These clean eating Peanut Butter Dates are “Healthified Wannabe Snickers”
After I got a Snapchat from one of my lifelong friends Jennifer telling me how good these are, I knew I had to try them! So, I whipped up these Peanut Butter Dates with a Chocolate Drizzle! They weren’t exactly a work of art, but man, they taste amazing.
My kids came home from school and they devoured them in seconds. I didn’t tell them what was in them until after they had inhaled the last bite. The look of disbelief on their faces when I said, “Yep, that’s a date.”😂 Now, they constantly request them and we use them as their “treats” in their lunchboxes. I honestly can’t make this date dessert fast enough. The good news is, these peanut butter dates are so easy to make that the kids can make them too!
Now—don’t go eating too many of these, or you might find yourself making some unexpected bathroom trips. Dates are great and all, but they can really get things… moving.
Honestly, peanut butter dates are the ultimate mom hack. They feel like a treat, but you don’t have to bake, blend, or dirty a million dishes. Plus, they’re way better than grabbing a random handful of goldfish crackers while standing at the counter. Keep a stash in the freezer for snack emergencies!
So, while they may not win any beauty contests, these little guys are a total crowd-pleaser. Just maybe don’t eat the whole batch in one sitting unless you’re ready for a wild ride!😂 If you like these, check out this Brownie Batter Dip that is actually made with black beans, but we don’t have to tell the kids. 😉
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Dates
- Dates: I like pit IN Medjool dates, which are always softer, meatier and fresher than already pitted dates. But pitted dates will definitely work here too! I got these at Kroger, but the Natural Delights Fresh Medjool Dates are also a great option on amazon!
- Peanut Butter: OR any nut butter of choice. We use the Kirkland Organic Peanut Butter. Aim to go organic here, peanuts be among the crops that tend to have higher glyphosate residues, They are often sprayed right before harvest, which is known as desiccation, used to dry out crops quickly, making harvesting easier, and is more common in conventionally grown peanuts.
- Chocolate Chips: The Bake Believe brand is a fantastic clean option for chocolate chips! We like the dark chocolate, but they also make a semi sweet and milk chocolate. They are hit or miss to find at Costco, so if you see them, snatch them up!
- Butter: Used when melting the chocolate chips, coconut oil would work here also!
- Sea Salt: a pinch of flaky sea salt gives that sweet/salty combo and takes these chocolate dates over the top!
- Peanuts: chopped peanuts are optional, but we love the crunch they add!
- NOT an ingredient, but I also use these precut parchment sheets when I make these. So quick for things like this and less mess to deal with!
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Why You Should Be Eating Dates!
Alright, let’s just be honest. Dates don’t exactly look appetizing. They’re wrinkly, brown, and honestly, they kinda look like something you’d find under the couch cushions if you hadn’t vacuumed in a while. 😂
But listen — don’t let their looks fool you. These little guys are awesome. Even the Cleveland Clinic has a page highlighting their benefits!
Dates are packed with fiber (so yeah, they’ll keep things moving, if you know what I mean), plus they’ve got a bunch of good stuff like potassium, magnesium, and antioxidants. They’re basically nature’s candy — sweet, chewy, and way better for you than actual candy that’s wrapped in shiny paper and regret.
When you’re tired in the afternoon and thinking about grabbing a giant coffee and a donut just to survive the day? Grab a few dates instead. They’re sweet enough to trick your brain into thinking you’re eating a treat, but they won’t leave you crashing and burning an hour later. Plus, you can tell yourself you’re being super healthy because: fiber, minerals, grown-on-a-tree, etc. 🙌
And the best part? You can throw dates into pretty much anything. Chop ’em into your oatmeal, blend ’em into smoothies, stuff ’em with peanut butter like this recipe 😉 (seriously, DO THIS), or just eat them straight. No rules. Just snacks.
A heads up though:
Don’t go nuts and eat like 15 dates at once. Trust me. You will regret your life choices. Fiber is great and all… until it’s too great. 😂
If you’re trying to clean up your snacks or bake without dumping a cup of white sugar into everything, dates are an easy swap. They’re sweet enough to use in muffins, bars, energy bites, whatever you’re making.
Bottom line:
They might be ugly. They might be weird.
But dates are the real deal. Give ‘em a shot — your sweet tooth (and your digestive system) will thank you. 🙃
Instructions
- Using a small paring knife, carefully slice each date lengthwise, cutting about halfway through. Be careful not to cut all the way through, as you’ll want to keep the date intact for filling. Gently open it up and remove the pit.
- Spoon peanut butter into the dates. Measure with your heart here 😂. It takes about 1/2 Tbsp per date usually. If desired, top the peanut butter with a few chopped peanuts, we did some of both! Then arrange the dates in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. I like to buy these precut parchment sheets that fit my sheet pans so it’s quick and easy!
- Add the chocolate chips and butter to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1-2 minutes, stopping at 30-second intervals to stir, until the chocolate is completely smooth and melted.
- Next make sure the dates are as close together as possible, to reduce chocolate waste. Drizzle the chocolate over the dates. You can also dip the dates in the chocolate, but I find when making big batches drizzling is easier and faster!
- It’s probably best to wait until the chocolate sets before digging in, but let’s be real—eating them while they’re still warm and gooey, with melted chocolate all over your hands, is honestly half the fun. You can put the pan in the freezer to set the chocolate up quicker. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to four months. We pull them from the freezer for the kid’s lunch boxes and they are at a perfect temperature by lunch!🤤
Peanut Butter Filled Dates
We love these dates stuffed with peanut butter, chopped peanuts, and drizzled with chocolate. They aren't exactly a work of art, but man, they taste amazing!
Ingredients
- 20 Medjool dates
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 4 tbsp chopped peanuts (optional)
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- 2-3 tbsp butter
- salt
Instructions
- Using a small paring knife, carefully slice each date lengthwise, cutting about halfway through. Be careful not to cut all the way through, as you’ll want to keep the date intact for filling. Gently open it up and remove the pit.
- Spoon peanut butter into the dates. It takes about 1/2 Tbsp per date. If desired, top the peanut butter with a few chopped peanuts. Then arrange the dates in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Add the chocolate chips and butter to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1-2 minutes, stopping at 30-second intervals to stir, until the chocolate is completely smooth and melted.
- Next make sure the dates are as close together as possible, to reduce chocolate waste. Drizzle the chocolate over the dates.
- You can put the pan in the freezer to set the chocolate up quicker.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to four months. We pull them from the freezer for the kid's lunch boxes and they are at a perfect temperature by lunch!🤤
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