Name: Cashew Dark Chocolate + Sea Salt Stuffed Dates
Prep time: 5 min
Ingredients: 6 medjool dates (make sure they're soft or else you'll be sorry); 2-3 tbsp cashew butter of choice (I used one without any added sugar); 1/4 cup cashews (I used raw cashews and toasted them up myself); 2 tbsp chocolate of choice (chopped if necessary); sea salt for sprinkling

GF V

Made with simple ingredients, these Cashew Dark Chocolate + Sea Salt Stuffed Dates are the perfect easy recipe to cure your sweet tooth. Make them ahead of time for quick snacks all week long!

Chocolate Craze!

Do you guys have a sweet tooth? With recipes like Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies, Double Chocolate Brownie Cups, and Flourless Chocolate Mug Cake, it’s no secret that I’m a huge chocolate fan. In fact, I’m not convinced there’s much, if anything, it can’t make better! Making oatmeal? Top it with chocolate. Baking a cake? Use a chocolate frosting. Had a bad day? Chocolate will definitely make it better. You see my point?

However, while I love chocolate and all things sweet, I’m not always in the mood to bake. Yet, I don’t want to settle for store bought items filled with added sugars, mystery ingredients, and guaranteed to lead to a sugar crash. So, when snack time rolled around, I decided to get creative with my treat. What resulted were stuffed dates filled with a wide variety of textures and flavors!

In all honesty, I couldn’t be happier with this recipe. It took literally minutes and is filled with healthy fats and fiber to help keep you full and satisfied all afternoon. Plus, they’re a great way to use up any leftover pantry items you have laying around. Be warned, though. I’m tempted to hide my stuffed dates, because once my littles got a taste, I couldn’t keep them out of them! That said, I’m making more as soon as possible! Which is, like, right now. So, let’s go!

Ingredients for Stuffed Dates

I can almost guarantee you already have most of the ingredients for this recipe waiting for you in your pantry! Take a look below to see what I used.

Dates – Make sure your dates are soft! This means they will be ripe and extra sweet. Plus, nobody wants to try to stuff hard dates. Trust me. Been there, done that! Also, for the easiest recipe, opt for dates that have already been pitted. Otherwise, it can be difficult to remove the pits without destroying the dates.
Nut Butter – For an extra creamy texture and rich flavor, I used a cashew butter without any added sugars. However, feel free to use any nut or seed butter you prefer! Just keep in mind that making any swaps will change the flavor of your stuffed dates.
Nuts – Again, feel free to use any nuts or seeds you like best. Personally, I opted for raw cashews. Then, I got a little extra fancy and created a slightly smoky flavor by toasting them up in a skillet myself.
Chocolate – Use whatever chocolate you like best! For extra antioxidants and the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, I recommend using dark chocolate.
Salt – For the best texture, I recommend using a thick, flaky sea salt if you can!

Additional + Alternative Toppings

For this recipe, I tried to keep things fairly simple. However, when it comes to stuffed dates, the options are truly endless! For instance, you can stick with sweet flavors. Or, switch things up, and opt for more savory ingredients instead. Take a look at some of my favorite additional ingredients and topping alternatives below to get started.

Coconut Flakes
Pretzels
Bananas
Bacon and Feta
Mascarpone, Sprinkles, and Cocoa

How to Make Vegan Stuffed Dates

These stuffed dates are so easy to make that it can barely be called a recipe! Seriously, take a look at the steps below if you don’t believe me:

Slice. Using a sharp knife, slice a vertical slit down the center of each date, stopping just before you reach either end.

Stuff. Gather your favorite toppings, and stuff as little or as much into your dates as you like.

If you’ve got little ones around, this recipe can be a super fun way to get them involved in the kitchen! Have them pick out their favorite toppings, and help them stuff their own dates!

What Do These Dates Taste Like?

These vegan stuffed dates contain the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and savory flavors. They create an almost caramel-like flavor and are commonly described as replicating the flavor of Snickers bars.

How Long Does this Recipe Last?

When stored in an airtight container, these vegan stuffed dates will stay fresh for up to 24 hours in advance! Or, place them in the fridge for up to a week.

Can I Freeze this Recipe?

Yes! In my house, they’re gone almost immediately. However, if you can get them to last, these vegan treats can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1-2 months! Just let them sit out a bit to soften before eating.

What Type of Chocolate Works Best?

I used a chocolate bar and chopped it into bite-sized pieces. However, chocolate chips, cut up candy, or any other version of chocolate you have on hand can be used! Just make sure it is small enough to fit in the “pocket” of the date.

Can I Melt the Chocolate?

Of course! In fact, if you want to take a few extra minutes, this recipe is super good if you melt the chocolate and dunk the dates to completely cover them. To do so, pick your favorite chocolate, melt it in the microwave, using coconut oil to thin it out if necessary, and carefully coat your dates! I like to use a toothpick to dip them without getting super messy, but fingers work, too. Then, set them on parchment paper to harden, and enjoy.

More Easy Snack Recipes

In my opinion, these stuffed dates are everything you could ever want in a snack recipe! I might be a bit biased, though. So, don’t take my word for it. Instead, try them out for yourself, but first, let me know what your favorite snacks are down in the comments below!