Chocolate Covered Dates

Whether you need a quick snack, a post-dinner treat, or a crowd-pleasing dessert, these Chocolate Covered Dates are your answer. They’re satisfying and easy to make, ticking all the boxes for a healthy indulgence.

Fun fact about dates: Dates are the world’s oldest cultivated fruit (grown for over 6,000 years) and date trees were known as the “trees of life” by ancient civilizations.

Dates are a perfect snack on their own. My 3-year-old loves snacking on them, and I do too.

However, sometimes we fancy something more decadent, and that’s when these Chocolate Covered Dates come into the picture. This dessert takes the dates to the next level with a crunchy, chocolatey coating and various fun toppings like crushed nuts, coconut, or a sprinkle of sea salt flakes.

Not only that but you can add fillings to the dates, like peanut butter, tahini, or whole nuts like roasted almonds, walnuts, or hazelnuts.

These Chocolate Covered Dates save me from reaching for an unhealthy snack, such as store-bought cookies or ice cream. I usually have it with some herbal tea in the evening, and it hits the spot.

Why you’ll love this recipe?

• Super easy to make.
• Requires a few ingredients.
• Satisfy your sweet tooth without the guilt.
• Customizable with your favorite toppings and/or fillings.
• Perfect for snacking, gifting, or as a dessert.
• Vegan, gluten-free, and kid-approved!

Ingredients for the Chocolate Covered Dates

This recipe requires only two main ingredients:
– Dates.
– Chocolate.

• Dates. When it comes to the dates, try using juicy and soft dates. This is because the dry ones will be hard to bite on. The most known ones are Medjool Dates, but there are other types like Deglet Noor Dates, or Barhi Dates, which are cheaper but still soft and juicy.

• Chocolate. Any unflavored chocolate can work well for this recipe (milk chocolate, dark chocolate, even white chocolate). I went with the dark chocolate because it’s less sweet and the dates are sweet enough on their own. Plus, it’s healthier. But you do you. I would avoid using flavored chocolates because after melting, it might taste weird, and the color might change.

Toppings

Here are some suggestions for what you could add on top of the Chocolate Covered Dates:

• crushed walnuts
• crushed almonds/almond flakes
• crushed roasted hazelnuts
• coconut flakes
• sea salt flakes
• pumpkin seeds
• roasted sunflower seeds
• goji berries

Fillings

The filling can be added instead of the pit. Here are my favorites:

• tahini
• peanut butter
• almond butter
• whole roasted almonds
• whole roasted walnuts
• whole roasted pecans

How to make the Chocolate Covered Dates

• Start by melting your chocolate in a small pot. You can either melt in the microwave or on the stove. Make sure to melt it on low heat to prevent burning.

• In the meantime, remove the pits from the dates. If you wish to add some fillings, do it at this stage.
• Prepare a cooling rack with some parchment paper underneath, to catch the excess chocolate.
• After the chocolate is melted, take one date at a time and place it in the melted chocolate, and using a fork, gently roll the date to coat it evenly. Lift the date out with the fork, allowing any excess chocolate to drip off.

• Place the chocolate-covered date on the cooling rack. Repeat with the rest of the dates.

• Add your desired toppings before placing them in the fridge to solidify for about 30 minutes.

Tips for the perfect Chocolate Covered Dates

Choose quality chocolate: For the best taste, use high-quality dark chocolate (preferably 70% cacao or higher).

Melt chocolate gently: Always melt the chocolate slowly, either using a double boiler or in short bursts in the microwave, to avoid burning it.

No coconut oil: While some suggest adding coconut oil to the chocolate to make it more liquid, I recommend avoiding it. Adding coconut oil can cause the chocolate to melt easily if left outside the fridge.

Add toppings immediately: If you plan to add toppings like crushed nuts, coconut flakes, or sea salt, do it while the chocolate is still soft to ensure they stick.

Store in the fridge: I like storing these dates in the fridge (or freezer!) and enjoy right away. This helps maintain that crunchy chocolate coating.

I have lots of recipes that use dates:
– Banana Chocolate Popsicles
– Black Bean Muffins
– Chickpea Brownies