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Home » Sauces » Simple Homemade Date Syrup

Simple Homemade Date Syrup

Published: Jun 15, 2021 · Modified: Mar 21, 2023 by Gigi & Sersie

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This Simple Homemade Date Syrup is used in sauces and dressings to counterbalance spices, and other savory or umami tastes in whole plant foods. It's also used in desserts, like the Perfect Little Peach Cobblers—where it's combined with ground-rolled oats and cinnamon to provide the cobbler filing for fresh peaches.

side view close up of simple homemade date syrup in a small white bowl sitting on a marble surface, with dates and a container of syrup blurred in the background
homemade date syrup is a whole plant food staple that goes in dozens of recipes, both sweet and savory

This Simple Homemade Date Syrup recipe is slightly modified from Dr. Michael Greger's How Not to Die Cookbook.

This date syrup has only 2 key ingredients

  1. Dates, pitted (Medjool dates are recommended)
  2. Fresh lemon juice
top view of ingredients to make homemade date syrup: dates and lemon juice
The key ingredients for simple homemade date syrup: dates (Medjool) and fresh lemon juice.

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.

  1. If necessary, remove pits from dates.
  2. Place pitted dates into a small pot with water.
  3. Turn on the stovetop to medium-high heat, and bring to a gentle boil.
  4. Put a lid on and turn off the heat.
  5. 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.
  6. Carefully remove dates with tongs and put them into a mini blender.
  7. Pour the cooking water into the same blender and add fresh lemon juice.
  8. Blend until smooth, about 30 to 45 seconds. You may need to shake the contents and blend again if it gets stuck.

This date syrup stores well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

two hands removing a pit from a date
Remove pits from dates.
water being poured into a pot with dates to make homemade date syrup
Add dates to a small pot with water.
water with dates have come to a boil in a small pot
Bring to a gentle boil.
stainless steel pot on a stove with a lid on
Cover, turn off the heat, and let sit for 30 minutes.
dates are being transferred from the small pot with water to a mini blender
Carefully transfer dates to a blender.
the water the dates were cooked in is being poured into the blender with the dates and lemon juice
Add the water to the blender along with lemon juice.
blended homemade date syrup in a red mini blender
Blend dates with water and lemon juice until smooth.

Being intentional about making date syrup

I'll be brutally honest with you. When I thought about adding 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.

top view close up of simple homemade date syrup on a marble surface with loose dates
this date syrup is not filtered, so it contains the fiber from whole dates

Frequently Asked Questions

Is date syrup healthy?

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.

What is date syrup used for?

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.

How long does date syrup keep?

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.

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!

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top view close up of homemade date syrup in a small white bowlwith loose dates next to it

Simple Homemade Date Syrup


★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Gigi & Sersie
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 10 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This homemade date syrup is a beautiful natural sweetener for desserts, smoothies, sauces, and dressings. It helps to use a small blender to make this simple pure date syrup. #datesyrup #naturalsweetener #puredatesyrup


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup pitted dates (about 10-12 dates)
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ tsp lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Remove pits from dates.
  2. Place pitted dates into a small pot with water.
  3. Turn the stovetop on to medium-high and bring to a gentle boil.
  4. Put a lid on and turn off the heat.
  5. 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.
  6. Carefully remove dates with tongs and put them into a mini blender.
  7. Pour water into the same blender and add fresh lemon juice.
  8. Blend until smooth, about 30 to 45 seconds. You may need to shake the contents and blend again if it gets stuck.

This date syrup stores well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Notes

EQUIPMENT / SUPPLIES

  1. Measuring cup
  2. Small pot with lid
  3. Mini-blender
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Sauces
  • Method: Stovetop

Keywords: date syrup, dates, water, lemon, vegan, daniel fast recipes, daniel fast compliant, plant based, whole food, low fat, soy free, gluten free, nut free, natural sweetener

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us @danielsplaterecipes — we can't wait to see what you've made!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Paula Valentine

    March 22, 2022 at 2:45 pm

    In the instructions, there’s no mention of when to add the lemon juice.

    Reply
    • Gigi & Sersie

      March 22, 2022 at 8:02 pm

      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. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Utang

    October 03, 2022 at 8:24 pm

    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.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. S Joyce

    January 07, 2023 at 12:14 am

    Good info on nutrition as well as fast implications.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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Hi, we are Sersie and Gigi. Every decision we make about the delicious recipes here on Daniel's Plate is based on health first. We focus on whole plant foods that help restore health and prevent chronic illnesses so you can live out your purpose with excellence.

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