14 Delicious Recipes That Use Dates, From Appetizers to Desserts

Try these wonderful ways to cook with dates, from rise-and-shine breakfasts to decadent after-dinner treats.

Devil's on Horseback
Photo:

Rachel Marek

If you’re not sure when you last ate a date, it’s time to re-acquaint yourself with these underrated dried fruits. Dates are not just a wonderful snack, but they’re also great in all manner of dishes, from appetizers to main courses to desserts. They lend sweetness and depth of flavor, akin to what you find in caramel. When heated, they tend to collapse into a jammy slump that’s just delightful with a range of ingredients, particularly nuts and cheese.

You can use any type of date in the recipes here, but Medjool are especially worth seeking out for their size and softness. No matter what kind you use, there is one thing that makes these breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert recipes special: it’s a date. 

01 of 14

Date Bars

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Yossy Arefi

The addition of lemon zest and apple cider gives the date filling in these bar cookies a bright, fresh taste. And the cinnamon-sugar topping includes oats for a bit of texture.

02 of 14

Roasted Chicken With Dates, Citrus, and Olives

Roasted Chicken with Dates, Citrus, and Olives
Marcus Nilsson

This sweet and tart chicken dinner includes lemon and orange, thyme, green olives, and soft dates. It's a great dish for entertaining, as you can do most of the work ahead of time; and would be delicious served alongside couscous, roasted potatoes, or baguette.

03 of 14

Flourless Chocolate-Date Cake With Salted Caramel Glaze

date-cake_032_d111652.jpg
Marcus Nilsson

Taste this intense cake and you may not immediately know it includes pureed Medjool dates, but they add a wonderfully fudgy texture and sweetness.

04 of 14

Shaved Butternut and Carrot Salad With Dates and Sunflower Seeds

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Ryan Liebe

Dates in salad? Why not. The sweet dried fruit pairs beautifully with thin shavings of butternut squash; carrots; roasted, salted sunflower seeds; and baby arugula.

05 of 14

Vegan Granola Bars

vegan granola bars
Bryan Gardner

These nourishing bars are chock full of goodness, from oats to nuts (pecans and macadamias) to dried fruit (papaya, cherries, blueberries, and dates), not to mention oat bran, flaxseed, and wheat germ.

06 of 14

Date-Pecan Pie

date-nut pie on red table cloth with tea
Johnny Miller

The classic Thanksgiving dessert gets a sublime twist here, with pureed dates introducing an unexpected but welcome note of complexity.

07 of 14

Date Truffles

date truffles seeded cocoa
Bobbi Lin

Date paste (essentially boiled water and dates, blended) combines with almond flour, spices, and cocoa powder for rich truffles. Coat them in chocolate and then roll them in pistachios, coconut, or sesame seeds for an eye-catching and unique treat.

08 of 14

Dates and Blue Cheese

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Sharon Radisch

Four ingredients are worth much more than the sum of their parts in this delicious appetizer, which combines dates, blue cheese, almonds, and honey to marvelous effect.

09 of 14

Lemon-Date Bars

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Marcus Nilsson

These multi-layered bars start with a buttery crust, then a date layer, and finally, a lemon filling. They travel well and serve a crowd, making them a terrific potluck dessert.

10 of 14

Devils on Horseback

Devil's on Horseback

Rachel Marek

This retro party food never disappoints, whether you stick with the classic (wrap cheese- and almond-stuffed dates with bacon and bake) or change them up using any of the varieties offered in our recipe.

11 of 14

Sticky Toffee Pudding With Toffee Sauce

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Toffee Sauce
Johnny Miller

Not really a pudding, and actually more of a cake, sticky toffee pudding is the perfect way to end an elegant meal. This recipe has you soak the dates in coffee instead of water, giving even more dimension to the rich dessert.

12 of 14

Date, Olive, and Goat Cheese Tart

date olive goat cheese tart

Here’s a fun take on a cheese plate: instead of laying out dates, olives, and cheese, bake them onto a puff pastry for an unique hors d’oeuvre.

13 of 14

Dark Chocolate-Walnut Date Bar

dark chocolate walnut date bar
Sidney Bensimon

Consider this a giant homemade candy bar, where a textured mix of walnuts, dates, and peanut butter are layered with dark chocolate. 

14 of 14

Date Bon-Bons With Pistachio Paste

Date Bon-Bons with Pistachio Paste
Justin Walker

An elegant dessert or a sophisticated homemade gift, these treats include pistachios, orange-flower water (or almond or pistachio extract), dates, candied orange peel, and dark chocolate.

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