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Glass jar of date paste, forming a swirl on top.
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5 from 31 votes

How to Make Date Paste (Healthy Sugar Substitute)

Homemade date paste needs just 2 ingredients and takes 15 minutes to make (5 if you have a high speed blender!). This healthy substitute for sugar works well in drinks, desserts and baking.
Prep Time5 minutes
Soaking Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Dessert, Drinks, Snack
Cuisine: gluten-free, healthy, Oil-free, vegan, vegetarian
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 1.5 cups
Calories: 59kcal
Author: Elizabeth Emery

Equipment

  • High speed blender (an immersion blender will take a lot longer)

Ingredients

  • 1 tightly packed cup dates, pitted (about 5oz or 150g)
  • ¾ cup hot, recently boiled water

Instructions

  • Add dates to a bowl. Cover with ¾ cup hot water and soak for 10 minutes.
  • Place dates AND soaking water in high speed blender.
  • Blend for about one minute (turn power to high as soon as possible - dates will break down faster and get less stuck in blender). Scrape down sides of jug as needed.
  • Stop blending when you have a smooth paste. Pour into glass jar and refrigerate until needed.

Notes

  • Any kind of pitted dates work. I choose small dried dates rather than medjool dates to save money.
  • Store date paste in airtight container in fridge up to 3 months.
  • ALWAYS check for pits before blending. Even if the packaging says dates are pitted, occasionally you'll find a stone.
  • If you have a powerful blender, you can get away with not soaking your dates! Just skip this step and blend dates and hot water together.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 59kcal | Carbohydrates: 15.6g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 13.2g | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.2mg