It's Dessert Week and we're sharing our favorite simple weeknight treats. One of my own favorite weeknight treats is a simple one that still feels luxurious and grown-up: A plate of oranges and soft dates.
Really good dates are incredibly sweet and rich — much more so than the richest candy you could make. Just one or two dates satisfy my sweet tooth, and followed by a wedge of juicy orange, I'm completely sated after a good meal.
I like to garnish the plate with a little mint for color, and with that, a plate of dates and citrus turns into a very pretty dessert.
This is a very Chez Panisse-esque dessert — the utter simplicity of perfect fruit can make a sophisticated statement at the end of a rich meal. But even without that context, I simply enjoy this sort of sweet, especially the pair of acidic, tangy sweetness from juicy oranges, and the soft, natural taffy caramel of the dates.
Do you ever snack on dates or eat them for dessert? What's your favorite way to serve them?
Related: Barhi Dates: The Fruit That Tastes Like Butterscotch Candy
(Image: Faith Durand)
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Yes! A couple of dates or juicy prunes is my go-to weeknight snack after dinner. It signifies the end to my meal and my evening.
similarly, but different, I've been enjoying a bit of bittersweet dark chocolate and a sweet Texas ruby red grapefruit every night for most of the winter while the latter has been in season. either that or a blood orange, when they were around. so good.
I sometimes have a couple prunes and almonds with a small piece of chocolate.
Frozen bahri dates = nature's perfect caramel candy
I live in San Diego where fresh dates are available year round. I have become ridiculously spoiled. They are so soft and amazing here. I never knew I liked dates before moving here! Now, I never want to leave. :)
I love to chop some pecans and mix with a little salt. Then stuff the dates and enjoy! It has a bit of a pecan pie taste!
Medjool dates are like candy for me. Which reminds me, we're all out.
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There is nothing better than dates stuffed with cream cheese. Yum! Put any kind of nut in it if you want some crunch.
A friend with Swiss grandparents always ate a "salad" of supremed oranges, dates, and mint after heavy fondue dinners. So perfect.
I warm up a mug of rice milk with some cut up dates at the bottom. The dates flavor the rice milk, and also become almost caramel-y gooey. A nice warm treat during cold Scottish winters