Date Syrup

A vegan friend of mine was the first to introduce me to date syrup. Given my aversion to sugar alternatives, I had my doubts, but, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this syrup.

Date syrup has a delightful caramel flavor; and, with a hint of citrus and salt from the preserved lemon, this syrup tastes fresh and complex. The syrup works well as a sweetener in my son’s favorite Berry Smoothie. It also dissolves well in hot drinks, such as my Fall Coffee with Cinnamon and Date Syrup. Dates are a good source of fiber and are full of important vitamins and minerals, making this syrup a healthy alternative to cane sugar.

Making date syrup is super easy! To start, you will need one cup of dates. I prefer Medjool dates in this recipe. They have a soft, creamy texture and a lovely, rich caramel flavor. You will also need one cup of boiling water. Pit the dates and add to a glass jar. Cover the dates with the hot water and let sit for one hour to allow the dates to soften. After one hour, purée dates, water, and half of a slice of preserved lemon (see recipe here) using a high-speed blender, such as a Vitamix or NutriBullet, until smooth.  If you do not have preserved lemons on hand, substitute with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and a pinch of salt.

If your syrup is too thick to blend easily, add additional hot water to loosen up the syrup. You want the syrup to be thick and the consistency of an apple butter. Store syrup in a glass jar in the refrigerator. The syrup will keep well for up to 3 weeks. Use to sweeten coffee, smoothies, oatmeal, or baked goods.

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5 from 1 vote

Date Syrup

Ingredients

• 1 cup Medjool dates
• 1 cup boiling water
• ½ slice of preserved lemon (or sub with 1 tsp lemon juice and a pinch of salt)

Instructions

• Pit dates and place in bowl or glass jar.
• Cover dates with one cup of boiling water. Set aside to allow dates to soften.
• After an hour, puree dates, water, and half of a slice of preserved lemon using a high-speed blender, until smooth.
• Store syrup in a glass jar in the refrigerator. The syrup will keep well for up to 3 weeks. Use to sweeten coffee, smoothies, oatmeal, or baked goods.