Date Paste Recipe

This date paste recipe is one of my favorite recipes for a regular sugar substitute. Made with fresh dates, it's a great alternative to refined sugars! Plus making your own homemade date paste is very simple.

I love to use date paste in salted caramel lattes, swirled into plain yogurt with fresh fruit to give it a sweeter flavor, or any recipe that calls for caramel; it's the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth without contributing too much added sugar (kind of like my stovetop apple butter, mixed berry chia jam, and honey lavender syrup!).

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As a dietitian, I often talk about the various types of sugars: white sugar (also known as table sugar or cane sugar), coconut sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, agave, etc. One of the reasons I love dates and this easy date paste recipe is because it's made with natural sugars, making it a healthy substitute (although you still want to be mindful of portion size!).

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• Equpiment
• Ingredients
• How to Make This Homemade Date Paste Recipe
• Pro Tips
• Storage & Uses
• Recipe FAQ
• Other Recipes You May Like
• Date Paste Recipe

Equpiment

• High-speed blender or food processor - this will yield the smoothest results when it comes to the paste texture!
• Rubber spatula - it may be helpful to scrape down the sides of the blender to ensure even mixing.

Ingredients

Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Medjool dates - there are hundreds of types of dates, and these are a type of date that are sweet and have a strong caramel flavor and chewy texture. They are one of the best natural sweeteners! I recommend buying pitted dates, as it saves time to not have to remove the pits. You can find whole dates in the produce sections of the grocery store.
• Unsweetened milk of choice - I typically use almond milk in this recipe but any milk will work! Just be sure to get unsweetened because the dates are sweet enough 🙂
• Pure vanilla extract - this gives the date caramel more of a vanilla flavor. You could use part vanilla extract and part butter extract if you prefer a more buttery caramel!
• Sea salt - a small amount will go a long way but there's just something about the sea salt + caramel combo. You can use regular table salt if you prefer.

How to Make This Homemade Date Paste Recipe

Pro Tips

• If the paste is too thick, add a tablespoon of hot water to the blender or food processor to loosen it up. Repeat the process until the desired consistency is reached!
• You want to use soft dates because they blend better. If your dates are on the harder side, let them soak in a little water to soften up.
• Use 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract + 1 teaspoon of butter extract for a more buttery caramel flavor!

Storage & Uses

Storage: Store in an airtight container, like a glass jar, in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. The date paste can be frozen for up to 3 months (I like to portion it out in individual ice cube trays for easy thawing and single serve uses!).

Uses: this date paste is a delicious way to sweeten things like lattes, tea, Greek yogurt, frozen yogurt, or to dip sliced apples into!

Recipe FAQ

Other Recipes You May Like

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