Food & Nutrition 10 Naturally Sweet Date Recipes for Dessert By Shannon Bauer Shannon Bauer Instagram Website Shannon M. Bauer is a Senior Commerce Editor for Dotdash Meredith's Beauty & Style Group. She joined the Shape team in 2022 and works with a team of talented freelance writers to create expert- and research-driven product roundups. Shannon has seven years of experience writing, editing, and producing beauty and wellness content for top print and digital publications. Shannon was previously a Beauty Editor at Parents, Parents Latina, and Shape print magazines. Shape's editorial guidelines Published on September 27, 2016 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images Dates are often referred to as nature's candy and we believe it. They're chewy, naturally sweet...but contain no refined sugar! Try one of these date recipes for your next healthy dessert. 01 of 10 Peach Tarts with Ginger and Coconut Kitchn This is the perfect recipe for date night (sorry, had to). The tart crust is made from a blend of pitted dates, shredded coconut, sunflower seeds, and flaxseed. No worries if your attempt to form the peach flower doesn't turn out quite as beautifully. We can't all be professional chefs. Get the recipe: Peach Tarts with Ginger and Coconut 02 of 10 Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Bars Emilie Eats These chocolate chip bars are even better than your favorite from the local coffee shop. Applesauce, dates, and almond butter create the sweet treat without needing refined sugar. Get the recipe: Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Bars 03 of 10 Blueberry Lime Cheesecake Pretty Pies If you think of date bars as the only possible use for dates, this cheesecake recipe will change your mind. The filling is made with raw cashews, maple syrup, and coconut oil, so not only is it gluten-free and sugar-free, but it's vegan as well. Get the recipe: Blueberry Lime Cheesecake 04 of 10 Simple 3-Ingredient Chocolate-Covered Date Nut Bars Fit Mitten Kitchen Here's your shopping list: dates, nuts, and dark chocolate chips. That's it—that's all you need for this recipe. These chewy bars are simple and oh so tasty. Get the recipe: Simple 3-Ingredient Chocolate-Covered Date Nut Bars 05 of 10 Raw Matcha Caramel Truffles A Sunshine Mission Dates are the perfect ingredient to get the gooey, caramel taste and texture you'll love about these truffles. Matcha is full of antioxidants and rich in fiber, boosts metabolism, and has a slew of other health benefits. After rolling in them the powder, freeze the truffles and eat the treat chilled. Get the recipe: Raw Matcha Caramel Truffles 06 of 10 Lemon Millet Bliss Balls Feasting On Fruit Dates aren't the star of this show—that honor goes to fresh lemon and millet. Millet is a gluten-free seed, similar to quinoa, with 6 grams of protein per cup. Use cooked grains left over from dinner for these delicious snacks bites. (Still prefer quinoa? We have new ways to cook with quinoa.) Get the recipe: Lemon Millet Bliss Balls 07 of 10 Dairy-Free No-Churn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream Leelalicious Even though summer weather is fading into fall, you don't need to give up your Saturday afternoon ice cream. This "nice" cream recipe contains pumpkin purée, dates, and coconut cream or milk. Don't rush out to buy an ice cream maker (unless you want to, of course). This no-churn recipe is made in the freezer. Get the recipe: Dairy-Free No-Churn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream 08 of 10 5-Ingredient Homemade Twix Bars The Organic Dietitian With Halloween just around the corner, candy is tempting you in every aisle at the grocery store. These homemade Twix—made with real ingredients—are a great substitute. The base is made with coconut flour, coconut oil, and honey, with dates for the caramel center. Get the recipe: 5-Ingredient Homemade Twix Bars 09 of 10 Raw Vegan Banana Cream Pie Minimalist Baker While not exactly low in calories, this pie does have 4 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein per serving. With 10 ingredients total between the crust and the filling, this vegan banana cream pie is simple to make—and swapping fruit can create different varieties for pie aficionados. Get the recipe: Raw Vegan Banana Cream Pie 10 of 10 No-Bake Coconut Date Energy Bites Sweet Phi The best-known benefit of dates is that they ease constipation—so these bites are a great choice if you need some, ahem, assistance in that arena. The naturally sweet fruit gives a burst of energy and the shredded coconut and coconut oil provide flavor. Get the recipe: No-Bake Coconut Date Energy Bites Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit