Easy Stuffed Dates

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Sometimes you just need a little something sweet that doesn’t require a lot of effort. Whether you’re making a snack for yourself or a crowd, these easy Stuffed Dates are the perfect healthy dessert or snack.

dates stuffed with peanut butter, nuts, and maple syrup on white counter top

Though I like something sweet now and then, I don’t have a big sweet tooth. However, my husband definitely does. The great thing about this stuffed date recipe–other than how simple it is with only two basic ingredients–is that it’s perfectly sweet and can satisfy both of us.

Of course, there are plenty of other stuffings that can be added, and we’ve got some great ideas for you if you want to jazz your dates up even more.

Whether you’re treating yourself to a personal nibble or feeding a hungry crowd, these effortless delights are your answer. They’re not just tasty; they’re also a wholesome dessert or snack option that hits the spot every time. Another terrific and simple dessert to try is these Air Fryer Banana Boats.

You’ll love this 2-ingredient dessert because it’s…

  • The easiest dessert ever with the fewest ingredients
  • Perfectly sweet
  • Gluten-free
  • Wholesome
  • Super simple
  • Requires no cooking
  • Great for taking along on hikes and road trips
  • Guilt-free
  • Delicious!

Stuffed dates recipe

These stuffed dates can’t really even be called a recipe but are more like a concept.

Not that long ago, my sister gave me a large bag of dates that she had purchased but decided she didn’t want. She knew that I use them often when cooking and thought I could make good use of them. Lucky me!

medjool dates in silver bowl tipped over

At first, I planned to use them in some baking recipes, but one evening I was looking for something sweet to eat after dinner that didn’t have to be cooked. It needed to be something quick that didn’t require me to mess up the kitchen again. And, that’s when I decided to just keep it very simple and stuff a few dates.

With recipes for stuffed dates all over the internet that include ingredients like bacon and goat cheese (I’m not kidding), I was looking around for an easy snack that was actually healthy.

That’s when I saw a bag of walnuts in the cabinet and realized that half of a walnut would fit in my dates perfectly. And, boom, we had DateNuts!

How to stuff a date

Simply slice a date, without cutting it all the way through–sort of like making a jacket out of it. Since my dates had pits still in them, they needed to be removed.

dates on white plate with one in center sliced open to show the pit

Though the picture above shows the date sliced completely in half, for this recipe, only slit them enough to remove the pit.

The raw cracked walnuts I had on hand were already halved, so they were the perfect fit for my dates. Other great nut options might be almonds, pecans, cashews, and even pistachios.

Simply stuff a walnut half into the pitted date and press the sides to form around the walnut. Make as many as you like and serve immediately. They freeze well too, if you want to make some ahead and pull them out to eat later.

Optional stuffing options

  • Nuts like cashews, pistachios, almonds
  • Nut butters such as peanut, almond, or cashew
  • Shredded coconut
  • Drizzled maple syrup

Stuffed dates make a perfect healthy appetizer or snack for family and guests. This is probably the easiest plant-based dessert you’ll ever serve besides fruit.

Stuffed dates are also fantastic for those who love the great outdoors and need easy energy-packed snacks to take along while hiking, biking, camping, or anything else.

dates stuffed with walnuts in white bowl on lace tabletop

What are dates anyway?

A staple in Middle Eastern countries, dates are a fruit grown on date palm trees. They come in several different varieties but the two most common are Medjool and Deglet Noor.

date palm trees loaded with fruit

Depending on the variety, dates range in size and color, and almost all dates sold in Western countries are dried.

Medjool dates are very large and are the most common type used in cooking and baking. They are chewy, moist, and sweet and have wrinkled skin that indicates they are dried. These are the ones I used for this recipe.

Nutritionally, dates are high in fiber, iron, potassium, and B vitamins. They have 2 grams of protein in a little over 3 ounces.

Though they are high in natural sugars, they are low on the glycemic index, meaning they don’t cause large spikes in blood glucose levels like refined sugar does.

Many people avoiding sugar use date paste in baking to get that sweet taste without processed sugar. It’s perfect for sweetening homemade chocolate cake and other baked goods.

Other great easy snacks

For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!

dates stuffed with peanut butter, nuts, and maple syrup on white counter top
4.84 from 6 votes

Stuffed Dates

Sometimes you just need something a little sweet that doesn’t require a lot of effort. Whether you’re making a snack for yourself or for a crowd, these easy stuffed dates are the perfect healthy dessert or snack.
Prep: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 serving

Ingredients 

Instructions

  • 1. Slice into a date, without cutting it all the way through–sort of like making a jacket out of it.
  • 2. If the date has a pit, remove it.
  • 3. Stuff a walnut half into the date and serve. Add peanut butter or almond butter and optionally sprinkle with shredded coconut and maple syrup.

Video

Notes

Optional stuffing options:
  • Nuts like cashews, pistachios, almonds
  • Nut butters such as peanut, almond, or cashew
  • Shredded coconut
  • Drizzled maple syrup

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Fat: 3g | Sugar: 15g

Disclaimer

To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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About Terri Edwards

Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy.  I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…

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8 Comments

    1. You’re welcome! They are so simple. This week we are vacationing at a rustic lake cabin in Tennessee and brought walnuts and dates along to make here. They are perfect for taking on the hiking trails too.

  1. …they look pretty disgusting …but I confess, I now can not get enough dates!!! I’m addicted! What an easy, guilt-free, DELICIOUS snack!!!

  2. I would rate this recipe a five out of 5 stars. I love dates and walnuts as well as pecans and walnuts. Don’t even need the peanut butter! It definitely satisfy my sweet craving,
    Brenda

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