Chocolate Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates

Make a decadent chocolate treat with these peanut butter stuffed dates! They’re a delicious sweet treat that’s nutritious and made with Medjool dates, natural peanut butter, and nuts. This is a make-ahead snack or dessert! The best part – no baking & no special equipment needed!

this RECIPE

Who knew that dates could taste so good? 

Like really, they are some magical caramel-like, sticky gems that are so nutritious for you and can be the perfect little dessert treat you’re looking for when you’re in the mood for something sweet.

These chewy dates can even be a perfect healthier option as a dessert treat during the holiday season!

When you have sweet Medjool dates paired with creamy, smooth nut butter, is an addictive combination match made in heaven. 

These vegan peanut butter stuffed dates are a great alternative, you would even think you’re eating a healthy version of a snickers bar!

The best part of this these peanut butter dates is that it’s not baked! You simply gather a few main ingredients together with a little bit (or a lot!) of peanut butter or your favorite kind of nut butter, and you’re good to go!

As a student studying nutrition, I want to dive right in and share with you the health benefits of these peanut butter dates that are a delicious healthy snack idea.

You’ll love this recipe because it’s:

• The perfect snack: Have you ever had a sweet craving but you just wanted it in a snack form? Well, this is the perfect recipe for you! With these peanut butter stuffed dates, you satisfy your sweet tooth in an instant without feeling like you’ve over-indulged.

• Uses whole foods: With the exception of dark chocolate, in this recipe, you’re using whole foods that you can normally find in your local grocery store – no special ingredients here! If you are needing to find whole dates, you can easily find them online or at an international grocery store.

• Easy to make your own version: These chocolate peanut butter stuffed dates are so easy to customize! There are many different ways to make this into many new recipes you and your family will enjoy.

Ingredients & Substitutions:

• Medjool dates: A native of the middle east, Medjool dates have natural sugars that are similar in taste to caramel. They are larger than regular dates and pack a punch in nutritional value! Medjools are seen as fresh fruit and are typically found in the produce section of your local grocery store. These dates are rich in insoluble fiber which can help with constipation and antioxidants such as phenolic acids and flavonoids. As an alternative to Medjool dates, you can use Deglet dates these dates tend to be smaller and slightly less sweet, but still has the same nutritional value as Medjool dates.

• Natural Peanut Butter: I used natural peanut butter in this recipe as the Medjool dates themselves are pretty sweet, I wanted to lessen the amount of sugar consumed. Natural peanut butter is where the healthy fats come in and are made without the addition of added sugar, oils, and salt to name a few. Natural peanut butter has a tendency to have the oil separate on top but not to worry! A good stir will combine it together again. Here, you can use crunchy peanut butter, smooth peanut butter, almond butter, or any alternative nut butters.

• Nuts: I used walnuts and chopped almonds in this recipe but you can use any nuts you like! The nuts help gives a nice crunchy surprise to this delicious treat and also help to provide additional healthy fats. If you are monitoring your fat intake, you can simply omit to add nuts here.  

• Shredded Coconut: Adding coconut helps to enhance the nuttiness of the nut butter used and contains small amounts of B vitamins and minerals and the oils from coconut absorb directly into your body to be used for energy.

• Dark Chocolate: This recipe gets topped off with a good drizzle of melted dark chocolate melted over a double-boiler. Dark chocolate has many health benefits: the higher the cocoa percentage (70-85 percent), the more dark chocolate provides you with rich antioxidant properties and may improve vascular heart health. As an alternative, you can also use raw cacao nibs or dairy-free mini chocolate chips.

• Vegan Butter & Plant-based Milk: Although not shown in the photo, I used these two ingredients to make a ‘cheaters’ version of a chocolate ganache. A gananche is a silky, shiny, smooth chocolate that you can use as a dip, spread, or topping. I used a small amount of each in the melted chocolate to help make the spread easy to drizzle over the stuffed dates.

Tips:

• When buying Medjool dates, look for ones that are large, plump in texture, and have a nice dark rich, caramel-like color to them.

• Medjool dates have a stone in the center. To remove the pit, you can make a small slice to the side of the date or break the date open with your fingers and gently remove it.

• If using runny nut butter, make sure to create an open cavity in the center of the date so your peanut butter has a place to remain.

• If melting your dark chocolate over a double boiler, keep the water simmering low & be careful that no water or steam gets inside your chocolate, or else it’ll seize and become hard and too thick to use.

Instructions:

Gather all ingredients and line a small baking tray with parchment paper.

Chop your dark chocolate bar into chunks and add to a microwave-safe bowl with your plant-based milk & microwave at 30 seconds intervals and stir until all chocolate is melted. If your melted chocolate is not of a runny consistency, add in more plant-based milk and microwave again & stir, then add in your vegan butter and stir again until it becomes smooth & shiny. Set aside.

Remove the center stone from your dates by making a small slit on the side of the date or by breaking open the date and discarding the pit. 

Spoon a bit of your peanut butter into the center cavity of your date and top it off with your chopped nuts and coconut flakes.

Drizzle your melted chocolate ganache over your stuffed dates and place it in the freezer for 30 minutes or until the chocolate has solidified.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are dates even healthy, especially with all that sugar?

Even though dates are 80 percent sugar, if consumed daily, they actually have no adverse effects on blood sugar levels according to this study, and have amazing antioxidant properties, fiber, copper, and magnesium. If you are concerned about the sugar content, you can consume dates in moderation if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Are dates with peanut butter healthy?

Yes, dates with peanut butter are very healthy together. Fats in the peanut butter not only provide you with a healthy dose of Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, and niacin but the fats, fiber, and proteins in the peanut butter also help to slow down the absorption of carbs (sugars) into the bloodstream.

Are dates healthier than chocolate?

Dates and chocolate are both unique in their own nutritional value. Dates are a great source of fiber, minerals, and antioxidants, and the higher the percentage in dark chocolate, the more antioxidant effects it provides. It all depends on your preference, but I say combine them both to get the best bang for your health!

Storage & Freezing

Storing: You can store your delicious sweet treats in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days is where I find the best.

Freezing: Once you make your stuffed dates and the chocolate has hardened, you can place them in a freezer-safe bag and freeze them for up to a month.

So here’s how to make your Chocolate Drizzled Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates! 

---

Did You Make This Recipe?

Share your comments below or better yet, take a photo and tag @wildandwhelm on Instagram and use the hashtag #wildandwhelmmade — I can’t wait to see what you’ve made so I can feature you on my page!

---

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.ca. Read my full disclosure here.