lets see 8 trend Muffin Recipes with Date Paste, Date paste is a useful pantry staple made from pureed dates that adds natural sweetness and richness to many dishes. With its sticky texture and caramel-like flavour, date paste enhances both sweet and savory recipes. This versatile ingredient can replace refined sugar in everything from dressings to baked goods. Read on for some delicious ways to cook with date paste.
What is Date Paste?
Date paste goes by many names like date syrup, date molasses, silan, and rub. Essentially it is made by cooking chopped dates into a thick, smooth puree. The fiber is strained out, leaving just the sweet date-flavored liquid. Look for date paste at Middle Eastern markets or make your own by simmering pitted dates with a little water and blending until smooth.
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Swapping Date Paste for Sugar
In most recipes, you can replace up to half the granulated sugar called for with date paste. The paste adds comparable sweetness plus a touch of earthiness. For every 1 cup of sugar, substitute 1/2 cup date paste and reduce the total liquid by 2-4 tablespoons. The exceptions are recipes leavened with yeast, where too much date paste can inhibit rising.
8 trend Muffin Recipes with Date Paste
Date Paste Energy Bites
These no-bake energy bites make a nutritious snack using the binding power of date paste.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pitted dates, soaked in water
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1⁄2 cup almond butter
- 1⁄4 cup date paste
- 1⁄4 cup toasted coconut flakes
- 1⁄4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions:
- Drain the soaked dates and add to a food processor with the oats, almond butter, date paste and salt. Pulse until a sticky dough forms.
- Stir in the coconut flakes and chocolate chips if desired.
- Roll tablespoon sized pieces of dough into balls and refrigerate until firm.
Date Paste Salad Dressing
A touch of date paste gives this vinaigrette extra body and a mild caramel note.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons date paste
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions: Whisk together all ingredients until emulsified. Taste and adjust acidity or sweetness as desired. Drizzle over green salads, roasted vegetables, or grains.
Date Paste Oatmeal Cookies
These soft oatmeal cookies get a double dose of sweetness from dates and date paste.
Ingredients:
- 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 3⁄4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
- 1⁄2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1⁄2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped pitted dates
- 1⁄3 cup date paste
Instructions:
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.
- In a separate large bowl, beat the butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Stir in the oats, dates and date paste until evenly mixed.
- Scoop rounded tablespoon portions of dough onto baking sheets. Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes.
Date Paste Stuffed French Toast
Date paste in the filling takes this French toast over the top.
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1⁄4 cup date paste
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 8 slices challah or brioche bread
- 2 eggs
- 1⁄2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Butter for frying
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions:
- Blend together the cream cheese, date paste and honey. Spread evenly on 4 bread slices. Top with remaining bread.
- Whisk eggs, milk and vanilla. Dip sandwiches in mixture, soaking well.
- Melt butter in a large skillet. Cook soaked sandwiches until golden on both sides.
- Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy!
With its caramel-like sweetness and sticky texture, date paste adds satisfying flavor and natural sweetness to both sweet and savory recipes. Next time a dish could use a touch of sweetness, consider swapping in this popular Middle Eastern pantry staple.
Easy Date Paste Streusel Muffins
These bakery-style muffins have a crunchy streusel topping flavored with date paste. The date paste also boosts the sweetness and moisture in the batter.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 3⁄4 cup milk
- 1⁄3 cup vegetable oil
- 1⁄3 cup date paste
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Streusel Topping:
- 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1⁄4 cup rolled oats
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons date paste
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
- Make the streusel: In a small bowl, combine the 1⁄4 cup flour, oats, brown sugar, date paste, butter and cinnamon. Mix with a fork until crumbly.
- Make the muffins: Whisk together 2 cups flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, whisk the egg, milk, oil, date paste and vanilla.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir just until combined.
- Divide batter among the muffin cups. Sprinkle streusel topping evenly over each muffin.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Spiced Date Paste Carrot Muffins
Warm spices like cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg complement the flavor of dates in these tasty carrot-based muffins.
Ingredients:
- 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ginger
- 1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 3⁄4 cup date paste
- 1⁄3 cup milk
- 1⁄3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1⁄2 cup raisins or chopped dates
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the date paste, milk, oil and eggs until smooth.
- Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until combined. Fold in the carrots and raisins.
- Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling them about 3⁄4 full.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow to cool 5 minutes before removing from pan.
Lemon Date Paste Poppy Seed Muffins
The lemon glaze on these muffins provides a tangy contrast to the sweet date paste and poppy seeds.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 3⁄4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1⁄3 cup date paste
- 1⁄3 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Lemon Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together yogurt, date paste, milk, egg and lemon zest until blended.
- Add wet ingredients to dry and stir just until combined. Fold in poppy seeds.
- Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups. Bake 18-20 minutes until lightly golden on top.
- Once cooled, make the glaze by mixing powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to reach a drizzling consistency.
- Drizzle glaze over muffins and let set before serving.
With its caramel notes and natural binding ability, date paste makes muffins extra moist and flavorful. Let these recipes inspire you to use date paste in your next batch of bakery-worthy muffins.
I made Lemon Date Paste Poppy Seed Muffins exactly like the recipe. They turned out fantastic, not too sweet. I’ll be making them again.