Date syrup, a super healthy natural sweetener that's very easy to prepare. It's made with only 3 simple ingredients and ready in just 5 minutes!
This date syrup is so affordable and easy to prepare! It's a healthy natural sweetener and it's actually DELICIOUS, as it almost tastes like caramel syrup! It has a wonderful creamy texture and it's helped me a lot to give up refined sugar.
Although dates are healthier than syrups and I use them in my smoothies or my morning oatmeal, I wanted a sweetener with a different texture that I could also use in other dishes. So when I finally tried this recipe I KNEW I had found it!
Besides, it's ready in less than 5 minutes and it's better than the store-bought ones because they usually contain artificial sweeteners, additives, and preservatives.
Date syrup, healthy, natural, and tasty. To make it you only need 3 simple ingredients, 5 minutes, and a powerful blender. I hope you like it!
How to make date syrup - Step by step
- Place all the ingredients into a blender (photo 1) and blend until smooth (photo 2).
Pro tips
- Feel free to use Medjool or Deglet Nour dates, or any other kind of dates you have on hand.
- I used dried dates for this recipe.
- Lemon juice is optional, but the syrup will keep longer if you use it.
- Although I recommend you make this recipe with a powerful blender if you don't have one you can add a little bit of water if the syrup doesn't come out with a proper texture.
What is date syrup?
Date syrup is a creamy and thick paste made from dates. It's naturally sweet, so it's a perfect replacement for regular refined sugar or artificial sweeteners, and this version doesn't contain any kind of additives or preservatives.
How long will this date syrup keep?
Keep the syrup in a glass jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. If it thickens when you store it, just add some more water when you need to use it and mix it until smooth.
How to use this date syrup
You can use this date syrup to make lots of different recipes: smoothies like avocado smoothie or mango smoothie, vegan pancakes, vegan brownies, crepes, muffins... And you can even add it to your vegan hot chocolate!
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Date Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 and ¼ cups dates
- 1 and ½ cups water
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Use it as a natural sweetener in recipes like avocado smoothie, mango smoothie, vegan pancakes, vegan brownies, crepes, muffins, and even vegan hot chocolate!
Notes
- Feel free to use Medjool or Deglet Nour dates, or any other kind of dates you have on hand.
- I used dried dates for this recipe.
- Lemon juice is optional, but the syrup will keep longer if you use it.
- Although I recommend you make this recipe with a powerful blender if you don't have one you can add a little bit of water if the syrup doesn't come out with a proper texture.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in November of 2014, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions, and tips in September of 2020.
jamlady says
Very new to the date world and I have no idea how these blend. Would this recipe be possible in my Ninja blender, or should I be safe and use my food processor? I'm used to the consistency of honey (and how it totally dissolves in my coffee), but I'm having small allergic reactions and need to switch to dates.
Iosune says
Hi Jamlady! I've never used a Ninja blender, but I think it should work. Hope you like it!
Maggie says
I've just made it in a ninja - it worked perfectly.
Iosune says
Hi Maggie! So glad to read that 🙂
Amanda Blakely says
I've been making date paste for awhile now, mostly to use in muffins, pancakes, things like that. I tried it in a dessert once and didn't like it. I had given up on using dates in desserts. About an hour ago I drank a cup of hot chocolate, full of refined sugar, and was reminded how appalled I am at how much sugar I consume. But I loooooove sweets! So I gave it one more try. I remembered that recently I had heard of date syrup, so I did a google search. Most of the recipes I found included something like "10 medjool dates", but I only have (and can afford) the other kind. So then I found your recipe. (Thank you!!) I made it exactly as written, enjoyed the taste, LOVED that I could make it smooth by using my Vitamix, and then since I've already had hot chocolate tonight, I did an experiment: I put a small spoonful of date syrup in a bowl, added a small spoonful of cocoa powder and mixed it up- yum! And SWEET! Then I stirred in a splash of half & half (ok, I admit I'm not vegan) just to get that hot chocolate feel and YUMMMMM... I couldn't believe how good it was! It actually tasted like dessert! So thanks for giving me hope that I can cut way down on sugar and still enjoy desserts! I can't wait to make hot chocolate tomorrow, and so many other things in the future!
Iosune says
Hi Amanda! I'm so glad you liked my recipe 🙂 There are also other healthier sweeteners. I love coconut sugar and maple syrup, but dates are definitely a great choice 😉
Dennis says
An advantage of date syrup over coconut sugar, maple syrup, honey, or agave is dates contain fiber which helps reduce sugar spikes.
Iosune says
Hi Rachel! I don't know... Maybe you could try to add 1 to 2 teaspoons of this syrup. I'd add it gently until it were as sweet as I wanted. Hope it works!
Rachel says
If a recipe calls for 1 medjool date, what would the equivalent measurement be for this date syrup? Thank you!
blogging says
Thanks for the helpful post! I would never have discovered this on my own!
Iosune says
You're so welcome! 😉
Dustin Bessette says
Hello!
Has anyone tried to can this syrup? I've canned berry syrup last year and many years ago and its still great. Do you think it would work with this recipe?
Iosune says
Hi Dustin! I'm so sorry, but I haven't, so I can't help you 🙁
SheilaV says
I recently made some date syrup and I didn't really like the way it turned out. It was sweet but I was disappointed. So I made this tonight and it is so much better and besides you're using the whole pitted date instead of waisting the pulp.
Iosune says
Hi Sheila! I'm so glad you like it! And this recipe is also easier to make 😉
pragati says
I love this idea..ready to use and no time needed to chop or puree etc. when you are cooking. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Iosune says
Thanks a lot for your comment Pragati! 😀
Charlene @ That Girl Cooks Healthy says
Awesome, I'm a huge advocate of date paste/syrup and your pictures are truly perfect.
Iosune says
Thanks a lot Charlene!!! I LOVE dates so much!!! 🙂
Katie says
What a lovely & simple recipe! Will definitely be making this soon. Approximately how many dates are there in 1 cup?
Iosune says
Thanks Katie!!! It depens on the kind of dates you use. I usually use Deglet Nour and there are 10-15 dates in 1 cup 🙂
Iman says
I'm happy I've found this recipe.. Maple syrup is rarely available in my part of the world, and the fact that dates is healthier option make me very enthusiastic about it. I love your blog very much, how you make sure to mention different options and substitutes and address different needs, how you encourage readers to use what's available in local stores, make me feel you really want to help, not to mention your gorgeous images and minimal beautiful design. It's just fantastic.. keep it up
Iosune says
Hi Iman! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂 It's important to use local food and I prefer to mention different options because not everybody live in the same country or have the same budget, besides there are people with different intolerances and I want everybody can enjoy my recipes 🙂 I hope you like the syrup!!!
Wendy @ The Nomadic Vegan says
This is a great idea. I've been trying to sweeten things with naturally sweet whole foods as much as possible, and dates are perfect for this. Being able to use them as a liquid sweetener with this recipe just opens up even more options.
Iosune says
Hi Wendy! That's why this recipe is so perfect because you can use it in almost every recipe 😀