Date Butter

Date Butter (or Date Paste) is a naturally sweet, deeply flavored, versatile spread that's super easy to make. This creamy, delicious spread is perfect on toast for breakfast or a snack, and it also adds a rich, toffee-like flavor to roasted vegetables, sauces, and baked goods.

Even if you're a person who doesn't like dates, like me, you'll LOVE date butter!

Deeply flavored, it's rich, creamy and seriously dreamy. I make it with butter using the same technique I use for my Cinnamon Raisin Cookies, that get rave reviews. 😀 (There is also a vegan option below.)

I have always served it with toast or bagels for breakfast, and this year, I've started cooking with it, and it's absolutely fantastic. I roast butternut squash with it, whisk it into savory sauces, and even spread it into sandwiches. There are so many possibilities.

It's a very easy recipe with just a few minutes of active work time.

About the Ingredients

• dates - I use Medjool dates, which are prized for their larger size, soft texture, and caramel/toffee-like flavor. You can use other varieties if you'd like to. They can be purchased pitted, which saves a bit of time.
• cinnamon stick- I add a cinnamon stick to the dates during the brief cooking time and leave it in while they soak. You can substitute with ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, which you would mix into the prunes just before blending them.
• unsalted butter - Be sure it's unsalted!
• pure vanilla extract - The vanilla enhances the overall flavor of the dates.

How to Make Date Butter (Paste)

- Add the pitted dates, butter, vanilla and cinnamon stick to a small saucepan and place it over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, turn off the heat, cover, and let it sit for 45 minutes.

- Pour the mixture into the bowl of a food processor (or powerful blender), and blend until it's as smooth as possible.

- Let it cool to room temperature before storing or eating.

Variations

• Vegan version/fat-free version. For a vegan or fat-free version, swap out the butter for 1 ½ cups water. If you do this, bring the water to a boil with the dates, cinnamon and vanilla, reduce the heat, gently simmer for 5 minutes, then turn off the heat, cover, and let it sit for 45 minutes.
• Adding other spices. In addition to, or instead of the cinnamon, you can use cardamom and/or cloves. Since they're smaller spices, it's a good idea to use a small boquet garni bag to hold them.

Uses for Date Butter

Date butter has so many uses, and some are unexpected.

• Spread on toast, bagels, etc., of course. (I also like to add a drizzle of honey on top.)
• Mixed and roasted with vegetables, like carrots, brussels sprouts, onions, sweet potatoes and squash (technically a fruit).
• Whisked into all sorts of savory sauces and soups.
• Mixed into warm oatmeal to add sweetness instead of brown sugar.
• Served alongside pork or chicken. It would be great with Coffee-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin.
• Spread in a grilled cheese sandwich with ham. (Really, it's so good!)

How long will it keep?

Believe me, you'll want to save every last bit, so if you don't use it up all at once, below are the best ways to store it.

• Refrigerator. The date butter should keep for about 3 weeks in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
• Freezer. You can also freeze it in an airtight container (or tightly sealed freezer bag) for about 6 weeks. Thaw it in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

Other Delicious Butter Recipes

I hope you find my creamy and rich date paste as dreamy as I do!