My love of dates is no secret. I adore dates for a number of reasons. They offer natural sweetness and an addictive chewy texture, which makes them great for snacking on them as is or using them as an ingredient when making sweet treats. Even when I get lazy and don’t feel like making these chocolate peanut butter stuffed dates, I find myself dipping dates into a jar of peanut butter or almond butter for a quick sweet snack. Try it! Other times, I switch things up and make what I call “better cookie dough bites” – little round bites of heaven that honestly taste like cookie dough.
Nutritionally, dates are rock stars! They offer a good amount of fiber (about 2 grams per date), which we know is necessary for plenty of bodily functions – such as digestion, blood sugar control, and satiety (aka feeling full), to name a few. American adults only consume an average of about 10-15 grams of fiber per day, while they should be eating at least 25 grams for optimal health. So, adding a date or two to your day won’t hurt, right?
Besides fiber, dates are also rich in potassium, which is necessary for blood pressure control and fluid balance, and polyphenols, which act like antioxidants in the body. Also, dates supply six essential B vitamins, including folate and pantothenic acid. Different B vitamins have specific roles in the body, but all play their part in helping metabolize food into energy.
But hey, the dates aren’t the only stars in this recipe. Peanut butter serves as the luscious creamy filling in this snack. Peanut butter is loaded with healthy fats and protein, making this a filling little bite, and is also rich in vitamin E (a potent antioxidant), B vitamins, copper, magnesium, and manganese. But its not like you need much convincing to add more peanut butter to your diet, because who doesn’t love peanut butter?! If you are that one in a million person who does not like peanut butter, feel free to use another nut butter in this recipe instead. Iv’e made these with almond butter and cashew butter, and both turned out equally delicious!
Finally, I am here to tell you to add more dark chocolate to your diet. YOU’RE WELCOME. Dark chocolate is one of the best sources of antioxidants, which we know help fight free-radicals and prevent damage to cells. But who cares? Either way, dark chocolate is delicious.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates
Equipment
- Knife
- Spoon
- Freezer
- Microwave or Stovetop
Ingredients
- 8 medjool dates
- 2 1/2 Tbsp peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)
- 2 oz dark chocolate (or about 1/4 cup chocolate chips)
- oprtional toppings: course sea salt, cacao nibs, coconut flakes, chopped nuts, etc.
Instructions
- Cut each date in half to end up with 16 pieces. Remove and discard the pits of the dates.
- Spoon roughly 1/2 tsp into the little well of each half piece of date. Once all the pieces are stuffed with peanut butter, place them into the freezer for about 10 minutes, or until the peanut butter slightly hardens.
- Meanwhile, melt the dark chocolate. I used the microwave to do this, but feel free to melt on the stove with a double boiler.
- Remove the dates from the freezer. Dip the surface of the date that’s stuffed with peanut butter into the melted chocolate. Before the chocolate hardens, top with optional toppings. Repeat with the remaining dates. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Enjoy!