For those looking to use up or incorporate more dates into their diet, these recipes for desserts with dates will stretch your imagination every which way. Dates are caramelly, complex, and deliciously textured; they go well with both sweet and savory foods, from ice cream to leafy greens.
And while you can't go wrong with buying whatever dates you can get your hands on and popping them right into your mouth (watch the seed!), it doesn't hurt to bake them up instead in any one of these date dessert recipes.
From drool-worthy date cakes, to *healthier* raw slices coated in chocolate - and of course - sticky date puddings, the tasty treats here can satisfy any sweet tooth. If you just bought a beautiful box of dates, you'll be inspired bythese dozens of sweet ways to use dates.
Jump to:
🍮 Unique Date Dessert Recipes
Date Nut Ladoo
Enjoy these naturally sweet and nutritious date nut ladoos made from fresh Medjool dates. Indian cuisine features a variety of ladoo recipes created with various ingredients and cooking methods.
This recipe combines dates, crunchy nuts and seeds, and scented cardamom into a sticky paste that is then shaped into balls. Whether they're a healthy snack or a festival delicacy, these 15-minute ladoos are a nutritious and delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Sticky Toffee Pudding Sundae
Topping sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream turns this British classic into an all-around American dessert recipe. Scrumptious, delightfully spongy cake doused in delectable sticky toffee sauce and topped with whipped cream never fails to impress
It’s delicious, well balanced and not too sweet. Celebrate the joys of summer with family and friends.
Sheer Korma
Sheer Khorma (or Sheer Khurma) is a special Indian dish prepared during Eid festival. This dessert has the rich flavor of dates and spices in creamy sweet milk
Ultra thin vermicelli absorbs all these wonderful flavors while still remaining soupy and it tends to thicken when it cools. Enjoy this creamy and indulgent dessert that’s perfect for celebrations.
Nutella Date Brownies
These decadent brownies are so good, you’ll never even know they’re vegan. They’re easy to make with minimal wholesome ingredients.
Thick, fudgy, and can be topped with an easy vegan ganache made from good quality dark chocolate and coconut milk or homemade gianduja. I like to add a little bit of sea salt into these brownies to bring out more chocolatey goodness.
Date Squares
Date squares are the treats you’ll devour in a flash. They're so easy to make, and a great lunchbox option.
These chewy oat bars are made with sweet dates and enhanced by warm cinnamon and sweet floral vanilla. You'll love this nut-free date recipe with an amazing texture and flavor.
Chocolate Date Squares
Always craving something sweet? Make these healthy chocolate date squares for a quick fix at the ready. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, naturally sweetened, and full of whole ingredients.
It’s the perfect way to satisfy your cravings while still maintaining a healthy diet. Dates provide sweetness while working as a binder in this sweet treat. It's easy to make, chocolaty, nutritious and oh-so-delicious!
Sticky Toffee Porridge
Give this unique dessert with date recipe a try. This is an award winning and delicious recipe for sticky toffee porridge.
Still haven't convinced you yet? Dates and oatmeal go so well in this ingenious creation of candied oats, whiskey spiked toffee sauce and Scottish cream.
Dive into true deliciousness with this date dessert.
Avocado Chocolate Mousse
Are there any truly delicious, nutritious yet guilt-free desserts out there? The answer is yes, and it's this pudding-like treat made with dates, avocado, and cocoa powder.
Make this smooth and creamy chocolate avocado mousse for a healthy yet satisfying dessert. It’s vegan too, but you'd never have guessed it!
Homemade Date Syrup
Looking for the perfect way to use up those dates that have been hanging around in your pantry for a while now? If you're not a fan of munching on this pseudo-raisin fruit, give this date syrup recipe a try.
The flavor will have you drizzling or pouring it over anything and everything, I guarantee. Why use date syrup instead of other liquid sweeteners you say? Well dates are very VERY nutritious.
They’re high in potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, vitamin B6 and so much more. So if you wana indulge but still be good to yourself, this recipe is legit.
Streusel-Topped Date Bars
Dates don't get the attention that they deserve - so bake them into luscious treats. These matrimonial bars are the perfect way to showcase them!
One bite of these streusel topped date bars will make your heart sing with gladness. Between the buttery crumb topping and crust and that sweet and luscious date filling, it’s a delicious indulgence that's sure to boost your mood.
Apple Date Halwa
A traditional Indian dessert made with date sugar, spices and nuts then flavored with apples. This 4-ingredient dessert is a healthy treat for any time of day.
It’s like eating pie sans the pie crust for all the pie filling fiends out there. Rich and sweet, you can also top this dessert with vanilla ice cream for an over the top indulgent date dessert.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Pudding
Peanut butter chocolate lovers gather round! Our favorite flavor combination combines to create this delectable chocolate peanut butter chia pudding.
This thick and nutritious pudding is high in protein, good fats, and micronutrients, and is naturally sweetened with dates. You won’t just be eating this healthy vegan date treat for breakfast because it’s so good as a dessert too.
Pumpkin Bliss Bars
These scrumptious no-bake pumpkin bars taste like fudgy brownies with a dash of pumpkin spice. They’re moist, soft and chewy bars with a rich chocolaty flavor.
Topped with a silky smooth frosting, it’s a decadent yet nutrient-dense date square. Plus, they’re naturally vegan and gluten-free making it a healthy and delicious treat all day.
Date Slice
If you’re looking for a chewy, crumbly dessert that’ll have you feeling nostalgic for recipes from home, try making these delectable date squares. Also known as the Canadian matrimonial cake, date squares have the perfect "marriage" of flavors.
Delicious, creamy and not too sweet date filling that’s nestled in between a sweet salty crumble base and topping. These come together in less than an hour - perfect for dessert.
🍦 Frozen Date Dessert Recipes
Date and Tahini Ice Cream
Dates star in this delightfully smooth date and tahini ice cream recipe. It's a fantastic recipe with a delightful sweet and salty flavor combination!
This creamy ice cream is sweetened with dates only and then combined with the nutty, savory flavor of tahini. Gluten free and refined sugar free, you'll be making this date dessert recipe over and over again.
Vegan Grasshopper Pie
Savor frozen chocolate minty deliciousness in every bite of this vegan grasshopper pie. Like a thin mint cookie in frozen pie form, the recipe channels the flavors of the beloved classic cocktail with the same name.
Absolutely no grasshoppers were harmed in making this decadent dessert with dates, either. Cut into squares for snack size indulging, this incredibly easy no-bake dessert is packed with superfoods, bringing you loads of nutrition while satisfying cravings.
Peanut Butter Banana Popsicles
These healthy peanut butter banana popsicles are made with whole food sugar substitutes, making it a healthy and delicious summertime dessert. Made with creamy peanut butter, ripe bananas and sweet dates, the flavor is on point.
It’s coated in dark chocolate for a nice hard crunch. The dark chocolate adds a great contrast to the sweet fruit, or you may also use raw chocolate and then sprinkle with cacao nibs for a healthier treat.
These creamy nice cream popsicles are completely dairy-free. Make them ahead of time, freeze, and serve anytime you want.
Creamy Latte Popsicles
Coffee lovers rejoice! These creamy coffee popsicles are made from whole, plant-based ingredients for a tasty, dessert and pick-me-up in one.
Made with coffee, cashews, and Medjool dates, these coffee popsicles are going to be a tasty break to look forward to each afternoon. Creamy, sweet and easy to make, these frozen sweets with dates are perfect on a hot summer day.
🥧 Sweet Date Pie and Tart Recipes
Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Tart
Looking for an indulgent and luxurious dessert option? Try this vegan chocolate mousse tart with a raspberry layer made with less than 10 ingredients.
Use a vegan dark chocolate or keto chocolates for this elegant dessert that tastes like a classic French silk pie.
Vegan Fruit Tart
Delicious vegan no-bake fruit tarts made with plant-based ingredients for a healthy and indulgent dessert. Featuring a buttery shortbread crust, luscious custard filling, and lots of vibrant fresh fruit that’s so easy to make.
All ingredients are guaranteed natural, vegan, and gluten free from a date and almond crust to the coconut cream filling. The entire recipe makes for the perfect wholesome and toothsome treat to keep you going throughout the day.
Vegan Bourbon Pecan Pie
Bourbon pecan pie is a classic pecan pie with a vegan twist. Dates serve as both sweetener and egg replacer in the sweet and rich filling made with just 8 ingredients.
No eggs, dairy, or corn syrup here but with a generous splash of bourbon to add bright festive flavors! Loaded with pecans and warm spices, it's the perfect holiday dessert.
Brown Butter Pecan Pie
Thinking of a fancy dessert to impress your guests? This brown butter pecan pie is going to be the star of your table. Dates sing beautifully when steeped in espresso and sprinkled across a pie dough filled with toasted pecans and delicious brown butter pie filling.
It’s definitely the version of the classic pie. When you serve this beautiful and luscious pie, you'll want to have lots of whipped cream on hand!
Apple Date Pie
This apple date pie is a unique take on the traditional apple pie. Spiced apples combine with the caramel flavors of dates and brown sugar is such a delicious spin on the classic.
That combination of apples and dates makes the pie filling so mouth watering already but couple that with a buttery and flaky pie crust. Then you bake it until golden and bubbling. Ahhhh, it's the most perfect holiday pie!
Pecan Cream Pie
If you're into healthier, whole foods and using minimally processed ingredients in your recipes, this pecan cream pie is the recipe of your dreams. Naturally sweetened with dates and the egg is replaced by applesauce, making this 9-ingredient pie recipe vegan, dairy free, and gluten free.
It's lip-smackingly good. You and your guests will definitely be having seconds.
Healthy Key Lime Pie
Without a doubt my favorite dessert from this date dessert roundup is this healthy key lime pie. This pie is a smooth, creamy, and refreshing dessert!
Using just a handful of whole food ingredients, the no-bake pie filling boasts the ideal combination of sweetness and acidity owing to key lime juice, honey, and dates. Plus it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, eggless, Paleo and made without condensed milk.
🍫 Chocolate Date Candies
Chocolate Bourbon Caramel Truffles
These chocolate bourbon truffles are the perfect little treats and make excellent gifts. Rich caramel and deep chocolate flavors are the perfect combination for a deliciously chewy truffle that will spark all the nostalgia.
From a caramel like center and a rich chocolate coating to the perfect melt in your mouth, chewy bite. Best of all, this no-bake dessert comes with a truly easy-to-follow recipe and a simple ingredient list!
Dust the truffles with cocoa powder, powdered sugar, or even coat in melted chocolate!
2-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Fudge
Make this 2-ingredient fudge recipe for a decadent and satisfying treat. Creamy medjool dates and dark chocolate come together for the perfect melt-in-your-mouth fudge flavor and consistency!
This 2-ingredient fudge isn't just a treat for your taste buds, it also packs in nutritious benefits from dates and dark chocolates giving this vegan fudge a wholesome twist. Sweet, dense, and rich, you’ll love how satisfying this dessert is.
If you don’t have dark chocolate on hand or prefer a different type, feel free to substitute chocolate according to your liking.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
These chocolate peanut butter balls are an indulgent little snack with healthy ingredients and no added sugar! These bite-sized treats come together with just 7 ingredients and in under 20 minutes of hands-on time.
You'll love the peanut butter and coconut flavor, chocolate shell using any type of chocolate, and the soft and chewy filling. Dates add a nutritious sweetness to the recipe, making them a healthy and satisfying treat to power you throughout the day.
Date Truffles with Almond Butter
Medjool dates taste excellent on their own but with a chocolate case and almond butter stuffing, we’ve got ourselves a dessert for the highest heavens. The fruity sweetness of dates boasting of honey, caramel, cinnamon are accentuated by melted chocolate chips and creamy almond butter.
Enjoyed as a dessert or snack, you can eat these stuffed dates guilt-free because they contain natural ingredients and no refined sugars. Naturally vegan and gluten-free, they’re nourishing as they are delightful.
Healthy Twix Bars
Healthier homemade twix bars are healthier than any store bought candy. They're naturally sweetened with dates instead of refined sugar or other highly processed sweeteners.
With a crunchy biscuit base, layer of delicious, gooey caramel and luscious dark chocolate topping, these desserts with dates are sweet, creamy and super satisfying. Plus, they're made with good-for-you ingredients, so what's not to love?
Date Snickers Bar
Here’s another healthy candy bar you can make with sweet dates. Healthy homemade date snickers bars take roughly 30 minutes to prepare and require only a few simple yet nutritious ingredients that you have lying around in your pantry.
This is a no-bake dessert that doesn't require any special tools or techniques. It’s deliciously sweetened with medjool dates coated in dark chocolate for simple homemade candy bar vibes.
🍰 Decadent Date Cakes
Individual Fruitcakes
Don't scoff at this fruitcake recipe - it's made our date dessert roundup for a reason. These individual cakes use fresh apples and are loaded with dried fruit and nuts.
The simple spice cake batter pairs extremely well with cream cheese frosting. All in all the individual fruit cake is moist and dense and the frosting takes it to the next level. It’s a fruitcake recipe everyone will truly love!
Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake
Looking for a reliable way to use up your dates? Sticky date pudding recipe has got you covered. This sticky toffee pudding, or sticky date pudding consists of a dark, dense sponge cake made with chopped dates and is topped with a sweet toffee sauce.
This classic British dessert features a super moist cake made with brown sugar and infused with the warm flavor of dates. It has a rich toffee sauce on top for the ultimate rich and satisfying dessert!
Yule Log Cake
Make this gluten-free yule log cake with date paste and chopped red and green maraschino cherries for the holidays. This festive delicacy features a mascarpone cream coating and a topping of sliced cherries, dates, and pistachios.
The flourless cake relies on a mix of gluten-free flours. It's then topped with more chopped Medjools, cherries and pistachios to bring it to that next-level yumminess.
This version of the buche de Noel (a French Christmas cake) is a delicious and decadent way to celebrate with family and friends, without the gluten.
🍪 Divine Date Cookie Recipes
Fruitcake Cookies
Don't shy away from these fruitcake cookies. The only semblance they have with an actual fruitcake are dried fruits and cinnamon spice.
Fruitcake cookies are a festive holiday treat and fun baking activity for kids. These cookies feature candied cherries and pineapple, sweet dates, and a touch of warm cinnamon spice.
Chocolate Tahini Cookies
Are you a chocolate and peanut butter fan? Try these chocolate tahini cookies for a healthier alternative to traditional ones.
These flourless tahini chocolate cookies are vegan, gluten free, and sweetened with dates. They're lightly sweet, tender, chewy, and full of chocolate flavor, with a delightful extra dark chocolate center.
Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints
Fool-proof and amazingly delicious vegan chocolate caramel thumbprints that require NO baking? Sign me up!
The outer cookie is made with almonds, maple syrup and cocoa powder, while the "caramel" filling is made from dates. These cookies are easy to prep and made with just 6 ingredients!
🍡 Energy Balls and Bars with Dates
Peanut Butter Coconut Balls
Make these handy and healthful peanut butter coconut balls for a quick dessert or snack anytime of day. These bite-sized snacks feature peanut butter, oats, and are sweetened with dates for a healthy yet satisfying sweet treat.
Sweet, salty and delicious, these energizing desserts will keep you going throughout the day. Best of all, these no-bake treats are ready in as little as 15 minutes!
Hazelnut and Date Bliss Balls
Who wouldn't love these Ferrero Rocher-esque bliss balls?! Chocolate and hazelnuts come together and form the most delicious treat sweetened with dates.
These no-bake vegan protein balls are the perfect gluten-free truffle-like dessert striking a balance between rich and sweet, with a soft crunchy bite. With healthy ingredients, these bite-sized bliss balls are sweet and filling.
Blueberry Bliss Balls
These blueberry bliss balls are a favorite, no-bake, easy-to-make sweet treat. They're perfect to enjoy as a single serve dessert or an on-the-go snack as well!
These blueberry bliss balls are bursting with flavor from the fresh blueberries. They've got fantastic color and texture and a big batch of these bliss balls come together in just 20-minutes.
Copycat Lara Bar
Try this copycat Lara bar recipe featuring just 5 natural ingredients. No need to spend your good money on these energy bars, it's easy to make at home!
This incredibly simple recipe for wholesome chocolate date bars requires only ten minutes of prep time and contains no flour or added sugar. They have an amazing golden brown finish without being baked!
Vegan, gluten-free and no-bake bars make for perfect, healthful low-sugar desserts.
🙋🏼♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
Whole dates can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Apart from eating them as a healthy and natural sweet snack, using them as a natural and alternative sweetener in cooking and baking will give extra sweetness and added texture to your recipes.
You can try incorporating them into salads for a sweet and chewy element or stuffing them with nuts and cheese for a delicious appetizer.
Medjool dates and Deglet Noor dates are date varieties typically used in baking. They're generally preferred due to their natural sweetness, moist texture and rich flavor. When used in baking, these dates can add depth and sweetness to various recipes, such as cookies, cakes, breads, and energy bars. Additionally, they can be easily blended into date paste, making them a versatile and healthy alternative to refined sugars in baked goods.
Yes, dates are considered a healthy sweet option. They are naturally high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making them a nutritious alternative to refined sugars. Dates are also a good source of antioxidants and have a low glycemic index, which means they have a slower impact on blood sugar levels compared to other sweeteners.
You can enjoy them as they are, pitted, for a quick and convenient snack. You can also use them in baking, blended into smoothies, and as a natural sweetener in many recipes.
Dates are naturally high in sugar, primarily in the form of fructose and glucose. While they are a nutritious fruit and offer various health benefits, it's important to consume them in moderation - ideally alongside protein and fat - as part of a balanced diet.
📖 Recipe
41+ Desserts with Dates (to Make at Home)
Equipment
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Mixing Bowl
- Electric Mixer
Ingredients
- Date Nut Ladoo
- Sticky Toffee Pudding Sundae
- Sheer Korma
- Nutella Date Brownies
- Date Squares
- Chocolate Date Squares
- Sticky Toffee Porridge
- Avocado Chocolate Mousse
- Homemade Date Syrup
- Streusel-Topped Date Bars
- Apple Date Halwa
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Pudding
- Pumpkin Bliss Bars
- Date Slice
- Date and Tahini Ice Cream
- Vegan Grasshopper Pie
- Peanut Butter Banana Popsicles
- Creamy Latte Popsicles
- Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Tart
- Vegan Fruit Tart
- Vegan Bourbon Pecan Pie
- Brown Butter Pecan Pie
- Apple Date Pie
- Pecan Cream Pie
- Healthy Key Lime Pie
- Chocolate Bourbon Caramel Truffles
- Dark Chocolate Fudge
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
- Dates Truffles with Almond Butter
- Healthy Twix Bars
- Date Snickers Bar
- Individual Fruitcakes
- Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake
- Yule Log Cake
- Fruitcake Cookies
- Chocolate Tahini Cookies
- Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints
- Peanut Butter Coconut Balls
- Hazelnut and Date Bliss Balls
- Blueberry Bliss Balls
- Copycat Lara Bar
Instructions
- Choose a recipe that appeals to you.
- Gather the ingredients.
- Follow the instructions, then enjoy!
Comments
No Comments