Sweet. Salty. Satisfying. These Salted Almond Butter Stuffed Dates cure all those sweet cravings with only THREE ingredients (including salt) and less than 5 minutes of your precious time. The easiest dessert “recipe” you’ll ever make!
Jump to Recipe
Dates are pure food magic and I’m still upset at the world for not teaching me about them sooner. They’re technically a fruit that comes from the date palm, but they taste like CANDY. I love this Bon Appetit article on dates – full of food humor while also informative. My kind of read.
Of course, dates are still full of natural sugars (probably more than any other fruit). They’re very high calorie, but they can still be enjoyed in moderation by nearly anyone with any eating lifestyle. They’re technically even allowed on the Whole30 program!
Dates have been making their way into my baking for a while now – they’re the perfect addition when you need to sweeten AND make something stick together. They can also sweeten smoothies, baked goods, even savory dishes, all while not adding any processed sugar whatsoever (see? magic).
I’ve made things like these 2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie Balls, these Fruit Sweetened Mini Pumpkin Pies, and these Pecan Pie Stuffed Oatmeal Breakfast Cups. But these Salted Almond Butter Stuffed Dates are by far the easiest thing I’ve done with dates outside of just eating them plain 😎
What’s so good about these salted almond butter stuffed dates?
- taste – these things taste like a snickers or something else equally as desserty
- ingredients – just TWO plus the salt, can’t get any easier than that
- quick – you can go from ingredients to dessert in your mouth in two minutes or less
- almost any diet friendly – vegan, dairy free, Whole30, paleo, you name it, as long as your almond butter is just almonds & salt and you aren’t stuffing your face with ten of these a day, they work for anyone!
What kind of dates do you use?
For this “recipe”, I recommend using medjool dates, with the pits still inside. Medjool dates are the biggest and the softest of all the date varieties – AKA perfect for stuffing and eating.
In my personal experience, pitted dates are often a bit more dry and less soft – still delicious, but not the best choice for eating plain.
You’ll have to remove the pits before you stuff the dates, but it’s super simple. You’ll have to cut open the date to stuff it anyway, so removing the pit is a quick extra 5 second task. Worth it for a 10x juicier date, in my opinion.
What kind of almond butter do you use?
My recommendation is to use Trader Joe’s Creamy Almond Butter – this is the BEST almond butter around, in my opinion.
I haven’t tried them all, but Minimalist Baker basically has, and they agree! Read their Store-Bought Almond Butter Review here!
If you can’t get Trader Joe’s brand, here’s what to look for in your almond butter:
- TWO INGREDIENTS: Should be roasted almonds and salt only. This keeps it healthier and ensures there’s no extra sugar or additives. Extra added oil is not necessary.
- CREAMY VS CRUNCHY: This is up to your preference, but I always prefer creamy! Best texture and taste in my opinion. Stuffs into dates well. Extra drippy and delicious.
How do you remove the pit from the dates?
- Use a small knife to slice the date lengthwise down the middle.
- Use your fingers to open up the date (but don’t pull the halves apart).
- Remove the pit. Easy!
For this date “recipe”, I prefer to use dates that come with the pit still inside. Since we’re stuffing the date, you want there to be some extra room inside for the almond butter to fit. When the pit is removed, it leaves a perfect little spot for stuffing.
Recipe Variations for these Almond Butter Stuffed Dates:
This “recipe” is just a starting place! Here are some ideas to try if you want to take your dessert Stuffed Dates to the next level:
- switch out the almond butter for peanut butter or another nut butter
- drizzle with melted chocolate
- stuff with whole almonds instead of almond butter (lazy version)
- stuff with whipped cream cheese and top with a strawberry slice (fancy version)
More dessert ideas from Project Meal Plan:
Salted Almond Butter Stuffed Dates
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: No Cook
Description
These Salted Almond Butter Stuffed Dates cure all those sweet cravings with only THREE ingredients (including salt) and less than 5 minutes of your precious time. The easiest dessert “recipe” you’ll ever make!
Ingredients
- 4 large soft medjool dates
- 2 tablespoons creamy almond butter (Trader Joe’s is the best)
- pinch of sea salt or kosher salt
Instructions
- Remove the pits: Use a small knife to slice the dates lengthwise down the middle. Use your fingers to open up the date (but don’t pull the halves apart) and remove the pit.
- Stuff the dates: Add about 1/2 tablespoon almond butter to each date and sprinkle with a small pinch of salt to taste.
Notes
Salt: The salt is optional and can be added based on your preference to bring out the sweetness of the dates. Use any kind except table salt. If your almond butter is salted, you may not need to add salt. Almond Butter: I prefer to use Trader Joe’s brand Creamy Almond Butter. It has the best taste for the price. If you can’t get Trader Joe’s brand, you can make your own or use a brand that has only almonds and salt as the ingredients. Dates: Use large, soft medjool dates for the best texture and taste. I use the brand Natural Delights which I buy at Costco.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 stuffed dates
- Calories: 235
- Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 5g
I want to see your almond butter stuffed dates! How do you make them at home? Tag me in your social media post so I can see it, or use #projectmealplan to share with me!
