These Chocolate Covered Smoky Almond Butter Stuffed Dates are a great unique edible gift idea for the holidays this year! You only need 3 ingredients to make them and the homemade smoky almond butter is next level!
The inspiration behind these Chocolate Covered Smoky Almond Butter Stuffed Dates was bacon wrapped dates. I loved the idea of the smoky flavor paired with the dates and chocolate. It turned out to be a great combo and these dates would make a sweet homemade holiday edible gift!
Don’t be intimidated by the thought of making your own almond butter for these dates. It’s super easy to make and really brings the flavor to these dates!
Chocolate Covered Smoky Almond Butter Stuffed Dates Ingredients
- Dates – I usually like to get the big medjool pitted dates but I couldn’t find them anywhere so I just use a bag of California pitted dates. They were a little smaller than medjool dates but they ended up working really well. You can use whatever kind of dates you usually buy. You can get them pitted or with the pit in and you can remove it yourself by making a little slice down the middle.
- Smoked Almonds – I used the Blue Diamond brand smokehouse flavored almonds but you should be able to find some brand of smoky almonds at your grocery store or in the bulk section of a health food store.
- Chocolate Chips – I used dark chocolate morsels but milk chocolate, white chocolate or vegan chocolate.
- Coconut Oil – The coconut oil is optional to use. It helps the chocolate look smooth and silky when melted and it also helps the chocolate harden faster. I like to use refined coconut oil so that it doesn’t make everything taste like coconut.
How To Make Almond Butter Stuffed Dates
- Start by making the almond butter. Add the almonds to a food processor and turn on high speed. The whole process takes about 5 minutes and you will want to turn it off every now and then to scrape the sides down. You want to blend it until it’s smooth and looks like the photo above. Almond butter can be made days in advance and can be stored in the refrigerator until ready to use because it’s easier to stuff the dates with if it is a little firm.
- Lay your dates out on a large plate or sheet pan. If your dates are already pitted they should have a slit down the middle that you can carefully open with your fingers. If you are pitting your own dates, do so by making a slit down the middle that can be used to fan open the date with.
- Place a spoonful of the smoky almond butter into each date and place in the freezer. You want to freeze them for at least a few hours so that the dates are easier to handle when coating with the chocolate. I froze mine overnight and it worked great.
- Add the coconut oil (optional) to the chocolate chips and melt either over a double boiler or in the microwave. I microwave mine for about 45 seconds at a time until they are almost all melted and then mix until they become melted.
- Place the stuffed date into the chocolate and use two forks to toss it around to make sure it is completely coated. Place the chocolate covered date on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Once all the dates are covered with chocolate I like to let the chocolate set and then drizzle extra chocolate on top and then sprinkle with finely chopped smokey almonds.
Chocolate Covered Date Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this recipe gluten free? Yes!
- Are these stuffed dates vegan? The ones I made are not because I used regular dark chocolate, but they can easily be made vegan by using vegan chocolate.
- Can I just use regular, store-bought almond butter instead of making my own? Of course! I love the smokiness that the homemade almond butter adds but the dates would also be delicious with regular almond butter, or even peanut butter!
- How should I store the dates once they are done? I like to store mine in the refrigerator but they should also be good on the counter at room temperature. You just don’t want to let them get too warm.
- How long will they last? If stored in the refrigerator, these stuffed dates are will stay good for at least a few weeks, if not longer.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below and I will get back to you asap!
Looking For More Edible Gift Ideas For The Holidays?
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Soft and Chewy Molasses Cookies
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Chocolate Covered Smoky Almond Butter Stuffed Dates
- Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 15-20
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
- 2 cups smoky flavored almonds, plus more for topping
- 1 package pitted dates, medjool dates are great if you’re not sure which ones to get
- 12 oz package chocolate chips, I used dark chocolate but you can use whatever kind you like
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil, optional
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by making the almond butter. Add the almonds to a food processor and turn on high speed. The whole process takes about 5 minutes and you will want to turn it off every now and then to scrape the sides down. You want to blend it until it’s smooth and looks like the photo in the post above. Almond butter can be made days in advance and can be stored in the refrigerator until ready to use because it’s easier to stuff the dates with if it is a little firm.
- Lay your dates out on a large plate or sheet pan. If your dates are already pitted they should have a slit down the middle that you can carefully open with your fingers. If you are pitting your own dates, do so by making a slit down the middle that can be used to fan open the date with.
- Place a spoonful of the smoky almond butter into each date and place in the freezer. You want to freeze them for at least a few hours so that the dates are easier to handle when coating with the chocolate. I froze mine overnight and it worked great.
- Add the coconut oil (optional) to the chocolate chips and melt either over a double boiler or in the microwave. I microwave mine for about 45 seconds at a time until they are almost all melted and then mix until they become melted.
- Place the stuffed date into the chocolate and use two forks to toss it around to make sure it is completely coated. Place the chocolate covered date on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Once all the dates are covered with chocolate I like to let the chocolate set and then drizzle extra chocolate on top and then sprinkle with finely chopped smokey almonds.
- Once the chocolate has cooled completely, dates should be ok to be left out at room temperature or stored in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy.
- Prep Time: 3 hours
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Microwave, Freezer
- Cuisine: American
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