Easy Date Slice Recipe - Melt & Mix · Chef Not Required... (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for date paste in baking? ›

Use raisin paste to sweeten your favorite recipes and substitute it for dates with this easy recipe. Dates are an expensive ingredient, and if you don't use them often, they dry up and go bad, which is why I long ago switched to making raisin paste to sweeten baked goods, smoothies, and more.

The most common substitutes include raisins, dried cranberries, figs, and jujubes, each lending their distinct flavor and consistency to a dish.

If the dates just add some wetness and sweetness, you should be able to substitute anything equally wet and sweet. A mashed banana, sweetened applesauce, or nut butter.

Grind the Dates: Once the dates are prepped, place them in a food processor or blender. Pulse the dates until they form a smooth paste or powder, depending on your preference. You may need to scrape down the sides of the processor or blender a few times to ensure an even grind.

It is important to note that although dates are high in fiber and nutrients, they are still fairly high in calories and best consumed in moderation. Dates are a healthy substitute for white sugar in recipes due to their sweet taste, nutrients, fiber and antioxidants.

Dates fruit is known for its great nutritional value and two to three servings of dates fruit/day are beneficial for patients with diabetes.

As is the case with many other types of luxuries, the production of Medjool dates is a difficult and labour-intensive operation, which is why they are so expensive. Because soft dates such as the Medjool are so delicate, the vast majority of them are harvested individually by hand rather than in enormous clusters.

Medjool dates are easier to eat and are quite soft, while regular dates are often soaked in water with a little bicarb before cooking with them. In terms of nutritional value, Medjool dates are identical to regular dates, however the regular dates have more fiber, fat, and protein.

Rutab (ratab) – the fresh date is fully ripe in taste and colour; lusciously soft and juicy within a papery thin skin. They are only available for a few short weeks in the summer months. Tamr (or tamar) – is the dried date that we are most used to. Some of the moisture has evaporated so the dates can be stored.

Quite simply most times you can replace the dates or dried fruits that are used for binding the biscuit base together with a combination of Golden Rice Malt Syrup and coconut oil or butter.

Can I substitute raisins for dates? ›

Dates are the go-to option in a lot of health food recipes because they provide a delicious, natural way to sweeten dishes. But dates are not the only way. The humble raisin can do the same job, and it's often a cheaper choice, too.

Fresh cherries only contain 12 grams of carbs per 100 grams, so snacking on a couple of cherries is much more keto-friendly than choosing dates. Dried cherries will taste closer to dates, but also have a similar carbohydrate content, so fresh is always best.

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.

Make your own trail mix by mixing dates in with your favorite nuts such as almonds, peanuts, pecans and walnuts and other dried fruits. A Different Drizzle. Blend dates with a small amount of milk until smooth then drizzle over whole wheat waffles, oatmeal, or French toast.

For drinks: you typically need to add more date paste as it isn't as sweet as sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar etc. Try substituting 1.5 or even 2x the amount of date paste! For baked goods: You'll likely need to add 1.5 or 2x the ratio of date paste in place of sugar.

Date paste is essentially comprised of 100 percent macerated fresh dates. They are each cleaned, pitted, and softened in hot water before combining the mixture in a commercial food processor. Once blended, it produces a slightly sticky and thick consistency similar to other fruit-based spreads.

Not to be confused with date palm sugar, which is similar in composition to coconut sugar, date sugar is made from ground, dehydrated dates. While it is also somewhat drier than brown sugar, this option has rich caramel flavor and can be used 1:1 as a brown sugar replacement in any recipe.