Date Butter (Date Paste) Recipe

Date butter in a red-rimmed bowl on a dark wood cutting board, with a tiny gold spoon.

5 from 2 votes

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.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Hydrating Time45

Total Time1

Course: Condiments, Sauces, Dressings and Vinaigrettes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: foodie gifts, recipes for spreads, fruit spreads

Servings: (2-tablespoon servings)

Calories: 168kcal

Author: Valentina K. Wein

Equipment

Ingredients

12 ounces dates pitted
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter cut into chunks
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 large or 2 small cinnamon sticks

Instructions

Pit the dates, if they're not already pitted.
Add all of the ingredients 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 in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (It will keep for about 3 weeks in the fridge, and about 6 weeks in the freezer.)

Notes

Makes about 2 cups.

Ground cinnamon: Instead of the cinnamon stick, mix ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon into the dates just before blending.

Vegan or fat-free version: Replace the butter with 1½ cups water. Bring the water to a boil with the dates, cinnamon and vanilla, reduce the heat and gently simmer for 5 minutes, then turn off the heat, cover, and let it sit for 45 minutes.

Storage: Keeps about 3 weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator, or about 6 weeks in the freezer.

Gift idea: Spoon it into small jars and tie with a ribbon. Remind everyone to keep it refrigerated.

Nutritional information is automatically calculated, so it should only be used as an estimate.

Nutrition