Well-done! Between 2 to 3 dates contain 25 grams of fructose, so eating more dates, or more of any kind of food containing fructose during the same day, can have some pretty nasty impacts on the liver (which has to break fructose down) and the rest of the body. I would personally assume that the date paste has more nutrition, since granulated sugars have to be heated and processed to some extent to create that texture and make them shelf-stable for stores. Do you have a preference? They are perfect in desserts or savory foods and the best thing about them that they are the natural substitutes of sugar! Soaking the … so even in that study you mentioned where people ate 20 pieces of fruit a day… one would have to ask themselves questions like…. Thank you for this recipe! LEMON LIME YOGURT CAKE. I mean 100% sugar. I promise to update when I get through all that I want to try. We have collected 10 creative recipes to show you how many different ways dates can be used. Stevia. Other than that, I’m newish to your page and am learning and enjoying it a lot! Now, all of that being said, I want to bring up the point that not all recipes are cut out to have date paste used as a sub-in for butter or sugar. Useful, Awesome & Interesting. What are your thoughts on date powder? See more here: Sometimes I will use them in their entirety in a smoothie and other times I will whip up a batch of date paste and add it for sweetness to a recipe. Using the dates instead of sugar, the texture comes out more cakey and bread-like. Happy baking. Maybe that works for some home cooks, but I prefer hard and fast measurements so that I can easily follow along. Love your site, keep up the fun content xxxx, http://www.realsoupfortherealsoul.com/?p=1838. Soak the dates overnight, blend it all together until you have a perfectly creamy texture and put it in a mason jar. -I’m assuming the test subjects were people, but other studies done on animal subjects might not be as reliable as those done on humans. I usually make mine a bit thinner and mainly use it to sweeten oatmeal. ). I tested this method using my Paleo Pumpkin Spice Muffins, and the results were super-dry when replacing the maple syrup with a 1:1 ratio of date paste, but if you double the amount of date paste, the texture and sweetness are much better. You should be using double the water. It’s about the quality of study and in context with all the other studies that they have. An engaging recipe! Read this recipe and make this cake and experience the awesomeness of this cake for yourself! I’ll use it in my smoothies so no problem. Voted up, pinned & shared. not trans fats. When other recipes call for whole dates what is the equivalent in the paste? I ended up needing to use 1/2c water for my 1c dates but I also have a larger food processor. Date syrup is sweeter than agave syrup. Also, are your Medjool dates re-hydrated when you buy them? I made this with according to the recipe and it was not smooth whatsoever. xx. Spread it on toast. (these often take YEARS. It has almost every nutrient that aids a healthy lifestyle. They come from the date palm which is a. . https://www.shape.com/.../10-naturally-sweet-date-recipes-dessert Required fields are marked *, Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail. Very interesting to see an alternative route to the traditional low-carb protocol. I love dates, but it’s important to go easy on quantity. Pulse until dates are completely smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. So, if a recipe calls for 1/2 cup of maple syrup, I’d recommend using 1 cup of date paste. You’re so right about the dryness of baked goods, and I will sometimes add a few tablespoons or up to a quarter cup of unsweetened applesauce to help with the moisture and binding properties. A study that tested the effect of eating dates on healthy individuals and on those with diabetes found that dates do not cause significant glucose spikes in the blood, and therefore may be beneficial for diabetics as part of a healthy diet. This is great, I cant believe i’ve never thought to make this. I used this date paste to replaced Maple Syrup in my Banana Bread, I will be using it in many things I bake from now on, I received many complements because of this simple change. Using these extracts saved me the time of zesting lemon and oranges to get the same result in terms of flavor and quality. How to use dates to create a healthy sugar substitute perfect for those times when you want to indulge without the refined sugar. I wanted to see how date paste worked as a 1:1 substitute for various types of sugar in recipes, including coconut sugar and maple syrup. While date paste is a fantastic sweetener for moist baked goods such as cakes and muffins, certain other types of treats such as cookies are more suited to a dryer sweetener. It depends on what you mean by a “sugar free” diet. Hi, I was wondering if you could freeze the date paste in small amounts, and just thaw before using? It is the best natural sweetener I have found. Spread it on toast. You only need dates, water, a pinch of salt and a little vanilla extract to make it. I have not tested it in cookies simply because I like chewy cookies and as you mentioned before, the date paste makes them rather Casey. the comparison is done on fructose, not trans fats or monounsaturated fats. Just made this yesterday and used it with cinnamon as the filling for cinnamon buns! I used this tonight in your cashew butter cookie recipe, and they turned out wonderfully! You can use applesauce, honey, maple syrup, or dates to sweeten baked goods without sugar, using naturally found sweeteners. Thanks for the idea! That’s where date paste comes in. I just made your paleo pumpkin muffins and doubled the date paste. Thanks so much! Stevia is native to South America and has been used for hundreds of years in that region to … If your recipe … (source), The ratio I’ve been using to make date paste is 1 cup of tightly packed dates (about 8 ounces by weight) + 1/4 cup of water. In fact, dates are little powerful, healthy taste bombs packed with nutrients and minerals. Sugar-free date oatmeal cookies December 2, 2014 by Caroline's Cooking These tasty date oatmeal cookies use the natural sweetness of the dates rather than any added sugar to make a relatively healthy, easy and delicious treat. next morning blend the dates & water together in high speed blender.Then strain mixture until there is no water. You can get away with adding slightly more date paste, for a sweeter flavor, but keep in mind that the date paste will create a more cake-like texture, rather than a chewy texture in baked goods. Fortunately, I don’t like sweets all that much and, both my grandmothers must be spinning in their graves, I don’t like pasta and I’m an Italian and both grandmothers made their own pasta. That’s why I’m sharing my exact measurements for making date paste today, along with some recipes that I’ve used it in, so you can see how you can use date paste as a substitute for sugar. Thank you for that! Drawbacks of Using Date Paste as a Honey Substitute: Astonishingly, date paste has no proven drawbacks. It is, in fact, the most underrated superfood. Date paste is simply dates that are soaked and blended. I also added a couple tablespoons of coconut oil since you reported some dryness issues. How to use dates: The first step is to make a paste. Also used it in a Vietnamese salad dressing that called for sugar. Molasses. Now, all of that being said, I want to bring up the point that not all recipes are cut out to have date paste used as a sub-in for butter or sugar. Date sugar can replace any type of sugar, in most recipes. You only need dates for this recipe. Lightly sweeten beverages like almond milk and coffee or add a dollop of date paste to plain yogurt and granola for a healthy breakfast or snack. Tips to help with dryness. Date puree, date paste, date honey, date butter—different names for the same natural sweetness. Thank you for guiding me along a healthful path where I no longer eat any sugar. – http://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/glycemic-index-and-glycemic-load-for-100-foods, http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/fruits.html?referrer=http://www.bing.com/search?FORM=INCOH2&PC=IC06&PTAG=ICO-27df2888&q=fruit%20and%20diabetes, the consensus is that fruit is completely fine for diabetics, as long as they do it with their blood sugar scores in mind. There are a few ways to bake without sugar. TOP 10 Creative Recipes to Use Dates Instead of Sugar - Top Inspired. I doubled the amount of date paste, and it was the perfect amount of sweetness. And I LOVE sweets. Store the date paste in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, and use it in your favorite healthy recipes. Use this sweetener in place of any recipe that calls for sugar, syrup or honey! Date Squares With Oat Crust. Especially if you have readers who are pre-diabetic or diabetic. Always had this in my minds eye. The results aren’t perfect yet, but hopefully soon! Works great. One study on its own isn’t enough to change health advice. Of course, he only eats 1 or 2 depending on the size. Yes!!! Swirl it into morning oatmeal. Chocolate bars are the sneaky foods that seriously tempt you, especially when in the checkout line. Dates are deliciously sweet, healthy and can be used many different ways. Nice, the knowledge is superb but is powder date a refined sugar? I have spent so much time online searching for date sweetened recipes, and I can’t wait for more! You can freeze the paste for up to a year. I love the caramely flavour date paste adds to baked goods. So the idea is that they need to Be used in moderation. It is a sticky syrup that is … If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen me testing date paste as a substitute in various recipes. The best way to sweeten up your home-made almond milk (or any other nut milk) is to add 2-3 pitted dates while blending and strain the liquid as usual through a nut milk bag. Feel free to share your favorite recipes to use it in, or make a recipe request for something you want to see sweetened with dates. -how does the study fit in with the whole body of other studies on the topic. This date paste recipe is super easy to make and can be used in so many ways! Have just started making Lara bars of course using dates. A lot of people trust unconditionally what they read on the internet and don’t put it into proper context (I used to be one of those people, so i can understand how it is so easy to do that), I can’t attest to any of the other studies that you mentioned, however, fruit, as i understand it, tends to be much better for us because of it is accompanied by both water and fiber (dates also have fiber.. which would make sense if it had a lower gi rating. There is about 50 different types of dates with differ sugar content. (For a more descriptive recipe, see here). 1 cup dates will need 1/2 cup water at least. A few questions for you. Homemade Date Paste Homemade Date Paste Recipe – An all purpose natural sugar substitute. It is all about moderation and knowing the carb count since he is diabetic. It’s also important to keep things in perspective when hen we read any particular study. So very happy I found your site. I hate to try to stuff the dates in the cup. I’ve even seen a study where they studied fresh fruit juice, with the fiber removed, and it was still beneficial, rather than harmful. Special Diet. Now, about sugar. Use double the amount of date paste when subbing for maple syrup. … They’re delicious… That if a fool proof method to never getting a dry cake. I can’t find any mention of this on google — do I need to trash them? It is sometimes sold in cones … Your recipes and advice have made living with no sugar a possibility and a joy. Thank yo! I’m actually wondering how to substitute dates (not in paste form) to maple syrup. These brownies are slightly cakey; if you prefer a denser brownie, use only 1 egg instead of 2. Here is a pretty straightforward example … Or check out this healthy dinner idea, the Roasted Root Salad with Balsamic-Date Vinaigrette. Use them over sugar. Thanks for your input, I would really like to try this! Anne, you can substitute raisin paste … 2. Using dates in place of sugar makes for a very fudgey and chocolaty-tasting brownie with no added sugar. Date syrup is sweeter than agave syrup. It has a slightly caramel-like taste, yet it’s neutral enough that it doesn’t overpower the other flavours in recipes. NOT SOAKING THE DATES BEFOREHAND. This vegan raw Chocolate Mousse Tart will be your favorite and you won’t feel guilty after eating 2 slices of it. Yvonne Spence (author) from UK on May 10, 2013: My kids and I love your date brownie bites and cookies! So, diabetics, don’t be dumb! I will try some of these recipes. Puree 1 cup pitted dates with 1/2 – 1 cup hot water until a thick paste is made." I am a diabetic. An easy date brownies recipe made in a food processor with only wholesome ingredients. I’ve considered using ripe mashed bananas or shredded zucchini but haven’t tried that yet. If you are going to substitute raw dates for raisins in baking recipes, like in muffins, brownies, and Lara bars, you’ll want to soak the raisins for about 2-3 minutes in hot water. Date sugar is made from dehydrated dates that are ground into a granulated, sugar … Because it’s made with dates, this is a vegan sugar free bbq sauce recipe. Ingredients: 4 (sugar ...) 2. Of course an oven as well to roast your dates plus a food processor to make them coarse later. Recipe directions usually go something like “add enough water and blend until a paste is formed.” But how much water and how many dates you use could vary SO MUCH with those instructions! How many dates per serving? Have you tried freezing the date paste and thawing as needed? Wonderful opportunity. Everyone loves Nutella and no matter how much we want to stay on the healthy side, Nutella is very-very difficult to say no to. It’s a 1/4 cup of water per 1 cup of tightly packed dates. Whisk it into salad dressings to help emulsify and add a hint of sweetness. ), Epic Date Caramel Recipe (5 ingredients! This is the most delicious no sugar, natural sweetener you will ever try! If you are looking for other easy to make desserts, here are my favorites – Instant Pot Date Cake – this date cake recipe … We’ve all heard that bananas are an excellent source of potassium and fiber, but did you know that experts recommend eating two a day to control high blood pressure? Date puree can substitute 1 cup of sugar in any recipe. Sweetened Nut Milk: Sweeten your nut milks with date puree instead of sugar. When substituting date sugar for regular sugar, a good rule thumb is to use 2/3 to 1 cup of date sugar for every cup of sugar the recipe calls for. As general rule, you can substitute date syrup for sugar by using 1 1/3 cups of date syrup for every cup of sugar the recipe calls for, and reduce the amount of other liquid ingredients by … Sugar … Date puree can substitute 1 cup of sugar in any recipe. Set aside for 1 hour to drain. Blend dates, vanilla, almond milk (or almond butter), pinch of salt and coconut oil for a delicious and incredible tasting caramel dip. DATE PASTE BARS. Megan thank you this is a great resource – I’m with you girl, dates are the best natural sweetener around! It's also not as sweet as maple syrup or regular granulated sugar. Baking: Use it as an equal sub for sugar in baking that will compliment well with dates (esp if the sugar is substantial). and while dates have a low gi rating, their ultimate gi load is valued at an 18 making it a medium glycemic food. most are considered low gi. Swirl it into morning oatmeal. I’d have to Google that, so you might have already done that! I imagine you could soak dried dates in warm water (or even boiled water) to rehydrate them a bit before blending, then just add a splash of water as needed to create the paste. kosher salt, and ¼ tsp. Is it possible to oversoak dates?? Required fields are marked *. What dates are best for powdered dates? Thanks Megan! What I want is a more crispy cookie. Hi, this looks good and I will try when I get some more dates! I saved it for things like tea, but this is so very much better. Date paste is the only sweetener in the actual brownie, but I did use a little raw honey in the glaze just for fun. Did you ever try that, and if so, is that your recommended tweak to the recipe? One thing I’ve noticed when substituting date paste for either a granulated sugar or maple syrup is that the baked goods seem slightly drier than the original, which I found surprising! -did they look at real disease endpoints? Blend it until it becomes coarse. Chocolate Covered Katie When Chocolate Covered Katie's original faux chickpea cookie dough recipe (made with brown sugar) went viral, she received loads … Do you know how to substitute raisin paste for dates in recipes using a cup or more? Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies, 13 Healthy Halloween Treats (No food dye! Cook together dates and sugar until thick. Love dates. Medjool Dates Good for diabetes. Sugar-free brownies with dates – ultimate fudgy brownies. This is going to be a huge game changer for me with being able to make so many things I had to avoid before. He did watch his carb intake and, of course, his regular sugar intake. 1 2 Next. Use it in shakes, teas or have a spoonful when you crave something sweet. I also watch my carb intake. In fact, dates are such a great source of natural sugar, they have been processed to make natural sweeteners such as date juice, date sugar, dehydrated dates, date paste, ground dates, and even diced dates that you can add to recipes you want to sweeten up naturally. I accidentally left mine in water for three days, and now they’ve got what looks like sugar bubbles exploding out of the dates. so if one was studying fructose on the body, fruit would have to be in the equation as well. An engaging recipe! My main concern would be that they would spoil faster due to all that moisture, or that they might have lost some sweetness during that process. (That’s why I’ve always loved baking– give me a set of solid directions I can follow and I’m happy.). https://nutritionfacts.org/video/are-dates-good-for-you/ But, if I was eating fistfuls of sugar, the dates would be a much better choice. So a 2:1 ratio of dates to water. 1/2 … I admire your novel idea of using pureed dates as a healthy substitute for refined sugar. Print Recipe . I find my blood sugar normal and I don’t have issues. In fact, dates are such a great source of natural sugar, they have been processed to make natural sweeteners such as date juice, date sugar, dehydrated dates, date paste, ground d -what was the health of the those being studied Easy-to-follow instructions and drool-worthy photos make me want to give it a try. If you want to use your homemade date paste in place of sugar, use an equal amount of date paste for the sugar in the recipe. They really are the gift of nature. It is just as simple as making date paste and it only needs two ingredients: water and dates. I was testing a date-sweetened chocolate frosting yesterday. In addition, you may want to consider increasing the amount of liquid in the recipe to account for the fact that powdered dates absorb moisture. I’ve been trying to get away from using maple syrup and honey so often in baking so your date paste recipe is going to be SO helpful! Set aside for 1 hour to drain. I don’t mean to suggest that dates should be eaten with reckless abandon– the study I referenced mentioned that they can be included “as part of a healthy diet” for diabetics, so I think that implies moderation. I’d also be curious to know what you think about freezing the date paste.. Also curious about freezing the paste. Saved it for things like tea, but then again he was only borderline you. Requires sugar/honey/maple syrup/agave nectar/coconut sugar small amounts, and it was the perfect natural to... I ’ ve also learned that dates can vary quite a bit in their sugar conte, contain. Profile as date sugar do not dissolve so it ’ s the difference in and. Coarse later and manganese, which can help reduce blood pressure s candy dates. A perfectly creamy texture and put it in our foods, i d... Try Medjool next time sure to measure and use the same water for my dates... Combine, about 30 seconds m actually wondering how to make this cake and experience the awesomeness of cake! Of date paste in my morning smoothies and my brownies a much more moist of maple syrup also 13... So much easier to digest when they are perfect in Desserts or savory foods and dates..., their ultimate gi load is valued at an 18 making it a!... A minute to talk about this little beauty, protein, minerals and vitamins is and... Process until very smooth, scraping down the bowl to make it i think could. Free bbq sauce recipe really tasted like sugar and seek healthier ways to bake sugar! Sugar intake and twist tightly to enclose Medjool dates then again he was only borderline to themselves! Like to try this luscious vegan, sugar-free black Forest Smoothie as a healthy.. Chip cookies, 13 healthy Halloween Treats ( no food dye any sauce, condiment dressing. And i think i will stick to natural stuff for now shops but it ’... Perfect no bake base for any pies or cheese cakes apples are other fruits enjoy. … using dates s important to keep whole food plant based recipes using date paste instead of sugar try using tahini instead of oil &.... Different purpose nutritionally or from a textural standpoint type of sugar ; a tablespoon of date paste when date! A tablespoon of date paste, but hopefully soon take about 20 dates & water together in speed... A Chocolate frosting or nutella type spread, using naturally found sweeteners of water per 1 cup hot water a., chilis, or sauces that need a fancy high-speed blender! ) cookies, 13 healthy Treats..., http: //www.realsoupfortherealsoul.com/? p=1838? utm_source=Twitter & utm_medium=Social & utm_campaign=Chan-Twitter-General great the. I was just curious also be curious to know what i ’ m doing Whole30 totally. # healthy # lowcarb # naturalsugar nice, the Roasted Root salad with Balsamic-Date Vinaigrette condensed! Oven as well sugar-free black Forest Smoothie as a … ( for very... One has his PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry. ) case so far a link to my and... Brownie with no negative outcomes. ) experience the awesomeness of this on Google — do need... Advice have made living with no sugar a possibility and a joy base for pies. Kick start when you sign up for my email newsletter, your email address will not be.! Almost inclined to try it out soon my stomach and give me a.! Paste at approximately 1:1 ratio when subbing date paste on hot buttered,! Dates, it wo n't dissolve like regular sugar, and just thaw before using make. Him in any way, but couldn ’ t need a bit of coconut and! To Africa and the Middle East of using them are so helpful was just.. Large food processor with only wholesome ingredients and almond butter that you used date paste recipe – all. Other flavours in recipes using a 1:1 ratio when subbing date paste Homemade date paste as a in... As well to roast your dates plus a food processor and pulse to combine, about 30 seconds Smoothie! Or have a larger food processor be one of the coconut sugar taste but ’... T of olive oil next time my blood sugar normal and i don ’ t sweet... Anne, you ’ ve noticed or check out this healthy dinner idea, the texture comes out cakey! Keep things in perspective when hen we read any particular study with your innovations for everyday living am. As minerals including potassium and manganese, which can be used in moderation ( and some of coconut..., though i might cool them an extra minute or two next batch some of these applications... Are processed i tried them am thankful for finding your comments and recipes!!! Of any recipe nutrients and minerals ” diet out soon photos make me want to give a... Make it at home their sugar conte, avocados contain monounsaturated fat love! Adding olive oil to the recipe and make this cake and experience the awesomeness this. Mainly use it in a million years would i have had success using paste! Important to listen to consensus extra minute or two next batch cultivated fruits, in,! Degree oven approximately 25 calories, 6g sugar, then you might not to... Can help reduce blood pressure it tastes great ( not in paste form ) to maple syrup also 13! And cinnamon then you can bet that my daughter ’ s about the of. Your page and am learning and enjoying it a medium glycemic food water 1 at. Added a couple tablespoons of coconut oil since you reported some dryness issues ” diet Megan thank you for me. Blade, combine the pitted dates for example savory foods and the best natural sweetener you will ever!...