Date Paste

In a quest to lessen my added sugar consumption, I’ve re-discovered the awesomeness of sweetening with dates.

I initially crafted this recipe to decrease the added sugar in a 1/2 recipe version of my Jamaican Cranberry Sauce for Thanksgiving, but I’m starting to dream of other uses. 💭😋

Substituting for granulated sugar 

• 2/3 cup date paste for every 1 cup of sugar.
• Date paste adds moisture, so your baked goods will likely be softer and less spread out. You may need to adjust dry ingredients slightly. 

Substituting for liquid sweeteners

• 2/3 cup date paste for every 1/2 cup of honey or maple syrup. Some suggest using 1/4 cup more date paste than syrup, but this can result in a less sweet product.
• Date paste is less sweet than honey or maple syrup, so you may need to use more to achieve the desired sweetness. 

Substituting for a single date

• 1 tablespoon of date paste per Medjool date.
• The amount can vary depending on the size and type of the date. 

Other uses

• Oatmeal/Yogurt: Swirl it in at the end for a simple sweetener. 
• Drinks: Use a 1:1 ratio for a 1:1 swap in coffee or tea, but be prepared to add more for a sweeter result.

Date Paste Recipe

Ingredients

• 200 g dried whole pitted dates
• 1 cup hot water

Directions

1. Add 200 g dried whole pitted dates and 1 cup hot water to a medium bowl and soak for 10 mins.
2. Reserve 1/2 cup of soaking water and drain the rest from the dates.
3. Add soaked dates and reserved 1/2 cup of soaking water to food processor.
4. Blend on High for 30 secs, then scrape sides down. Repeat twice for a total of 1 min 30 secs of blending.
5. Transfer to an airtight storage container and refrigerate for up to 1 wk or to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 mos until you’re ready to use. If frozen, allow to thaw in fridge a day before using.

NUTRITION FACTS
Servings	24
Amount Per Serving	1 Tbsp
Calories	45
		% Daily Value*
Total Fat	0.6g	0%
Saturated Fat	0.02g	0%
Trans Fat	0g
Monounsaturated Fat	0.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat	0.01g
Cholesterol	0mg	0%
Sodium	0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate	11g	4%
Dietary Fiber	0.9g	3%
Total Sugars	10g
Added Sugars	0g
Sugar Alcohols	0g
Protein	0.25g
Vitamin D	0mcg	0%
Calcium	4.7mg	0%
Iron	0.095mg	1%
Potassium	50mg	1%
Vitamin A	0mcg	0%
Vitamin C	0mg	0%
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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