Date Jam - Easy Date Paste Recipe (2024)

By Marjory Pilley Published Mar 3, 2021 · Updated Mar 3, 2021

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Spread Date Jam on toast and use it as a healthy sweetener in recipes. This easy homemade date paste, using only Medjool dates, is the all-natural condiment you'll reach for again and again.

Smooth, creamy date spread is not just a sugar-free sweetener for Energy Balls. Slather it on a waffle, make Healthy Cream Cheese Frosting or use it in place of sugar in your favorite muffin or baked treat. We have a big, long list of ideas below.

Go ahead and enjoy it within reason! Date paste is high in fiber and other beneficial nutrients you won't find in granulated sugar. It's also Whole 30 compliant, Paleo-friendly, and vegan.

Once you puree Medjool dates, you're left with something magical. The finished jam is smooth and creamy with a caramel-like taste that is an excellent substitute for sugar, honey, and maple syrup.

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Best Types of Dates to Use
How to Pit Dates
Directions with Pictures
Storage
Variations
Sugar Conversion Ratio
Ways to Use Date Jam
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Best Types of Dates to Use

We are partial to Medjool dates which are thick, chewy, and very sweet. You'll find them in the produce section because they are FRESH fruit!

We used this type of date in all of the pictures shown. However, the process is the same for Deglet Noor dates, commonly found in grocery stores and can be less expensive.

Still not sure why Medjool Dates are so great? Check out 10 Things You Need to Know About Medjool Dates by Eating Bird Food.

How to Pit Dates

You can purchase dates with the pits already removed, but you'll pay a premium. It's so easy to remove the pits yourself.

Cut a small slit on one side of the date.
Open the slit and remove the pit.

That's it. Your fingers get a little sticky, but the process literally takes a few minutes.

Directions with Pictures

Follow this easy process to make your own jar of date jam. 1 pound of dates will yield about 2 cups.

Soak pitted dates in hot water to soften them. Heat 2 cups of water in the microwave. Place Medjool dates in a glass or ceramic bowl and pour hot water over them.
- Note: When you bring Medjool dates home from the store they're soft, pliable, and easy to process. The dates will begin to dry out during storage. They're still delicious and processed the same way but may benefit from soaking in hot water a little longer.
Cover and allow them to sit for 10-20 minutes.
Remove dates from the water and place them along with a little of the reserved soaking water in a food processor.
- Note: Use ¼ cup of water for 1 pound of dates. Use more or less water to achieve the desired consistency.
Process on high for at least 3 minutes and up to about 7 minutes. The longer you process the dates, the smoother and lighter in color the jam will become. It will become a little darker once refrigerated. That's normal.
- Note: A high-speed blender can be used instead of a food processor.

Storage

Store- Place jam sweetened with dates in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Freeze- Jam can also be stored in the freezer up to 6 months. We suggest storing it in small amounts, such as Tablespoon portions in an ice cube tray. Once frozen, remove the cubes and store them in a resealable bag.

Variations

Want to take your date spread up a notch? Stir in some of these ingredients:

Spices, like cinnamon or nutmeg
Vanilla extract
Fresh pureed fruit, like apples, pears, blueberries
Chocolate
Nut butters
Make it chunky with additions like coconut flakes

Sugar Conversion Ratio

Use a 1:1 ratio when substituting date paste for sugar. If using it in a baked good, take into consideration the additional moisture that will be added, just like you would when substituting with honey.

Ways to Use Date Jam

Don't just spread it on your toast! It's the perfect topping or sugar alternative in so many recipes. Here are some ideas to get you started:

In raw treats like Chocolate Date Balls, Carrot Cake Balls, and Rice Krispie Date Balls - It also helps hold or "glue" the ingredients together!
Make fudgy and delicious date truffles!
In smoothies
Stir into oatmeal
As topping for pancakes and waffles
Spoon over ice cream or yogurt
Slather on toast, bagels, muffins, or scones
Replace sugar in salad dressing recipes
To make sugar-free marinades
In homemade condiments like ketchup and BBQ sauce
As an all-natural sweetener in baked goods such as bread, muffins, cakes, and cookies. We used it to make sugar-free Carrot Cake Muffins
To make icing. We used it to make Healthy Cream Cheese Frosting

Did we miss one? We'd love to add it to the list!

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