Three Decadent Ways to Use Dates
With the date harvest in full swing and the holidays around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about the decadent ways that dates can be used in baking! Delightfully chewy and sweet on their own, they can really level up any sweet treat. When making homemade treats this year to share with loved ones, to package and gift to friends, or to bring to an office or neighborhood potluck gathering, consider adding dates! Sphinx Date Co. offers three tasty (and secretly a bit healthy) suggestions:
Date Truffles — Semi-healthy energy balls can be disguised as elegant truffles this year with a few indulgences. These tasty bites are an excellent choice for vegan and vegetarians, as the recipe can be easily modified and adjusted to account for specific dietary needs or preferences. Dates are the main ingredient in this dessert, as well as previously soaked nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, walnuts or a variety of favorites), coconut oil, chia seeds, a dash of salt, a drizzle of maple syrup, or maybe even some pumpkin pie spice? The sky’s the limit and there are plenty of recipes online that bakers can use for inspiration to create their own versions. The fun really begins with rolling these little guys in a variety of powders or toppings such as chopped nuts, coconut shavings and cocoa powder.
Ooey Gooey Fudgy Brownies — A warm, fresh-out of the oven brownie dipped in a perfectly chilled glass of milk is the quintessential decadence for little ones and adults alike! But even this decadent dessert can be modified to be gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and even flourless. Using dates in a classic brownie recipe amps up the chewiness and lends a soft texture to the result. Bonus – using dates in a brownie recipe gives these delicious little devils a bit of a healthy makeover… but no one has to know. These, as well as the truffles, can easily be individually wrapped in cute packages for gifting and sharing.
Date Pancakes with Date Syrup — Who says decadence has to wait until dessert? Start out the day with a delightfully decadent breakfast of date pancakes topped with homemade date syrup. Dates can be used to top traditional buttermilk pancakes, chopped and folded into batter, or even pureed and blended into the batter to change the entire flavor. In lieu of sugary pancake syrups, top these decadent breakfast cakes with date syrup that can be made by boiling chopped dates (which can then be strained out and preserved to make date paste to add to a variety of recipes – bonus!). This is a great way to treat an overnight guest in the morning or to make a big batch for the family’s Sunday breakfast!
Dates are so versatile and they add not only great flavor but also texture to a multitude of decadent treats. So whether baking for guests or the family this holiday season, why not put in-season dates to good use!?