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stuffed dates eight ways

April 1, 2017 by Kathryn Pauline 42 Comments

When you snack a lot, you tend to prepare the same things over and over again. Yogurt with nutella, cheese and crackers, a sliced apple with peanut butter, a handful of raw almonds when you’re feeling particularly virtuous. Maybe you wouldn’t exactly call it a snacking rut, but a snacking routine. You’ve got to find those calories to get through the conference calls or grading marathons, so you make the same sensible, reliable decision every time.

But, rut or no rut, sometimes you want to make something a little extra special. You might have guests visiting from out of town, or maybe you just want to treat yourself. Either way, it’s even better if you can make something exciting, healthy, and delicious without a lot of effort. The answer? The stuffed date.

Dates are perfect for stuffing, since they are left with that huge gap after you pit them. Why not replace the thing that’s just waiting there for you to forget it exists so that you end up cracking a tooth and needing emergency dental care, with something edible that perfectly compliments the date’s lovely flavor and texture. The trick is to carefully make an incision in one side, pop the pit out, and open it like a baked potato or one of those rubber coin purses. Then just fill it with whatever you choose! (Just not broccoli-cheddar or nickels and pennies). Experiment with your own fillings, or choose one of the examples below.

Below: rainbow tiramisu date, chocolate-covered pretzel date, Nana’s date, baklawa date
herby cheesy date, salted peanut butter chocolate date, retro 1995 date, dinner date

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stuffed dates eight ways

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 5 reviews

Instructions

rainbow tiramisu date


Roll the date in Turkish coffee and cocoa powder, fill it with honey-sweetened mascarpone, and top it with some rainbow sprinkles.

chocolate-covered pretzel date


Stuff the date with a pretzel nugget and dip the bottom and sides in chocolate. (vegan)

nana’s date


Stuff the date with a walnut piece and unsweetened coconut flakes, or roll it in sweetened coconut flakes. (vegan)

baklawa date


Stuff the date with a walnut piece and pack a small pinch of cardamom, finely chopped pistachios, and (optional) edible dried rose petals into the rest of the space. (vegan)

herby cheesy date


Stuff the date with a chunk of fontina (or another firm cheese) wrapped in basil, or sprinkled with another herb.

salted chocolate peanut butter date


Stuff the date with smooth peanut butter, top with an almond and some crunchy sea salt, and dip the bottom in chocolate. (vegan)

dinner date


Stuff the date with a slice of brie and a pecan.

Retro 1995 date


Stuff the date with goat cheese and some sun-dried tomato pieces, and top with basil chiffonade.

find us on instagram and let us know what you made!

Filed Under: appetizers, every recipe, gluten free, meze, sweets, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: almonds, baklawa, basil, chocolate, coconut, dates, herbs, pistachio, rosewater, sprinkles

Previous Post: « lahm bi ajeen | middle eastern pizzas
Next Post: botanical baklawa (baklava) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Connie G Savois

    November 14, 2021 at 9:32 am

    I remember my Mom stuffing the dates with Marshmallow Crème and putting a half of pecan on top and then roll them in sugar. I’m going to try it this way for Christmas.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      November 14, 2021 at 10:16 am

      oh yum!!

      Reply
    • Connie Savois

      November 14, 2021 at 10:51 am

      It’s Connie again, Just wondering if you have heard of fixing them this way? The only thing I can’t remember is if she put them in the oven or not.

      Reply
      • Kathryn Pauline

        November 15, 2021 at 9:33 am

        I haven’t, but that sounds delicious either way!

        Reply
  2. Candice

    October 16, 2021 at 11:12 am

    I am always looking for desserts and snacks that have no added sugars, are low carb, and bite-sized (limiting, I know!). These are all perfect! The tiramisu dates have become one of my favorite dessert. FANTASTIC! Thanks for these great recipes!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      October 16, 2021 at 12:04 pm

      Aw this makes me so happy!! (Also, this comment 100% found me eating ricotta by the spoonful as a snack, and now I’m craving a tiramisu stuffed date! haha)

      Reply
  3. William Gilmore

    July 21, 2021 at 5:07 am

    Hello,
    I want to thank you for your delicious stuffed date recipes. I have 2 canning jars full of dates and stored in the refrigerator. They’ve been there for months and didn’t know what to do with them until I found your recipes. I chose the one with pistachio, walnut, rose petals and cardamom. When I first tried to stuff the dates they were a bit rigid and dry and weren’t going to cooperate with stuffing; they wanted to split in half. So, I soaked them in a jar with brandy for 2 days. They rehydrated and I was able to stuff them. I added a spoon of cream cheese to each of them before the nuts and remainder of the ingredients. I’ve eaten four of them in the last half hour. I put another dozen in a jar and they are rehydrating as I am writing this. Ooooooooooo… they’re gunna be good!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      July 31, 2021 at 11:04 am

      Oh I’m so glad you’re enjoying them! 😀

      Reply
  4. Kelly Thornbrue

    June 25, 2021 at 3:27 am

    My autistic son loves the peanut butter dates, great ideas, thank you.

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      June 25, 2021 at 8:29 pm

      aw that’s awesome, I’m so glad he is enjoying those!

      Reply
  5. Rebecca L

    May 18, 2021 at 1:47 am

    The best date recipe on the internet. They’re all ridiculously good, but the herby cheese date is my all time favorite!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      May 18, 2021 at 10:49 am

      Aw shucks! Thanks Rebecca! 🤩

      Reply
  6. Heather

    May 11, 2021 at 6:22 pm

    These recipe options are so good! The retro 1995 was my favorite because I’m a sucker for goat cheese. Love all the different flavor combinations!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      May 12, 2021 at 12:44 am

      Aw thanks Heather! <3 I'm so glad you're enjoying them!

      Reply
  7. Barbara

    May 10, 2021 at 6:08 pm

    Hi, came here by chance and decided to write down my option of stuffed dates. Horserdish sauce, made with sour cream. Little spicy, cream smoothes out, and swetness from dates.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      May 11, 2021 at 1:59 am

      oh my gosh, that sounds like something my husband would absolutely love. He’s a big horseradish/wasabi/mustard fan! (and we obviously both love sweet and savory). Will for sure be trying this! Thank you!

      Reply
  8. Jennifer

    October 2, 2020 at 9:59 am

    Hi! I would like to make these ahead and take to a family gathering. How should they be stored? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      October 18, 2020 at 7:38 am

      Oh good question! It depends on which ones you choose. If you go with one that has cheese or another perishable ingredient, be sure to refrigerate them. Otherwise, they can be left at cool room temperature. Feel free to stuff them and then pack them into a food storage container—try to find one with a snug fit so they still look cute when they arrive at their destination.

      Reply
    • Sara

      April 27, 2022 at 12:28 am

      I fill the dates with walnuts and cream cheese.It tastes delicious.

      Reply
      • Kathryn Pauline

        May 10, 2022 at 10:45 am

        yum, that sounds great!

        Reply
  9. Jyoti

    August 23, 2020 at 6:03 am

    Sound Awesome

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      August 25, 2020 at 2:23 am

      thanks! 😀

      Reply
  10. Dori

    July 3, 2020 at 2:43 pm

    These sound delicious. Looking forward tp using a few on the 4th..

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      July 5, 2020 at 10:36 pm

      Aw that’s awesome! Hope you enjoyed!

      Reply
  11. Paula Meng

    January 4, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    Love these ideas. Eating the stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon with balsamic on top is good too.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      February 1, 2020 at 4:59 am

      Yum, sounds divine!

      Reply
  12. Kendra

    December 23, 2019 at 12:32 am

    I stuff dates with chorizo sausage then wrap bacon around the date and either fry or bake them. Delicious with the sweet and spicy tastes.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      January 1, 2020 at 9:50 pm

      On yum!! 😀

      Reply
  13. Millican Pecan

    July 6, 2019 at 4:52 am

    Dates are so good! And the more ways they can be served, the better. I will try these for my next gathering of family, if not for just my husband and me! Delicious!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      July 9, 2019 at 3:51 am

      Totally agreed, yay dates! 🙂 Hope you and your family enjoy these combinations!

      Reply
  14. Lia

    May 8, 2019 at 9:33 am

    I just found this, and totally love the ideas. Thanks for sharing;)

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      May 16, 2019 at 8:59 pm

      Aw you’re so welcome, and I’m so glad you’re enjoying them! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Veronica

    April 7, 2017 at 8:06 am

    Clever, I’m inspired for my birthday afternoon tea. Love dates and pretty food 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      April 8, 2017 at 5:14 pm

      I’m so glad you liked the stuffed date ideas and I’m so happy to hear you’ll be making some of them for your birthday tea. Happy birthday to you! 🙂

      Reply
  16. Maha Khan

    April 6, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    This Recipe is so tasty and delicious.Yor way of teaching and ingredients are also an easy there is good for me
    I am very crazy about food
    This is the Great recipe you noted
    I am sharing with you website of cooking
    https://www.sooperchef.pk/
    Please visit and tell me that how I improve like your website
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      April 6, 2017 at 3:36 pm

      Thank you so much for the very kind words. Your website looks phenomenal! The food all looks absolutely delicious and that’s so cool that you’re working in both Urdu and English! Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you want to talk more. Hope to hear from you!

      Reply
  17. Johnny Ishu

    April 3, 2017 at 2:55 pm

    I’ve never been a date fan but these recipes have changed me! My favorites are the Herby Cheesy and the Retro 1995. Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      April 3, 2017 at 4:02 pm

      I’m so glad you like them! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Nancy

    April 3, 2017 at 3:22 am

    Ah-MA-zing! Your blog is the first professional Assyrian one i’ve seen. Your photographs are just brilliant and inspiring. I’m not a fan of dates, but that latest recipe you shared, I can’t wait to try 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      April 3, 2017 at 4:11 pm

      Aw thanks so much for the kind words! If you’re looking for more good stuff online, Assyrian Kitchen is really fantastic, as well as Boushala (a Chaldean food blog). And there are so many great Middle Eastern food blogs/series out there (Saffron Tales, Maureen Abood, Lara Ariss, Add A Little Lemon, Almond and Fig, Abeer’s Day Off). I’m probably leaving out a ton! Hope you keep enjoying the recipes and photos. Happy cooking and naneelokh! 🙂

      Reply
  19. Anonymous

    April 2, 2017 at 3:46 am

    Can I just say how much I love your blog and how awesome these recipes are? You.are.wonderful!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Pauline

      April 2, 2017 at 2:38 pm

      Thank you so much Jacqueline! I’m really glad you’re enjoying the recipes. Thanks again for the very kind words.

      Reply

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Welcome! I’m Kathryn Pauline, recipe developer and photographer here at Cardamom and Tea, where I hope you’ll find something delicious to make.

Every couple weeks I share a brand new recipe inspired by seasonal produce, community, and the Middle Eastern food I grew up with.

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I’m currently working on my first cookbook, A Dish for All Seasons, with Chronicle Books, available in 2022.

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