There’s something magically simple yet indulgent about a good date stuffed with the right filling. I’m excited to share my favorite Stuffed Dates Recipes with Creative Fillings Recipe that takes these naturally sweet gems to a whole new level. They’re quick to make, incredibly versatile, and perfect for any occasion from a cozy snack to a stylish appetizer.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve always loved stuffed dates for their effortless charm—like a little package of flavor waiting to surprise you. What makes these particular recipes stand out is the variety and creativity in the fillings; you get sweet, savory, crunchy, creamy, and even a touch of heat all in one bite.
- Endless Variation: Six different fillings let you delight every kind of palate, from cheese lovers to chocolate fans.
- Ready in Minutes: It’s a no-fuss recipe that’s perfect when you want to impress without hours in the kitchen.
- Healthy & Indulgent: Medjool dates bring natural sweetness and fiber, balanced with protein and fats from nuts and cheeses.
- Perfect Party Pleasers: These bite-sized morsels add a touch of elegance and always get a ton of compliments.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe’s magic happens because of the quality and balance of ingredients. Soft Medjool dates offer a luscious, caramel-like sweetness that pairs beautifully with salty cheeses, crunchy nuts, and even melty chocolate. When shopping, choose dates that are plump and tender for the best texture.
- Medjool Dates: The star of the show—sweet, soft, and easy to stuff once pitted.
- Goat Cheese: Creamy with a subtle tang; caramelized onion-flavored varieties add extra depth.
- Pistachios: Their nutty crunch is perfect sprinkled on top for texture and color.
- Hot Honey: Adds warmth and a sticky drizzle that brightens the goat cheese.
- Brie Cheese: Soft and mild, it melts slightly when warmed inside dates.
- Pecan Halves: Rich and buttery, they complement brie’s creaminess fantastically.
- Fresh Rosemary: A fragrant herb that elevates the brie and pecan combination.
- Ricotta Cheese: Light and fluffy, great to balance salty and sweet elements.
- Kosher Salt & Lemon Zest: A pinch of salt and fresh zest brighten the ricotta filling.
- Sun-Dried Tomato Halves: Intensely flavorful and chewy, adding savory depth alongside basil.
- Fresh Basil Leaves: Bright, herbal notes that freshen the sun-dried tomato and ricotta.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Adds richness and a touch of saltiness that pairs great with chocolate.
- Roasted Salted Peanuts: For crunch and extra peanut punch.
- Dark Chocolate Chips: Melted for dipping or drizzling, bringing bittersweet contrast.
- Almond Butter: Smooth and nutty, a great alternative to peanut butter with fresh fruit.
- Fresh Raspberries & Banana Slices: For bright, natural sweetness paired perfectly with nuts and chocolate.
Make It Your Way
I have to admit, I love experimenting with these stuffed dates depending on what I have around. It’s so easy to swap out nuts or cheeses, or even add a sprinkle of spices. Don’t hesitate to play around — this recipe really invites your personal touch!
- Variation: One of my favorite twists is swapping goat cheese for mascarpone and adding chopped candied ginger for a sweet-spicy surprise—it’s heavenly.
- Dietary Modifications: For a dairy-free version, try coconut yogurt or a nut-based cheese alternative with the nut and fruit fillings.
- Seasonal Twist: In winter, warming the dates slightly before stuffing melts the cheese beautifully and enhances flavors.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Stuffed Dates Recipes with Creative Fillings Recipe
Step 1: Prep the Dates
Start by gently making a lengthwise slit in each Medjool date with a sharp small knife. Remove the pits carefully — I find tweezers help if the pits are stubborn. Arrange your pitted dates on a plate. If you plan to bake them with cheese fillings, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet instead. This step keeps the dates neat and ready for stuffing.
Step 2: Fill with Your Chosen Filling
Now the fun part is stuffing! For creamy fillings like goat cheese or ricotta, I use a small spreader or the back of a teaspoon to gently push it inside. For chunkier fillings like brie and pecan or peanut butter with banana, just tuck the pieces inside carefully. Make sure each date holds its filling snugly but isn't overstuffed.
Step 3: Add the Finishing Touches
This is where you amp up the flavor and texture. Sprinkle chopped pistachios over goat cheese, drizzle hot honey, or add fresh rosemary atop the brie-pecan combo. For the chocolate-dipped versions, dip stuffed dates into gently melted dark chocolate, then top with chopped peanuts or drizzle extra chocolate over fruits for a decadent finish.
Top Tip
Over the years, I’ve realized a few little tricks really make these stuffed dates shine. Here are my go-to tips to ensure your dates come out perfect every time.
- Choose Soft Medjool Dates: Their pliable texture makes pitting and stuffing much easier and improves the overall eating experience.
- Don’t Overfill: You want a good balance of date flesh and filling—overstuffing can cause dates to burst or become messy.
- Melt Chocolate Gently: Use a double boiler or microwave in short bursts to avoid burning your chocolate when dipping.
- Prep Ahead Carefully: If making ahead, fill the dates but add drizzles or crunchy toppings right before serving to keep everything fresh and crisp.
How to Serve Stuffed Dates Recipes with Creative Fillings Recipe
Garnishes
I love to sprinkle fresh rosemary needles over the brie and pecan dates—it adds a pop of color and a lovely floral aroma. Toasted chopped pistachios or crushed salted peanuts add both crunch and color contrast on others. For chocolate varieties, a light dusting of flaky sea salt can elevate the bittersweet richness beautifully.
Side Dishes
These stuffed dates pair wonderfully with a crisp, green salad dressed lightly with lemon vinaigrette or alongside a cheese board for a party spread. I also enjoy serving them with sparkling wine, which balances the sweet and savory notes perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I love arranging them in a circle on a wooden board with small bowls of extra nuts, honey, and melted chocolate for dipping. Another favorite is skewering a few stuffed dates with fresh herbs or fruit between for an attractive finger food look.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, ideally separate the ones with delicate toppings like fresh herbs or chocolate drizzle to add them fresh after reheating. They generally keep well for 2-3 days without losing texture or flavor.
Freezing
Freezing stuffed dates is doable, but I recommend freezing the pitted dates separate from fillings if possible. You can freeze assembled dates without wet ingredients like fresh herbs or delicate berries for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
Reheating
When reheating, especially those with cheese fillings, I gently warm them in a low oven (around 300°F) for 5-7 minutes to melt the cheese slightly without drying out the dates. Avoid microwaving as it can make dates sticky and chewy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Medjool dates are preferred because they’re larger, softer, and easier to stuff, but you can use other dates like Deglet Noor. Just keep in mind that smaller or drier dates may be trickier to pit and fill.
Absolutely! Swap out dairy cheeses for plant-based alternatives like almond or cashew cheese. Use nut butters and skip the honey or replace it with maple syrup or agave for sweetness.
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, stuffed dates stay fresh for 2 to 3 days. Adding delicate toppings like herbs or drizzles immediately before serving helps keep them vibrant.
Yes! Assemble the dates a few hours before your event and keep them refrigerated. Add fresh herbs or drizzle honey and melted chocolate right before serving for the best look and flavor.
Final Thoughts
Stuffed dates feel like a special little gift every time I make them—so sweet, satisfying, and easy to customize to your taste. Whether you’re hosting friends, prepping a quick snack, or just in the mood for something delicious, this Stuffed Dates Recipes with Creative Fillings Recipe is a total winner. Give it a try and have fun making each bite your own—you won’t regret it!
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Stuffed Dates Recipes with Creative Fillings Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delicious and versatile stuffed Medjool dates prepared six different ways featuring sweet and savory fillings like goat cheese with pistachios and hot honey, brie with pecans and rosemary, ricotta with sun-dried tomatoes and basil, peanut butter with nuts and chocolate, almond butter with raspberries, and peanut butter with banana and chocolate drizzle. Perfect for quick snacks or elegant appetizers.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12 soft Medjool dates (pitted)
Goat Cheese, Pistachio & Hot Honey Filling
- 4 ounces goat cheese (softened, try Trader Joe's Caramelized Onion)
- ¼ cup chopped pistachios
- 3 tablespoons hot honey (or to taste)
Brie, Pecan & Rosemary Filling
- 4 ounces brie cheese (cut into 12 small pieces, about 1 teaspoon each)
- 12 pecan halves
- Chopped fresh rosemary (to taste)
Ricotta, Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Filling
- 4 ounces ricotta cheese
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
- 12 oil-packed sun-dried tomato halves
- 12 fresh basil leaves
Snickers Inspired Filling
- 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup roasted salted peanuts (finely chopped, divided)
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips (melted)
Almond Butter & Raspberry Filling
- 6 tablespoons creamy almond butter
- 12 fresh raspberries
Chunky Monkey Filling
- 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 12 thin banana slices
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips (melted)
Instructions
- Prepare Dates: With the tip of a small, sharp knife, carefully make a slit in each date and remove the pit. Arrange the dates on a plate or a parchment-lined baking sheet if baking later.
- Goat Cheese Pistachio Hot Honey: Stuff each date with goat cheese using a small spreader. Sprinkle chopped pistachios on top and drizzle with hot honey to taste.
- Brie Pecan Rosemary: Place a piece of brie cheese and a pecan half inside each date. Sprinkle with freshly chopped rosemary for an aromatic finish.
- Ricotta Sun-Dried Tomato: Mix ricotta cheese with kosher salt and optional lemon zest. Stuff this mixture into the date along with one sun-dried tomato half and a fresh basil leaf.
- Snickers Style: Fill each date with one teaspoon of creamy peanut butter and a pinch of finely chopped roasted salted peanuts. Dip the filled dates into melted dark chocolate, then sprinkle more chopped peanuts on top.
- Almond Butter Raspberry: Stuff each date with one and a half teaspoons of creamy almond butter, then press a fresh raspberry into the center.
- Chunky Monkey: Fill each date with one teaspoon of creamy peanut butter and top with a thin banana slice. Drizzle melted dark chocolate over the tops of these stuffed dates.
Notes
- This recipe offers six delicious sweet and savory stuffed date options, perfect for snacks or party appetizers.
- Use soft Medjool dates for easier stuffing and the best flavor.
- If baking, arrange dates on a parchment-lined baking sheet to avoid sticking and easier cleanup.
- Adjust quantity of hot honey and chopped nuts to your taste preference for sweetness and texture.
- For a dairy-free or vegan option, substitute cheeses with plant-based alternatives and use nut butters accordingly.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature depending on preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 date
- Calories: 122 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 4 mg
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