This simple Homemade Date Syrup is used in desserts, as well as sauces and dressings to counterbalance spices and other savory or umami tastes in whole plant foods.
The benefit of using this date syrup as a natural sweetener
Dates are a natural source of potassium, a mineral that helps lower blood pressure and improve heart function. This date syrup is a natural sweetener, and not considered "added sugar." This is because dates are fruit, and this recipe blends them with water. So, none of the fiber has been removed. Adding a small amount of chopped dates or date syrup to sweeten meals like oat groats, for example, won't spike blood sugar like adding processed white or brown sugar. That's because of the fiber content in dates. Finally, dates contain flavinoids, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor benefits.
If you want a quick sweet treat, try pairing sliced apple with a walnut or pecan and ½ of a date. It tastes like a caramel apple!
This Simple Homemade Date Syrup recipe is slightly modified from Dr. Michael Greger's How Not to Die Cookbook.
What you need to make homemade date syrup
- Dates, pitted (Medjool dates are recommended)
- Fresh lemon juice
This date syrup recipe is used in several desserts like the Healthy Peach Cobblers—where it's combined with ground-rolled oats and cinnamon to provide the cobbler filling for fresh peaches. Several sauces and dressings use this date syrup recipe, including our healthy balsamic vinaigrette and vegan peanut sauce. As for breakfast recipes, the carrot cake baked oatmeal also uses this date syrup as its primary source of sweetener, along with raisins.
How to make homemade date syrup
When making this recipe, it helps to have a Magic Bullet, NutriBullet, or other similar small, high-speed blender.
- If necessary, remove pits from dates.
- Place pitted dates into a small pot with water.
- Turn on the stovetop to medium-high heat, and bring to a gentle boil.
- Put a lid on and turn off the heat.
- Let sit covered for 30 minutes while dates continue to soften and cool to room temperature or lukewarm. Make sure dates aren't hot, because it creates pressure in the mini blender.
- Carefully remove dates with tongs and put them into a mini blender.
- Pour the cooking liquid into the same blender and add fresh lemon juice.
- Blend until smooth, about 30 to 45 seconds. If the mixture gets stuck, shake it and blend again.
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For a thinner consistency, add a tablespoon or two of water. To make it thicker, you'd need to add another date or two. Soak the additional dates in hot water for at least five minutes to soften, then add it to the blender and reblend it until you've achieved the desired consistency.
This date syrup stores well in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Being intentional about making date syrup
I'll be brutally honest with you. When I thought about adding date syrup to the blog, I had mixed feelings. With so many people who struggle with sugar addiction, and the Daniel Fast not including "natural" sweeteners like stevia, maple syrup, and agave—it just seemed like a fine line to me. However, it comes down to intentionality and ingredients.
Making this date syrup requires intentional hands-on preparation. Specifically, removing the pits from the dates. Then, measure the water and simmer the dates. Finally, add fresh lemon juice and, blend all ingredients into a smooth consistency.
Processed store-bought sweeteners made in a manufacturing plant will sit on store shelves for weeks and months. Sadly, they perpetuate the auto-pilot problem many of us have struggled with when trying to break habits that don't serve us. Instead, this date syrup is made with fresh whole plant food ingredients—with fiber and other nutrients intact. In case you're wondering about store-bought date syrup... those options filter out the rich fiber in dates, so homemade is definitely best.
Recipe FAQs
Date syrup, when made from scratch, is among the healthiest sweeteners you can use. For starters, dates are an excellent source of potassium, and a good source of magnesium and Vitamin B6. Eating dates doesn't produce the high blood sugar spikes found in processed sugar. Also, making it from scratch retains all the beneficial fiber naturally found in this nutritious fruit.
Date syrup is a great way to sweeten desserts like Crustless Vegan Sweet Potato Pie, Amazing Cherry Oat Pizza, Best Chocolate Hummus, as well as the Perfect Little Peach Cobblers. It's also used in smoothies, like the Perfect Pear and Kale Smoothie. Date syrup can also help to counterbalance flavors such as spicy heat, such as the Yummy Raw Taco Salad. Some sauces, such as the Best Homemade BBQ Sauce, and Creamy Tahini Ginger Dressing also contain date syrup.
This recipe is so easy. I don't recommend trying to preserve date syrup for long periods. Instead, consider making a container as part of your meal prep once a week or every other week. If you find you're not using it as quickly, consider making half a batch next time. Either way, homemade date syrup stores fine in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Dates have a sweet caramel flavor. They're not as sweet as maple syrup or agave, but they provide enough sweetness for making healthy and delicious whole-food, plant-based recipes.
We hope you love this Simple Homemade Date Syrup recipe. Please rate and leave a comment below. Be sure to share a picture on Instagram and tag us @danielsplaterecipes so we can see your creation!
Simple Homemade Date Syrup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates about 10-12 dates
- 1 cup water
- ½ tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- When making this recipe, it helps to have a Magic Bullet, NutriBullet, or other similar small, high-speed blender.
- If necessary, remove pits from dates.
- Place pitted dates into a small pot with water.
- Turn on the stovetop to medium-high heat, and bring to a gentle boil.
- Put a lid on and turn off the heat.
- Let sit covered for 30 minutes while dates continue to soften and cool to room temperature or lukewarm. Make sure dates aren't hot, because it creates pressure in the mini blender.
- Carefully remove dates with tongs and put them into a mini blender.
- Pour the cooking liquid into the same blender and add fresh lemon juice.
- Blend until smooth, about 30 to 45 seconds. If the mixture gets stuck, shake it and blend again.
- For a thinner consistency, add a tablespoon or two of water. To make it thicker, you'd need to add another date or two. Soak the additional dates in hot water for at least five minutes to soften, then add it to the blender and reblend it until you've achieved the desired consistency.
- This date syrup stores well in an airtight container or mason jar for up to two weeks.
Notes
EQUIPMENT / SUPPLIES
- Measuring cup
- Small pot with lid
- Mini-blender
Marsia says
What is the purpose of the lemon juice? I have a citrus allergy.
Gigi & Sersie says
The acid from the lemon juice brightens the flavor of the date syrup. But you can leave it out.
Rebecca says
This is an essential recipe for me. I make it every week. It keeps well in the fridge. I use it anytime I need a sugar substitute. It works well in baked goodies.
Gigi & Sersie says
Thank you for your feedback, Rebecca. We're so glad it's a regular in your rotation.
Susan says
My go-to sweetener even when I'm not doing the Daniel Fast. I make it almost weekly.
Tinie says
I just made this and it is fantastic!
S Joyce says
Good info on nutrition as well as fast implications.
Utang says
This is a staple for me at this point. I use it in the recipes here and sometimes in a cheeky peanut butter and date syrup sandwich! So yummy. I make this in large quantity so it goes a long way.
Paula Valentine says
In the instructions, there’s no mention of when to add the lemon juice.
Gigi & Sersie says
Hi Paula. It's listed as step 7 on the recipe card. I'll update this to make it more clear with a video. Thanks for your comment. 🙂