A Delicious Healthy Sweetener

Today we’re going to make one of the easiest and most delicious things things you will ever make: date paste. It has changed my life! Ok, so maybe I’m being a little dramatic but it has solved a lot of my ‘I wanna be healthy but I need something sweet’ issues.  I’ll admit that I was super skeptical the first time I saw a date; they’re gross looking – all crinkly and brown – but the things are magical. A great lesson in not judging a book by its cover, really :D.

What’s great about dates is their ability to sweeten without adding any other kind of weird flavor. No offense to bananas, they’re great, but using them as a sweetener just gives everything a smashed banana flavor, which isn’t always desirable. Dates just taste sweet. Maybe even a little bit caramel-y, and you won’t catch me complaining about that!

“But wait!” I hear someone yell, “Don’t dates have tons of sugar!? How can they be healthy?” Well, I’m so glad you asked! Dates, like any other fruit, are packed perfectly for us to eat. They’re full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making them a beneficial part of any nutrition plan.  This is pretty much the opposite situation we get into when we look at processed sugar that’s completely devoid of any nutritional value.

Date Paste SugarySixPack.com

So, now that I’ve made dates seem like the best thing the world has to offer, here’s the super easy recipe for date paste!

What You’ll Need:

20 Dates (pitted)

Cashew Milk (or milk of your choice/water)

A food processor or blender

 

What to Do:

Put all your dates in the processor and blend them until they won’t move anymore.

Gradually add your liquid and push the dates down. Continue to do this until you reach the desired consistency.

The paste will eventually turn nicely caramel colored and smooth. There may be some little specks of the ‘skin’ part but there shouldn’t be any chunks of date.

Be sure to store this in an air tight container in the fridge! I’ve been using a mason jar with a lid.

There’s soo many ways to use this! It can sweeten up your ‘healthier dessert’ recipes, overnight oats, regular oats, be eaten straight out of the jar… Let me know how you use it!

 

Sweat, Smile, Repeat!

xxNiki