March 27, 2015

Coconut Date Spread

This coconut date spread is naturally sweet and perfect for slathering on your favorite bread or morning toast. You can even add it to oatmeal for a sweet bite.

I have a nut butter problem. In fact, I’m headed to Trader Joe’s today for my monthly stock up trip. TJ’s is about 45 minutes away so every trip results in weird stares from the Hawaiian shirted cash register person as I unload 2-5 of pretty much everything in my cart, almond butter included. Somehow though, even 5 jars of the stuff doesn’t seem to last a month. From spreading it on paleo english muffins, dropping a big spoonful into oatmeal, random 3pm spoonfuls as snacks or shoving it in a date before CrossFit, the jar is empty in about 5 days flat and that’s only if Ulysses hasn’t decided to make his pb&j lunch an ab&j instead, in which case the life span gets cut to about 4 days.

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So as I’ve sat here nut butter-less for the last 6 days or so, an idea came up as I stared at a pantry full of Natural Delights medjool dates…make a date butter.

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It’s not quite nut butter and it’s not quite jam but it’s naturally sweet, packed with potassium and makes the perfect spread for your morning toast or dollop into your hot bowl of oats. It also does real well in the 3pm “omg I need a snack now and it has to be sweet” kind of emergency that seems to happen every single day of my life. Usually, the jar of Nutella and I get real close at that time of day but this coconut date spread works a heck of a lot better when it comes to satisfying that craving without making me want to cry in the Target dressing room when I realize these almost 33 year old thighs really have no business with 3pm spoonfuls of Nutella.

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{Dates make a great base for energy bites like these chia cherry crunch bites or these nutella cookie dough balls too!}

Serves 1     adjust servings

Coconut Date Spread

Preparation 10 min Prep Time
Cook Time
Total Time 10 mins Total Time

This coconut date spread is naturally sweet and perfect for slathering on your favorite bread or morning toast. You can even add it to oatmeal for a sweet bite.

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Ingredients

  • 15 medjool dates, pitted and halved
  • 1/2 cup macadamia nuts
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
  • 2 tablespoons coconut cream (from the top of a full fat can of coconut milk)
  • 1/4 cup coconut water (from the bottom of a full fat can of coconut milk)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of sea salt

Instructions

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed, about 3-5 minutes.

*This post is sponsored by Natural Delights. All content and opinions are my own.

14 Comments

  2. Nutmeg Nanny

    I cannot wait to hit up Trader Joe’s tonight. I’m going to pretty much buy the entire store. That’s cool, right? This spread sounds so delicious and it’s a great way to use up dates. Love this!

    Reply ↓
  6. Julie | This Gal Cooks

    I’m totally into the nut butters too, lately. I’ve always been into peanut butter, which isn’t even a nut but I’m obsessed with it. Now I’m getting into almond butter and love using it in smoothies and on toast. Cashew butter is next on the list to try but I heard it’s dangerously good which makes it dangerous. ;) Totally LOVE this coconut date butter, Gina! Gotta try this soon and bring it to work for those 3pm snack cravings that I also have.

    Reply ↓

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