Chocolate Covered Dates

These chocolate covered dates are rich in flavour and high in nutrients making them a wholesome little snack or dessert. Great for gifts too!

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: Australian

Keyword: Chocolate, Easy, Valentine's Day

Prep Time: 10

Chilling time: 40

Total Time: 50

Servings: servings

Calories: 229kcal

Author: Gabby Campbell

Ingredients

12 Large Medjool dates, pitted
200 g dark chocolate
½ cup crunchy peanut butter (or any nut or seed butter you like)
Toppings of choice to sprinkle on top. Things like sea salt, chopped nuts, and rose petals are great.

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

Line a large baking tray with a piece of parchment paper and set a wire rack over the top. Set aside.
Make a slit lengthways down each date and remove the seed. Don't cut all the way through. You want the date to remain intact.
Spread a teaspoon of peanut butter (or more if you like) into the center of each date (or your choice of nut or seed butter). One all are complete, add the stuffed dates onto a large plate and put this in the freezer while you melt the chocolate and prep any toppings.
Place the dates on a plate in the freezer for 10 - 15 minutes to chill. This will make them much easier to dip in the chocolate.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler (see note 1) over a very low heat, or in the microwave using a microwave-safe bowl if preferred. Remove from the heat once completely melted.
Remove the dates from the freezer and dip each into the melted chocolate using two forks. Set it on a wire rack to allow the excess chocolate to drip off (see note 2). If you don't have one, gently shake the date while you're holding it between the forks then set it on a tray lined with baking paper. If using toppings quickly add them to the top of the dates before the chocolate sets (a sprinkle of flaky sea salt is divine!). Repeat until all the dates are covered in chocolate.
Place in the fridge for 30 mins then enjoy!

Video

Notes

Store the dates in the fridge or freezer to ensure the chocolate doesn't melt.

Note 1: A double boiler is a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water allowing for gentle, indirect heat to melt the chocolate. If you want to melt the chocolate in the microwave instead that's fine too.

Note 2: I put these on a wire rack so that any excess chocolate drips through and they keep a nice shape. They will stick to the rack though so when placing them down ensure the peanut butter side is facing up. You will need to keep track of where that is as you toss them through the chocolate! I've found if this side is touching the rack quite a lot of chocolate and peanut butter will stick to it when you try to take them off. Only small amounts do on the other side. If you're less concerned about the way they look you can simply sit them on a plate or tray that's been lined with baking paper. The only difference will be a small amount of excess chocolate forming a little base around the date.

Nutrition