Looking for a sweet treat that's indulgent yet healthy? These Chocolate Covered Dates have you covered. These dates are stuffed with almond butter, dipped in rich dark chocolate, and sprinkled with a hint of sea salt, for the perfect balance of decadent and nourishing. They are sure to be your new go-to snack or dessert!
These Chocolate Covered Dates are made with just a handful of wholesome ingredients. This makes them a simple yet satisfying treat you can feel good about. Dates offer natural sweetness and a caramel-like texture. These delicious fruits originate from the Middle East and North Africa, where they've been cultivated for thousands of years as a staple food. In this Chocolate Covered Date recipe, the dates are stuffed with almond butter for a creamy filling packed with healthy fats and plant-based protein. Then, they are dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with a touch of sea salt for a delightful contrast.
Additionally, these treats are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, making them an excellent option for anyone following a gluten-free, paleo, or dairy-free lifestyle. They're also vegetarian and can easily be adapted for vegan diets by choosing vegan-friendly chocolate. Whether youāre snacking, gifting, or serving these as a dessert, theyāre sure to impress!
Looking for other healthy dessert recipes your family will love? Try my Vegan Avocado Chocolate Mousse, Edible Protein Cookie Dough or my Healthy Bananas Foster.
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Ingredients
Here's what you need to make Chocolate Covered Dates:
- Coconut oil - Coconut oil helps thin out the melted chocolate, giving it a smooth, glossy finish thatās perfect for coating the dates. Look for virgin or refined coconut oil in the baking aisle or health foods section of most grocery stores.
- Coarse sea salt - Find it in the spice aisle or near the specialty salts in your local grocery store.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips - Semi-sweet chocolate chips are the perfect balance of rich chocolate flavor with just enough sweetness. Look for high-quality options in the baking aisle and check the label for dairy-free or vegan options if needed.
- Almond butter - Choose natural almond butter for the best flavor. It can be found near the peanut butter in most stores.
- Dates - I recommend Medjool dates for their size and caramel-like flavor. Look for fresh Medjool dates in the produce section, often near the dried fruits or packaged in clamshell containers or find ordinary dried dates by the dried fruit.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Chocolate Covered Dates
1. Use your fingers to gently pry open each pitted date and place them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
2. Spread about 1 teaspoon of almond butter inside each date.
3. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each, until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.
4. Using a fork, dip each almond butter-stuffed date into the melted chocolate, turning to coat it evenly and letting the excess chocolate drip off. Place the dipped dates back onto the parchment-lined sheet pan and sprinkle each one with a touch of coarse sea salt while the chocolate is still wet. Refrigerate the dates for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate is firm. Once set, theyāre ready to enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Hint: If your almond butter is too runny to stay inside the dates, pop it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to firm up slightly before using it. This makes stuffing the dates much easier!
Substitutions
Want to substitute an ingredient in Chocolate Covered Dates? Here's how:
- Dates - If you donāt have Medjool dates, Deglet Noor dates are a smaller, less sweet alternative. Just make sure to pit them before using if they're not already pitted.
- Almond butter - An equal amount of any nut or seed butter can be used in place of almond butter. Try peanut butter for a classic flavor or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips - An equal amount of dark chocolate chips or chunks can be used in place of the semi-sweet for a richer flavor. White chocolate can also be used for a sweeter twist.
- Coconut oil - An equal amount of butter, ghee, or any neutral oil (like avocado oil) can be used instead of coconut oil to help smooth out the chocolate.
- Coarse sea salt - Flaky salt like Maldon or even a pinch of Kosher salt or regular table salt will work if you donāt have coarse sea salt. Just use less to avoid over-salting.
Variations
Try one of these variations of Chocolate Dates:
- Nut-Free - Swap the almond butter with sunflower seed butter or another nut-free butter of your choice. Make sure to check that your chocolate chips are nut-free as well, as some may contain traces of nuts.
- Dairy-free - Opt for dairy-free chocolate chips or dark chocolate, which typically contains no milk products. Ensure your almond butter and coconut oil are free of any dairy additives.
- Vegan - Use dairy-free chocolate chips (or dark chocolate that contains no milk) and make sure the almond butter is free of any animal-derived ingredients. The rest of the ingredients are naturally vegan!
- Low-Carb/ Keto - Use a no-sugar-added dark chocolate or sugar-free chocolate chips. Also opt for almond butter or a sugar-free nut butter. Be mindful of the carb content in the dates and adjust portions as necessary.
- Paleo - Ensure that your chocolate chips are dairy-free and sugar-free. Also, choose a natural almond butter that contains only almonds (no added sugars or oils) and use coconut oil as your fat source for an authentic paleo twist.
- Gluten-Free - This recipe is naturally gluten-free but always double-check that your chocolate chips and almond butter are labeled gluten-free to ensure they havenāt been cross-contaminated during processing.
Equipment
This equipment comes in handy when making Chocolate Covered Almond Butter Stuffed Dates:
- Sheet Pan - A sheet pan lined with parchment paper provides a non-stick surface for placing the dates while they set.
- Parchment Paper - Parchment paper ensures that the chocolate-covered dates donāt stick to the pan while cooling, making it easier to remove them once the chocolate has set.
- Microwave-Safe Bowl - A microwave-safe bowl is needed to melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Use one that is large enough to dip the dates in, ensuring an even coating of chocolate.
- Fork - You need a fork for dipping the dates into the melted chocolate and turning them to coat evenly without getting your fingers messy.
- Refrigerator - A fridge or freezer is essential for setting the chocolate after dipping. The dates need time in the fridge to firm up the chocolate and give them the perfect texture.
Storage
Store these chocolate-covered dates in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
If you'd like to keep them longer, they can be frozen for up to three months. To thaw, simply place them in the fridge for a few hours before enjoying or let them sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes.
Top tip
For an extra smooth chocolate coating, make sure to let the melted chocolate cool slightly before dipping the datesāthis will help prevent it from becoming too runny. Additionally, for a more polished look, you can dip the dates twice in chocolate for a thicker layer.
FAQ
Yes, you can use other types of dates like Deglet Noor, but Medjool dates are preferred for their soft texture and rich sweetness. If using a firmer date, you may need to soften them slightly by soaking them in warm water for a few minutes.
To reduce the sweetness, use a darker chocolate with a higher cocoa content, such as 85% or 90%. You can also reduce or skip the sea salt topping if you want a more subtle flavor.
Absolutely! These chocolate-covered dates store well in the fridge for up to two weeks, so feel free to make them ahead of time. They also freeze well, allowing you to prepare them up to three months in advance.
Yes! Get creative by adding crushed nuts, shredded coconut, or even a drizzle of caramel over the chocolate coating for extra flavor and texture.
Related
Looking for other easy dessert recipes like this Chocolate Covered Dates recipe? Try these:
Pairing
Serve these Chocolate Covered Dates as a sweet ending to one of these dinner recipes:
Recipe
Chocolate Covered Dates
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz dates
- Ā½ cup almond butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Use your fingers to gently pry open each pitted date and place them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
- Spread about 1 teaspoon of almond butter inside each date.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each, until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.
- Using a fork, dip each almond butter-stuffed date into the melted chocolate, turning to coat it evenly. Place the coated dates back onto the parchment-lined sheet pan and sprinkle each one with a touch of coarse sea salt while the chocolate is still wet. Refrigerate the dates for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate is firm. Once set, theyāre ready to enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Shannon
I canāt stop eating these!