Wondering what to make with dates? I’ve got you covered! Here are 29 delicious recipes from fellow registered dietitians and culinary creators. Ranging from sweet to savory with everything in between, there’s something here to delight and satisfy!
Ever since I had a chance to visit thedate palm treesgrowing in Arizona, I can’t get enough of them. I’ve been trying to add sweet dates to almost anything, and have compiled quite the list of recipes to try!
What’s Included In This List
- Energy Bites with Dates
- Breakfast Recipes
- Quick Breads and Baking with Dates
- Date Shakes, Smoothies, and Sweet Sips
- Chocolate Dates and Sweet Snacks
- Savory Recipes or Side Dishes
Just click to jump to the category you want to explore first!
Dates are the fruit of the date palm, originating in North Africa and the Middle East. And despite the ways they might be similar to dried fruit, they’re actually considered a fresh fruit. Sweet medjool dates incredibly versatile. They’re a great “out-of-hand” date, meaning they can be eaten as is.
Medjool dates are easy to find in most grocery stores or online. Fresh dates have a long shelf life and can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container. But with all these amazing recipes to try they might not need to sit on your shelf for long!
Here are my top 28 favorite date recipes:
Energy Bites with Dates
Use afood processorto pulse dates with nuts, oats, and a variety of mix-ins to make a chunky paste. Roll the mixture into small, round balls for a convenient, quick snack to enjoy on-the-go. I consider it a bit of a personal challenge to see how many unique flavor combinations I can use for energy balls!
No Bake Carrot Cake Bites (Easy Vegan Energy Balls)
These no-bake energy bites made with dates combine the flavors you love in carrot cake into portable energy bite form. Perfect for a snack, pre or post workout fuel, or dessert!
Chocolate Pomegranate Bites
Chocolate Pomegranate Date Energy Balls are the perfect high-fiber on-the-go snack, naturally sweetened with dates. Not only are they full of antioxidants, but they are gluten-free and can be made vegan.
Gingerbread Energy Balls
These gingerbread energy balls give you the taste and nutrient density your body craves along with the energy it needs to power through the holidays (or any other time of the year)!
Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Energy Bites
Taste like peanut butter cookie dough but have more to offer nutritionally than traditional cookie dough. They’re great for a quick snack or treat in the afternoon, or a pre- or post-workout fuel for your body.
Breakfast Recipes
If you’re more in the mood for a meal, check out these delightful options for breakfast. These date recipes are especially nice when you want to start the date with a sweet note!
Coconut Ginger Date Oatmeal
As a long-time lover of oatmeal, this flavor combination immediately caught my eye. Super creamy and satisfying thanks to the coconut milk and natural sweetness of dates.
Breakfast Cookies with Apricots and Dates
Filled with whole grains, dried fruit, healthy fats and protein – these make a healthy great tasting breakfast that you can grab on the way out the door.
Quick Breads and Baking with Dates
I’m not much of a baker, but I really appreciate how simple and easy these quick bread recipes are. With just a few steps and a handful of ingredients, you can easily bake loaves, muffins, or cookies that are naturally sweetened with dates.
Banana Date Bread
This banana date bread is packed with three cups of dates and bananas blended and baked into the base of the bread for a delicious breakfast or snack!
Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins with Date Butter
These easy pumpkin cornbread muffins are perfect served with a date compound butter. The perfect pairing for a fall meal of chili and cornbread. Quick to throw together and perfect for freezing!
Bite-Size Banana Blender Oat Muffins
Tasty blender muffins that are high in soluble fiber and naturally sweetened with dates.
3-Ingredient Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies
Kids will love the taste of these soft and chewy 3-ingredient applesauce oatmeal cookies. Parents will love how easy they are to make!
Vegan Oatmeal Cookies with Vanilla, Dates & Almond Butter
These vegan oatmeal cookies are studded with flavors of vanilla, dates and almond butter. They’re kid-friendly and breakfast-worthy due to their stellar nutrition profile.
If you want to experiment with date sugar, you can also try using that in some of your favorite recipes. You can also try swapping fresh dates one-for-one next time you’re baking if you want sweet flavor with less added sugar.
Date Shakes, Smoothies, and Sweet Sips
The chewy texture of dates lends well to sweet drinks of all kinds! Use dates as a thickener or natural sweetener. I haven’t had a chance to try a classic date shake from Arizona (although it’s on my bucket list) so in the meantime, these recipes will do just fine!
High Protein Green Smoothie with Dates
4.94 from 16 votes
This green smoothie features spinach and avocado, plus the natural sweetness of medjool dates. The protein comes from cottage cheese (trust me on this one!) and your choice of vanilla protein powder.
View this recipe
Cardamom Date Shake
Slurp on this vanilla milkshake with caramel-flavored date fruit and a twist of aromatic cardamom. This shake can be a naturally sweetened morning smoothieoradd a few scoops of ice cream and you have a delicious milkshake on your hands!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie (Vegan Snickers Shake)
This vegan milkshake tastes just like a snickers shake. Made with healthy, wholesome ingredients, including date. A must-make!
Coconut Watermelon Milk
Thiscoconut watermelon milk 西瓜牛奶recipe is inspired by Taiwanese fruit milks (like papaya milk 木瓜牛奶). Make sure to enjoy this immediately since the coconut milk doesn't taste the same once the drink warms up.
Chocolate Dates and Sweet Snacks
Dates pairs so well with cocoa powder, maple syrup, nuts, coconut, peanut butter, and so much more. You’ll even find some fresh fruit and sea salt in the mix with these dessert-inspired date recipes.
5-Ingredient Date Bark
4.95 from 35 votes
Enjoy layers of chewy Medjool dates, creamy peanut butter, crunchy peanuts, and chocolate. Date bark is an easy no-bake recipe for a sweet snack or dessert!
View this recipe
Chocolate-Covered Snickers Date Bites
These naturally sweetened chocolate date bites taste like candy. Peanut stuffed dates, dipped in melted chocolate.
3-Ingredient Date Caramel
This date caramel has just three simple ingredients and is a delicious, nutritious, and seriously sweet addition to your snacks and meals. My recommendation: serve with apple slices for dipping or drizzle over vanilla ice cream!
Date Caramel Stuffed Dark Chocolate Figs
No cooking required for this caramel! The secret ingredient is tahini, which nicely complements the sweetness from dates and dried figs. Top them with a little sea salt for even more flavor!
Chocolaty Strawberry-Walnut Lollipops
Showcase fresh strawberries filled with a delicious dessert-like center that’s made with a blend of walnuts, cocoa, dates, vanilla, and a pinch of orange zest. And then, of course, it’s all enjoyed on lollipop sticks.
Protein Brownie Bites
This one is for all the chocolate lovers out there! A deliciously decadent way to enjoy a no-bake sweet treat.
No-Cook Plant-Based Cocoa Mousse
This sweet dessert uses chickpeas which provide so much nutritional goodness along with velvety creaminess. And the sweetness in this mousse is from dates, making the result is 100% yum.
Easy Chocolate Frosting without Powdered Sugar
This chocolate frosting without powdered sugar is naturally sweetened and so easy! Just the right amount of sweetness with no added sugar thanks to medjool dates.
Easy Stuffed Dates with Peanut Butter and Chocolate
Stuffed dates with peanut butter and chocolate are a delicious treat packed with healthy fats and simple ingredients.
No-Bake Coconut Pecan Date Bars
This recipe had me at "pecans + dates" as I'm a huge fan of both. These sweet bars are easy to make with no baking time needed.
Savory Recipes or Side Dishes
Let’s not forget about some savory dishes! If you’re like me and don’t have much of a sweet tooth, this section is for you. Dates make a great addition to side dishes, salads, and bite-sized appetizers.
Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates in Puff Pastry
Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates in Puff Pastry are an easy to assemble and make appetizer. They’re perfect for Iftar and many other gatherings.
Spiced Carrots and Dates Side Dish
This delicious carrots and dates recipe is made with vegetarian ingredients and flavorful herbs and spices. It’s a great side dish full of color and flavor.
Raw Parsnip Salad with Dates
This delicious raw parsnip salad features shaved parsnips, sliced dates, and a simple sage vinaigrette! It’s elegant enough for a holiday meal and easy enough to whip up on an ordinary day.
Healthy Homemade Baked Beans (with Lentils)
Using lentils shaves hours off the usual cooking time. These homemade baked beans are tender, smoky, and saucy!
Finally, here are a few final ideas for what to make with dates:
- Date Paste (Date Molasses):Simply add hot water to pitted medjool dates and blend until smooth with a sticky texture. It’s similar to myPrune Puree, and can be used for baking or other simple recipes.
- Dates for Salads or Salad Dressing:Sweeten up your salads by chopping or slicing dates to add on top, or blend a pitted date into ahomemade vinaigrettefor sweet and tangy salad dressings.
- Cheese Boards or Snack Plates:The natural sugars in medjool dates makes them sweet enough to perfectly pair with savory, salty cheese and charcuterie.I added them to my Caramel Apple Dessert Board and it was a hit!
And of course you can never, ever go wrong with bacon-wrapped dates! In my opinion, that’s still the best way to get the sweet, savory, and salty flavors all in one.
I hope this leaves you with plenty of inspiration for family dinners, date night, or anytime you’re in the mood for a sweet treat. Hold on to some of these date recipes for the holiday season, too!
