I’ve been making stuffed dates for years, ever since I embarked on my healthy eating journey. It’s such an easy dessert and tastes absolutely divine! A great way to satisfy my sweet tooth, but with better-for-me ingredients.

For this recipe, date bark meets stuffed dates in a new sweet snack: smashed dates! With a caramel-y base, creamy “nutty” middle, and salted chocolate shell.

Between the date bark trend and it’s myriad of variations and the not-new but recently re-loved idea of stuffed dates, dates are really have a moment right now. But there is something about this lesser known SMASHED date concept that really appeals to me.

How do you make Smashed Dates?

The concept is pretty self-explanatory – you slice a date lengthwise, remove the pit, and then smash it. Getting the shape just right takes a bit of practice, but you are going for as close to a circle as possible and a little bit of concavity in the middle helps too. Using moist, fresh dates will make this easiest, and create the gooiest most delicious taste experience too. After the smashing part, the rest of this recipe is really flexible and open to creativity.

They are sweet, salty, creamy, and all-around magical – a treat so simple yet so satisfying, it feels like cheating. With just three ingredients for the base – dates, peanut butter and protein powder plus chocolate chips and coconut oil for the magic shell – you can create a snack that looks fancy enough for a dinner party but takes less time to make than your morning coffee.

You also have the option of drizzling melted chocolate over the stuffed dates or just dipping them half way into the chocolate to add a decadent touch. Oh my!

Dates are the unsung heroes of the snack world. Naturally sweet with a caramel-like flavor and a soft, chewy texture, they are basically nature’s candy. But when you pair them with rich, creamy coconut butter and a pinch of coarse salt? That’s when the magic happens.

Dates give this recipe incredible flavour and encase the nut butter for the ultimate deliciousness. Dates are also loaded with fibre, potassium, magnesium, and antioxidants. Plus they contain minerals and vitamins to support brain, digestive, and heart health and protect against disease. You don’t get that from sugar laden store bought candy – nothing to see there but empty calories.

The salt enhances the sweetness of the dates, the nut butter adds a luxurious richness, and together they create a perfectly balanced bite that will leave your taste buds doing a happy dance. These little bites of joy are versatile, too. Serve them as a party appetizer or dessert at a family gathering or BBQ, or keep a stash in your fridge for when those sweet-and-salty cravings strike.

No baking, no fancy equipment – just slice, stuff, sprinkle, dip and enjoy. It proves the adage that sometimes the most simple treats are the best. These snacks are perfect to carry with you wherever you go so that you can enjoy a quick pick me up that is healthy and free of chemicals and sugar.

One of the reasons why candy has been deemed “unhealthy” is because it typically lacks nutrients that work to keep our blood sugar balanced, hormones happy and provide an overall feeling of satiation, hence why most of the time we are still hungry after consuming. This healthier stuffed date recipe sneaks in a ton of nutrients to help keep us satisfied. It has an optimal balance of macro-nutrients (protein, healthy carbs and fats + fiber) unlike pretty much all store bought candy.

Hence this healthy date candy is both low-carb and packed with healthy fats and antioxidants. Eating more healthy fats is a great way to help satisfying your sweet cravings without the sugar. These little delights are the perfect addition to any healthy eating plan.

Yes siree, this stuffed date protein candy is super rich, uber-decadent – but secretly healthy and guilt-free!  Yup, that means no butter, no white sugar and no sweetened condensed milk…  just pure, fudgy, nutty, chocolatey goodness.

They taste amazing because they are made with the highest quality dates and filled with creamy coconut butter – the epitome of a guilt-free sweet treat to satisfy your sweet tooth, give yourself an energy boost and all without compromising your commitment to your health.

A better for you dessert that still tastes super indulgent. The perfect way to treat yourself or to gift to a loved one.

Smashed Protein Date Bites

Date bark meets stuffed dates in a new sweet snack: smashed dates! With a caramel-y base, creamy “nutty” middle, and salted chocolate shell. These smashed stuffed protein dates have the same nostalgic flavors as the beloved snickers candy bar but are made with better-for-you ingredients and come together in no time!

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword clean eating candy, clean eating dessert or snack, healthy date candy, healthy date caramels, healthy date chocolate protein bites no bake, protein date snacks, smashed protein date bites

Servings 12

Ingredients

• 12 dates - pitted
• 1/2 cup peanut (or any other nut or seed) butter
• Peanuts – roasted, crushed (optional)
• Flaky sea salt - optional

Chocolate Topping

• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons coconut oil

Instructions

• Open the dates and remove the pit and place them on a baking sheet.

  Smash. Use the bottom of a glass or a jar to smash them down. I recommend placing some parchment paper over top of the dates to prevent them from sticking.

  Tops:  Line both side of the dates with parchment paper when smashing the dates to prevent sticking - no mess, no fuss!

  Smash the dates thin for more topping space. A flatter date gives you more surface area for your favorite toppings. Prefer a sweeter,chewier bite? Lightly press instead.

  Top each flattened date with a spoonful of peanut butter. Make sure to cover the top of the date evenly. Next melt the chocolate topping,

Chocolate Topping

• Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave with 15 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.

  Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.

  Pour a spoonful of melted chocolate over each date, letting it cascade over the peanut butter layer. Sprinkle crushed peanuts and flaky sea salt for a salty treat, if desired.

  Place the tray in the fridge or freezer for 30 minutes to an hour until the chocolate hardens.

  Store the bites in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer to keep them fresh. They will last up to a week in the fridge and longer in the freezer.

  If stored in the fridge, let the bites sit at room temperature for a few minutes before enjoying for the best chewy texture.

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If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites