I love dates.
This week is date week with Meatless Monday A-Z.
We are currently in Sonoma – we have actually been out of town on vacation since before last week’s caperberry cocktail party. Having no kitchen available all week, the only thing I’d be able to show you with dates is that photo above – my typical snack of peanut butter stuffed dates.
So this week’s #mmaz is a sweet roundup of sweets – date style.
triple berry layered cheesecake
Last but certainly not in any way ever least, my raw apple cobbler. I make this all the time, and will update with recipe variations soon. Once you have made this a couple few times, you will find there are a few simple minutes and steps between you and a light, fresh and amazing dessert or snack.
Caramely, crunchy, cheerfully combined.
What are your favorite ways to use dates?
{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
I really forget about dates. So many different ways to use them too.
I always have them in the house… so versatile, yes, but as I was compiling these recipes I noticed I don’t have any savory date recipes… I need to get on that, obviously.
I usually just eat them plain, but I forgot about your tahini almond ball things. When I saw that recipe the first time, I was excited because I actually had all the ingredients already. Did I make them? No, as five seconds later I forgot. Thanks for the reminder!
oh, yes – make those soon, Abby! I love the tahini and date flavors together… meant to be.
You turned me on to pb stuffed dates and I am absolutely addicted. Actually I can’t have pb right now, so I’ve been using sunbutter. Not as good, but I’m still addicted.
aww, yay – that makes me so happy to know it is all my fault
sunbutter just isn’t the same, right? glad you are still enjoying them, though!
Love them all and I love dates and can’t wait to get back home and have a few! They are no where to be found here, but hey, price I’ve been willing to pay
heh, yeah… you poor thing
Yum, I loved that raw apple cobbler. I’ve made the recipe a couple of times. Hope you’re having a great little getaway
so happy you like it, Leanne – that makes me smile big
I freaking LOVE dates. My mom used to make a quick easy app just by stuffing them with peanut butter or cream cheese. so good! hehe! I need you to live here and make these for me. OR start your own online store. seriously.
yes, SO good, so easy. then wrap the cream cheese dates in bacon? yeah… I really should look into that store thing. it would be SO much fun…
i just love dates – thanks for the reminder about dates w/peanut butter mmmm that looked so good!
Sticky toffee pudding is my favorite way to eat dates though! sooooooooooo good!
oh man, I know I’ve seen you talk about this before. sticky toffee pudding are three words that absolutely go together.
i just discovered the wonders that dates can do! i am a true believer now:) haha
aren’t they just awesome? glad you have discovered this, Caralyn!
I have recently become obsessed with these date bars.
http://luvwhatyoudo.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/date-energy-bars/
They are so easy to make and everywhere I bring them, people love them!
Do you cater? I never seem to get past the nut butter stuffed dates. They are such an easy meal! Plus, nobody around here shares my food much. Reason enough to make the cheesecake though!
haa, yes, then you can enjoy the whole cake yourself? (love where my mind goes first…) oh, if you made the cake others would of course eat it, right?
Actually. The only ones they’ll eat involve fudge and caramelly pecans, aka from ForkandBeans contest. So if I make cake, it’s all mine, usually eaten frozen because I freeze slices to ration it and then eat it anyway, frozen. I’m a Very Naughty Girl one moreover who needs cashews and layered cake!
haa haa, you and I? would get along Just Fine!
Yes. This is why we’re moving Texas next to the floating trash heap. The weather and access to fresh produce are just added pluses.
M makes your date tahini balls all the time, we love those!
YAAAY <3
Oh my gosh, these look so delicious! I love dates so I’m totally gonna try them!
thanks, Kathryn!
the first picture is great. you managed to make a date look really juicy not all dried and bug-like as they sometimes do in pics.
thanks, Bitt! yeah, they don’t always look pretty, but their awesomeness makes up for that
Hey, nothing wrong with a simple date+butter! Simple is sometimes best. Although, yeah, simple has itself a challenge with all your other recipes–I’ll take one of each, please
most of these are simple too, Allie! make them when you can do fruit again… (LOVED your take on “date”)
I always have Medjool dates in my pantry. They are so delicious. I have to make this raw apple cobbler pronto – looks amazing!
I always do too, Alyssa – they’re my favorite. I hope you do make the cobbler – it is SO good, and fun to make
I just need to get some Lucuma powder – that is something I haven’t used yet but am excited to experiment with
I love lucuma, and use it quite a bit. earthy sweet flavor.
I throw dates into my protein shakes mostly, but love them all alone! I need to coat those suckers in peanut butter asap! All of this looks so good! Oh and I want that cheesecake. I’ll be right over if you promise to make it! It would so be worth the plane ticket!
ahhhh, seeing you would be worth the plane ticket!!! < -- you know I mean it because I rarely use multiple exclamation... ;) I need to add dates to our smoothies more - done, tomorrow morning this is happening!
Dates are the best. I really need to buy them more often to have by themselves instead of only getting them when they’re called for a recipe.
I started out buying them for recipes, and if I didn’t make that recipe right away, I’d have to buy more because I would eat too many! now I always have them on hand, for both
these all look amazing! the one I want right now? the triple berry layered cheesecake…
we used to stuff our dates and coconut oil as our preworkout run snack. loved it, so simple and yummy
sometimes all I can do is a pb-date before working out – they work well!
thats not fair, how can i choose just one recipe to make this week? I need them all. Man alive you are so talented!!
thank you, dear! XO
Mmmm, I really would like to nom this apple cobbler soon… let me have a guess on the ingredients: granny smith apple, dates and nuts (probably walnuts) and apple sauce? Cannot wait for the actual recipe to come up
hi Ksenija! all of the recipes are linked below each photo… the apple cobbler is already up – here it is: raw apple cobbler and you were pretty close on the ingredients!
Mmmmmm – these all look awesome! And I’m jealous of your vacation, I’m in countdown mode for our vacation next week.
woo hoo! you guys will have a fantastic time!
heee heee – we need to get working on this moving thing