer over the nut butter layer.
5. Sprinkle the peanuts and sea salt over the chocolate before it hardens.
6. Chill the pan in the refrigerator for an hour or two until the layers are set. 
7. Eat and enjoy!

Cookie Dough Date Bars

Beyond making date bark, these little gems can be used to satisfy the sweet tooth in many other ways. For example, dates can even be used to create edible cookie dough bars void of refined sugar and grains, and they don’t even have to be cooked! Here’s how to make them:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
• 2 cups almond flour (or 1 cup almond flour, 1 cup coconut flour)
• ¼ cup nut or seed butter of choice (such as sunflower butter or almond butter)
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt
• 2-3 tablespoons water
• 1 ¼ cups dark chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients into a food processor or blender and combine until the mixture forms a dough-like texture.
2. Line a baking dish (8-by-8 or 9-by-9) with parchment paper, then press the dough into the pan to form the crust.
3. Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil using the method mentioned in the Snicker date bark recipe directions.
4. Pour the chocolate over the crust and spread evenly.
5. Place the baking dish into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour, allowing the chocolate to set. 
6. Cut evenly into bars and chow down!

Dates are an excellent replacement for refined sugars and can be used in many ways to crush a sweet craving. Explore all the delicious dates and other artisan provisions at the Palm & Pantry, or order online!