Sweet and Spooky Treats Using Dates
Halloween is just around the corner, and for those who need some last-minute Halloween party treat ideas, Sphinx Date Co. has some frighteningly easy and spooktacular sweet treats featuring dates. All of these recipe ideas only use a few ingredients (some of which are the same), and the dates may need a little massaging to form a unique shape. Have fun with these and enjoy!
“Sweet Spiders” — Using pitted dates as the “body, fill the pitted area with a favorite nut butter. Then use broken mini pretzel twists to form “legs” and add mini chocolate chips for eyes. Allow these to set up in the fridge to secure the legs. Serve and enjoy!
“Ghoul Friends” — Slice the desired number of dates and remove the pits. Then, squeeze one end of each half to create a “tail” (imagining a ghost with a thin whisp at the end). Then mix some melted white chocolate chips and a drizzle of coconut oil. Pour a small amount of the mixture over the date’s exterior side to create the look of a ghost. For a sweeter result, fill each half date with the white chocolate mixture and allow to set. Before cooling, place mini chocolate chips on the ghost’s “face” for eyes and a mouth. Melted dark or milk chocolate chips can also be used to create unique faces. Cool, then enjoy.
“Mummy, May I?” — Halve and pit dates, forming a “mummy” shape out of each one. Fill the pitted area with nut butter of choice. Using that same white chocolate chip-coconut oil mixture from the previous recipe, drizzle each date to create “wrappings.” Then add mini milk or dark chocolate chips for eyes. (Candy eyes can be used in this and all cases as well.) To make savory mummies, stuff the date with goat cheese or other soft cheese, then use very thin pieces of prosciutto to create the mummy wrapping. Broil these in the oven for just a minute or two for a crispy result. Use peppercorns for eyes instead of chocolate chips.
“Got My Eye On You” — Slice dates just enough to remove the pits, but not entirely in half. Then fill with a sweet mixture of mascarpone and honey or maple syrup. Then place a large dark or milk chocolate chip or candy eye in the center to create an “eye.” Use red icing gel to create blood vessels. For a savory approach to this treat, swap out the sweet mascarpone mixture for goat cheese, and use a green olive slice or a black olive slice for the center of the eye. Hot sauce can be used to create the blood vessels.
The Sphinx Date Co. family wishes everyone a safe, happy and delicious Halloween!