Easy Stuffed Dates

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 like homemade walnut butter 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 and our almond butter and oats energy balls.

At first, I planned to use them in some baking recipes like my vegan caramel apples, 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 Stuffed Dates!

How to stuff a date

STEP #1: Slice a date, without cutting it all the way through–sort of like making a jacket out of it. Since dates have pits in them, they need to be removed. Though the picture above shows the date sliced completely in half, for this recipe, only slit them enough to remove the pit.

I like to buy the raw cracked walnuts that are already halved, so they are the perfect fit for dates. Other great nut options might be almonds, pecans, cashews, Brazil nuts, and even pistachios.

STEP #2: Stuff the dates with peanut butter or almond butter, add a walnut half or other nut into the pitted date, and press the sides to form around the walnut. Sprinkle with dried shredded coconut.

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, walnut butter, 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.

They 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.

What are dates?

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.

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 easy-to-make date paste in baking to get that sweet taste without processed sugar. It’s perfect for sweetening homemade vegan chocolate cake and other baked goods.

Frequently Asked Questions