Dried dates, with their natural sweetness and fudgy texture, make a delicious base for other ingredients. Dates are also high in fiber, contain antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and they are iron-rich. The drying process concentrates their sugars, so it’s best to enjoy them in moderate amounts.
If you’ve got a container of dried dates in the cupboard there are lots of little snacks you can quickly put together that make great grab-and-go breakfasts or afternoon pick-me-ups! Here are five to try:
Date and Peanut Butter Bites
Ingredients
- Dried dates, split lengthwise and pitted
- Peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
- Shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened
Method
- Fill split and pitted dates with peanut butter, and top with coconut.
Other easy ideas for how to use dates:
Cream Cheese Stuffed Dates: After splitting and pitting, fill dates with cream cheese, and top with chopped walnuts, peanuts, almonds or pecans.
Ants on a Banana: Peel bananas, and split in half lengthwise. Spread peanut butter over each banana half and top with chopped pitted dates.
Chocolate Covered Dates: Fill split and pitted dates with peanut butter. In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until melted. Dip each date in chocolate to coat. Transfer to a plate and refrigerate for 5 minutes until set.
Bacon-Wrapped Dates: Wrap each split and pitted date with a slice of bacon. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, and bake at 425°F for 15-18 minutes until bacon is crisp and golden-brown. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley (optional).
- Recipe and photos: Dish Works
