Date Sweetener

In my quest to use less refined sugar, I have been experimenting with raw organic agave, honey and maple syrup. However, after a friend gave me a box of Medjool dates, I have found a new culinary gem! These tasty naturally sugary fruits are delicious on their own but when combined in salads, entrees and baked goods, they are amazing! It was when I added it to my smoothie one day, that I thought how wonderful it would be to make a homemade sweetener from this fruit. This could not be any easier with only 3 ingredients and one of them being just plain hot water! Give this recipe a try and this vegan sweetener will come in handy on your gluten free toasts, smoothies or in your baked goods. Enjoy!

Date Sweetener Recipe

Ingredients: Date Sweetener

4 Medjool dates, pitted
1/2 cup of hot water
1/4 teaspoon of organic vanilla extract

Directions

If you don’t have pitted Medjool dates, make a slight cut on the side of the date and remove the pit.
Once the pits are removed from the dates, place all the ingredients into a small sauce pan.
Turn on the stove top to a medium heat and place the sauce pan on the flame.
Let the ingredients come to a quick boil, turn off the flame and set the pan on the side.
You can place the lid on the pan or not… but the ingredients will need to sit for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, the contents of the pan should be cooled. Pour the contents out of the pan and into a blender smoothly, then blend on high for 1-2 minutes.
The result should be a lovely paste that is wonderful for your pancakes, toast or smoothies…Enjoy!

This recipe will make approximately 1/3- 1/4 cup, depending on the size of your dates. If your dates are very small, reduce your water by 2 tablespoons to prevent the paste from being too watery. Store in an air tight container and place in the back of the fridge, this will last to 2 weeks. (You can also freeze any extra that you make in your freezer.)