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Pair Dates with These Foods for a Delicious Snack

Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
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updated May 1, 2019
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Sticky, sweet dates have many wonderful uses. They can be chopped up for a salad, blended into a smoothie, or even made into caramels. They don’t, however, actually need that much fussing to be enjoyed. All on their own, they make for a pretty good snack. Add just one more ingredient to the equation and you’ve got a snack that’s truly great.

Even better, you don’t need to go out of your way to buy anything special. These fancied-up dates call for pantry ingredients that transform the dried fruit into something that not only feels like a treat for yourself, but can also be served to company. Here are seven combinations we love.

1. Dates + Roasted, Salted Almonds

The nuttiness of the almonds brings out the caramel notes in the dates, while the salt on the nuts keeps things balanced. Either stuff the pitted dates with a nut each or leave them out separately to pick at.

2. Dates + Dark Chocolate

Stuff pitted dates with small pieces of good, slightly bitter dark chocolate for a snack that also doubles as dessert. Bonus points if you stick these under the broiler for a minute to melt the chocolate just slightly.

What’s the Difference Between Bacon, Pancetta, and Prosciutto (Image credit: Faith Durand)

3. Dates + Prosciutto

This one is sweet and salty bliss. Wrap pitted dates with thinly sliced prosciutto and try not to eat just one. A chilled glass of white wine goes nicely with this combo.

4. Dates + Soft Cheese

Stuff pitted dates with your soft cheese of choice. For something mild and creamy, go for ricotta. For something a tough tangy, go for goat cheese. Or for something a little wild, go for blue cheese.

5. Dates + Tahini

Set out a handful of pitted dates on a pretty plate, drizzle the pile with a little tahini, and then snack away. You can whisk a little honey or maple syrup and a pinch of salt into that tahini to make it extra perfect.

How to Make the Ultimate Vegan Cashew Cream (Image credit: Lauren Volo)

6. Dates + Cashew Cream

You don’t have to be vegan or dairy-free to appreciate the creamy nuttiness of cashew cream. Blend up a batch at home and then use it as a dip for pitted dates.

7. Dates + Marzipan

This is a classic dessert in many corners of the earth, like Algeria and even Scotland. Stuff pitted dates with a bit of marzipan for a sweet snack or fast and fancy dessert.

What’s your favorite way to eat dates?