I have been loving dates in recent months! Not only are they a nutrient dense whole food, they are naturally sweet and satisfy any sweet cravings I may have. Dates bring a smile to my face, I enjoy snacking on them even just by themselves. They are wonderful to add to salads, smoothies, and charcuterie boards. You can stuff remove the pit and stuff them with nut butter or goat cheese, super yummy! I also have been enjoying incorporating them into my baking. How awesome that brownies and barks can be made with dates as the only sweetener!
Dates have a low to moderate glycemic index, similar to and even lower than raw honey and maple syrup. The glycemic index does vary among the different types of dates, the average is 42. Can you believe there are hundreds of date varieties worldwide?! The most commonly used date for baking is medjool.
A difference for dates from other natural sugars is that they pack a good amount of fiber into each serving. Fiber reduces the glycemic impact of dates, and also helps to keep our digestive system running efficiently. Pairing dates with protein or healthy fats like nuts will further slow the sugar release. Dates are also a good source of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium aiding in the support of good bone and heart health. Dates being nutrient dense are rich in antioxidants which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases and combat oxidative stress. Because dates are a dried fruit, you do have to be mindful of the quantity you consume in regards to their caloric count, I suggest no more than three dates at a time.
Recently, I have been discovering more and more chocolate varieties that are sweetened with only dates. Some of my favorites are The Conscious Bar and also Spring and Mulberry. For a baking chocolate chip I have been enjoying using Just Date. Let me know what your favorite sweet treat is, enjoy!
How To Make Easy Chocolate Date Bark
- Prepare the Baking Sheet. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape the Dates. Remove the pits from your Medjool dates (if they aren’t already pitted). Spread the dates open and press down onto the baking sheet next to each other, forming a rectangle.
- Add the Nut Butter. Spread a layer of creamy nut butter evenly on top of the dates.
- Swirl in the Chocolate. Pour melted chocolate over the nut butter. For an eye-catching effect, use a spoon to swirl the chocolate into the nut butter.
- Top with Nuts. Sprinkle chopped nuts, like hazelnuts, pistachios, or almonds, for added crunch.
- Freeze to Set. Place in the freezer for 10–15 minutes, or until the chocolate has fully set.
- Break and Serve. Once set, use a knife to cut the bark into squares or irregular pieces.
- Enjoy!