Coconut tahini stuffed dates make the best sweet snack or mini dessert. In each mouthful you get the caramel flavour of medjool dates, sweet coconut and creamy tahini. Super easy to make, gluten free, dairy free and vegan-friendly.
It’s been a busy few weeks at my place; I’ve been plagued by assignments and feeling-guilty-when-not-working-on-assignments! Haha. A very horrible and pesky kind of guilt that’s very hard to shake off. And which tends to get progressively worse and worse because it’s so tempting to ignore your assignment and do satisfying chores like tidying your bedroom and cooking nice food. Whoops.
Now that I’ve got a few minutes to spare though, I want to share my recipe for these coconut tahini stuffed dates. They’re one of the sweet snacks that really helped bump me through my last round of study and assignments! The perfect bite size, these stuffed dates provide a sweet little energy boost coupled with healthy satisfying fats from the tahini. Seriously yum, these are perfect for afternoon tea or for a cheeky quick dessert.
(Or for any time you need to take a break from something that is driving you insane!)
The best thing about these coconut tahini stuffed dates is that they are a total breeze to make! Just mix together the filling and scoop it in, then pop the dates into the fridge or freezer to set. I actually like eating mine straight from the freezer – I find dates to be super sweet, and eating them from frozen kind of mellows out the sweetness a bit. Plus I just love the firmer texture. If you can handle the coldness, try it!
In case you haven’t noticed from other recipes on this site or from my Instagram feed, I am pretty obsessed with tahini and just loooove finding a way to squeeze it in to any meal, any way that I can find. However if you are not totally tahini mad like me, then you can use a nut butter in this recipe instead e.g.
- almond butter;
- cashew butter;
- peanut butter; or
- macadamia nut butter.
If you try this recipe, tell me whether you like them frozen or from the fridge! Leave me a comment below, or why not take a snap and tag me on Instagram, I’m @nourish_everyday 🙂
Coconut Tahini Stuffed Dates
Ingredients
- 16 medjool dates
- 1/2 cup tahini (I used hulled tahini in this recipe)
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Place tahini in a small saucepan and place over a low heat on the stove, so the tahini softens. Add in the vanilla, cinnamon and maple syrup (if using all of them) and combine. Add in the shredded coconut and mix again to form a thick paste. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- While the tahini mixture is cooling, remove pits from the dates, carefully slicing down one side of the date only, so you've got something to scoop the tahini mix into.
- Stuff each date with approximately 1 heaped teaspoon of the tahini mix, placing them on a tray/plate as you go. Once all the dates have been stuffed, place in the fridge or freezer for one hour to firm up. (They may need slightly longer in the fridge; I usually put them in the freezer).
- Enjoy! These can be kept in the fridge or freezer. They should keep well for about three months if frozen.
Notes
p.s. While you’re in tahini mode try out my Roasted Carrot Tahini Dip and this Creamy Cashew Tahini Herb Sauce!
I just made a mini version and tried it with one date (minus the cooking part, my tahini is super runny), it was delicious! I’m 35 weeks pregnant and wanting to up my date intake before labour so I’ll be making a full batch of these very soon!
Hi Melissa, thank you so much for leaving this lovely comment and review. I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe, and wish you all the very best with the arrival of bub!
I love these! I made some last night, refrigerated them, and just had 2 with my after dinner espresso – a perfect combination. Thanks!
Oh YUM – coffee and dates is the best combination! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave feedback 🙂
Im gonna be really honest. I did not like the filling – once cooled down – at all. Became rather bitter and that’s with the maple syrup added. Even though tahini is my favorite food, kids were going to be eating this, so i added the syrup. To me, this was honestly a waste of fantastic dates and delicious tahini. My stepfather, who literally likes anything, said something was “off” about them. My mother said she’s “used to better cooking” from me. So yeh, this was not a hit.
You must’ve used old tahini or something, because they were DELICIOUS when I made them.
Made these for our food festival at work. They are delicious! Had to make extra so I have enough to bring to the office. Can’t stop snacking on them!
Hi Nathalie, thank you so much for your positive feedback! It means a lot to me. Haha I have to hide mine deep down in the freezer otherwise I just eat them all 🙂
How delicious do these dates look?!? I have had almond stuffed dates before, but never tahini and coconut. I am so excited to try these as I love tahini, coconut, AND dates!
Aw, thank you so much Meredith! Haha yep, this recipe has basically everything I love in it too, such a winner 🙂
I’ve heard of stuffed dates before but haven’t tried them yet. I love all of the ingredients, so this sounds delicious! I’ll have to make this soon.
Oh yes you’ll definitely have to give stuffed dates a go – so easy and super delish. They’re perfect for when you want a little sweet treat without too much fuss 🙂
I love a stuffed date – and with tahini! Sign me up. These are such a great snack for entertaining.
Thank you so much 🙂 I love anything with tahini so it just had to go into dates too!
I don’t know how you do all you do! These stuffed dates look like a great appetizer for gluten free entertaining – kind of fancy without requiring a ton of work! I’m definitely Pinning to try!
Hahaha I don’t sleep much! You’re exactly right with these stuffed dates – they look super pretty but only take about ten minutes. Total lifesaver!
Never thought of pairing tahini with dates. What an interesting combo. Can’t wait to try out these appetizers at my next party.
They pair very well together I promise 🙂 Sweet and creamy in perfect balance!
These are so special! I LOVE dates but have never had them stuffed like this. I can’t wait to try them!
Thanks so much Emily! Yes definitely try them stuffed – it’s so easy and so tasty. The perfect little mouthful 🙂
I know a couple of teenagers who would just go crazy over these! 😉
I’d say they’re very good teenagers then 😛
LOVE this combination!! Pinning and will make these asap!
Yes to ‘cheeky dessert’ (lol)
YUM!
Haha I’m glad to hear you’re on board with a cheeky dessert! Thanks so much Carol!
One of my favorite snacks on the GAPS Diet was medjool dates stuffed with peanut butter. Being Jewish and loving the foods of my mother, childhood and Israel, this tahini version definitely hits home. Sounds SO good!! Plus yours are so pretty with the garnishes sprinkled on top.
So lovely to read this comment Megan, and learn a little something about you! I often make these with peanut butter too… peanut butter and dates is also an awesome combination 🙂
I don;t use tahini nearly enough…and I really love the flavor of sesame…so this is a great way to use it!!
haha, I use tahini probably too much (if that’s even possible). We go through so many jars of it at our place!
Wow, these sound fancy! Haha. I pretty much love anything with tahini in it, though, so I’m sure they’re amazingly delicious!
Hehe they sound fancy but they’re really not! I’m obsessed with tahini too!
I have been using dates so much lately, but never though of doing this with them! Yum!
Oh you’ll have to try it Linda! It’s such a quick yummy dessert/snack to make, I am obsessed!
These sound so so perfect! I would have a hard time eating just one. Love the combination of the flavors and loving your photos as well!
Aw, thanks so much Jean! I found the dates a bit hard to photograph at first, but then they ended up turning out well 🙂 Haha and I keep them in the freezer so I don’t eat them all at once!