Stuffed Dates Five Ways (Plus a Nut-Free SunButter Option)
Soft Medjool dates filled with peanut, pistachio, pecan, almond, or sunflower seed butter. Optional chocolate, salt, rose, slivered nuts, or coconut on top. No-cook snack.
Equipment
- Small spoon or narrow icing spatula
- Paring knife (only if dates are not pitted)
Ingredients
For the base
- 20 large Medjool dates pitted
Optional toppings (as desired)
- Mini chocolate chips or finely chopped dark chocolate
- Flaky sea salt
- Dried edible rose petals
- Slivered or chopped pistachios, almonds, or cashews (omit for strict nut-free)
- Unsweetened shredded coconut
Peanut butter filling (about 4 dates)
- 3 tbsp creamy peanut butter unsweetened; salted or unsalted
Pistachio butter filling (about 4 dates)
- 3 tbsp pistachio butter stirred if oil separates
Pecan butter filling (about 4 dates)
- 3 tbsp pecan butter
Almond butter filling (about 4 dates)
- 3 tbsp creamy almond butter
Nut-free sun butter filling (about 4 dates)
- 3 tbsp sunflower seed butter sun butter; stirred until smooth
Instructions
Prep the dates
- If dates are not pitted, make a lengthwise slit on one side and remove the pit, keeping the fruit as intact as possible so it holds filling like a small boat.
- Stir each nut or seed butter until smooth and easy to spoon.
Fill the dates
- Spoon about 1/2 to 1 tsp filling into each cavity, depending on date size. Aim for a gentle mound so the date still closes.
- Pinch closed. Peanut butter and sun butter usually seal easily; pecan butter may need a lighter touch so filling does not squeeze out.
Finish and serve
- If serving someone with nut allergies, finish all sun butter dates first with clean tools and a separate board, then handle nut butters.
- Optional: add toppings such as chocolate chips, flaky sea salt, rose petals, slivered pistachio almond or cashew, or shredded coconut. On mixed boards, keep coconut and rose only on sun butter dates if nuts are off limits.
- Serve immediately, or chill 10 to 15 minutes for a firmer bite.
Notes
Room-temperature spreads spoon more cleanly than cold straight-from-fridge jars.
Optional toppings are mix-and-match: chocolate and salt pair well with peanut butter; rose and pistachio slivers suit pistachio butter; coconut works on most fillings.
Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days; separate by filling type when possible so flavors do not mingle.
For school lunchboxes, confirm your sun butter label meets classroom nut policies.
Overfilled dates can split: scrape a little filling out, press closed, and enjoy the scrap from the spoon.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!