10 Date Recipes to Try Whether You Want Something Sweet or Savory

From appetizers to dessert, these recipes with dates deserve a spot on your menu.

Roasted Dates with Bacon
Photo: Blaine Moats

You may have heard dates referred to as "nature's candy" because their sweet flavor and chewy texture make them one of the most delicious dried fruits. Some date recipes include them to sweeten baked goods, desserts, and savory meals. These date recipes bring an extra bit of sweet goodness to the table.

01 of 10

Mango Ginger Banana Bread

Mango-Ginger Banana Bread
Kritsada Panichgul

There's banana bread, and then there's next level, stop what you're doing and swoon banana bread. Not only does this date nut bread recipe have a brown sugar streusel topping, but the batter calls for fresh mango and sweet dates. Every single bite is a surprise of flavor and texture.

02 of 10

Oatmeal Slices with Dates and Nuts

Oatmeal Slices with Dates and Nuts

Need to prepare a batch of cookie dough in a hurry? Look no further! This date recipe is simple but has a sweet and nutty twist. Chewy dates and toasted pecans add flavor and texture. The combination of cinnamon and rolled oats with the molasses flavor of dates is genuinely delicious.

03 of 10

No-Bake Coconut Date Cracker Bars with Browned Butter Glaze

No-Bake Coconut Date Cracker Bars with Browned Butter Glaze
Jason Donnelly

Buttery crackers serve as the crunchy base for this no-bake date recipe. Top them with a brown sugar and butter mixture, including dates, coconut flakes, nuts, and a touch of dark rum. A spreadable topping sprinkled with crunchy pecans is the perfect finish. Just chill in the refrigerator, slice, and devour!

04 of 10

Roasted Dates with Bacon

Roasted Dates with Bacon
Blaine Moats

Everyone agrees that the classic bacon-wrapped dates recipe is perfection. Not only do the two taste phenomenal together, but it's an elegant appetizer recipe everyone will enjoy! With just three ingredients and needing a few minutes to prepare, this is easy to prep. All you have to do is stuff, wrap, bake, and serve.

05 of 10

Healthy Energy Bars

Healthy Energy Bars in glass bowl
Tracy Benjamin

Energy bars are simple to make at home and often much healthier and less expensive than those on grocery store shelves. These bars have cashew flavor, are naturally sweetened with magical Medjool dates, and have chunks of bittersweet chocolate. They'll fuel you up without having to worry about a sugar crash. Prepare a batch of these for the week and start strong!

06 of 10

Oatmeal with Goat Cheese, Dates, Walnuts and Honey

Oatmeal with Goat Cheese, Dates, Walnuts, and Honey in bowl with spoon
Blaine Moats

Make this sweet, savory, and satisfying oatmeal for breakfast. It boasts an unexpected flavor combo, including creamy goat cheese and sweet dates balanced with the nutty crunch of walnuts and a honey drizzle.

07 of 10

Slow Cooker Moroccan Lamb Tagine

Slow Cooker Moroccan Lamb Tagine

This lamb tagine (tagine is a savory Moroccan meat or poultry stew, as well as a ceramic vessel in which dishes like this one are traditionally cooked) is hearty, comforting, and full of warming spices like ginger, cumin, turmeric, and cinnamon. Fresh vegetables and dates cook low and slow with lamb shoulder to build layer after layer of flavor.

08 of 10

Ginger-Turmeric Barley Pudding

Ginger-Turmeric Barley Pudding
Carson Downing

Pearl barley is the whole grain base of this date recipe. It becomes a comforting winter dessert when cooked with turmeric, ginger, honey, and vanilla. A homemade date ginger syrup is the perfect finishing touch.

09 of 10

Medjool Date-Sweetened Barbecue Sauce

Medjool Date-Sweetened Barbecue Sauce in blue bowl
Jason Donnelly

Many purchased barbecue sauces are sweetened with sugar or corn syrup. Here, we've added Medjool dates for sweetness and spices like cumin, cinnamon, dry mustard, and paprika to perk up the sauce.

10 of 10

Fruit & Date Lumberjack Cake

Fruit & Date Lumberjack Cake
Andy Lyons

A lumberjack cake often includes dried fruit and apples mixed in. This twist on the classic stars pears, flaked coconut, and dates. A glazed pear and kumquat topper creates a party-worth presentation.

Fruit Recipes You'll Love

Was this page helpful?

Related Articles