Date paste is a rich and sweet natural sweetener, perfect for enhancing your desserts. It's incredibly easy to prepare and can be used in ice cream, as a base in other recipes, or swirled in for a touch of sweetness. Its smooth texture and delicate flavor make it an ideal complement to vanilla, chocolate, or even fruit ice cream.
Ingredients :
- 300g of pitted dates (preferably Medjool for their sweetness)
- 150 ml of hot water
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (optional, to balance the sweetness)
- 1 pinch of salt (to bring out the flavor)
Preparation :
- Prepare the dates.
If your dates are a little dry, soak them in hot water for about 10 minutes to soften them. This will make them easier to blend and give the dough a smoother texture. - Blending the Dates:
Drain the softened dates and place them in a blender. Add the hot water (adjusting the amount to achieve the desired consistency), lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Blend until you obtain a smooth, homogeneous paste. If it is too thick, add a little more hot water, one spoonful at a time. - Adjust the texture.
Continue blending until you get a creamy paste. You can leave it slightly grainy for more texture or blend it until perfectly smooth, depending on your preference. - Store your date paste
the date paste into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep easily for several weeks.
My Personal Tip:
Date paste is perfect for making homemade "Snickers"-style ice cream bars. Simply spread it on a base of chocolate or vanilla ice cream, then cover it with melted chocolate and freeze. You can also use it as a natural binder in frozen crumble recipes or incorporate it into banana ice cream for a sugar-free, yet incredibly delicious dessert. Its creamy texture makes it ideal for replacing sugar in fruit-based ice creams!
And there you have it, a homemade date paste that offers tons of creative and healthy possibilities for your Ninja Creami ice creams. Explore all these ideas!
