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May 8, 2013

Chocolate Covered Coconut Stuffed Dates (Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Paleo)

Medjool dates are stuffed with a moist coconut filling and dipped in chocolate for an easy but impressive sweet treat.

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Medjools; long considered the king of dates are thought to be one of the oldest cultivated fruits. Highly sought after due to a rather labor-intensive cultivation they were primarily consumed by royalty and reserved for special occasions.

Fortunately for us all, these dates have become much more common and accessible, but as popular as they’ve become, they’ll always have the aura of being special and a little exotic.

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Amber colored with a crinkly outer skin and moist interior flesh that’s reminiscent of caramel and honey, they have a soft, creamy, slightly chewy texture and are filled with fiber, potassium, magnesium and other minerals. (It’s no wonder they’re often referred to as “nature’s candy”.)

Their caramel-like and complex flavor makes them a natural in desserts as an all-natural sugar substitute, but I think they hold their own nicely especially when stuffed and dressed up in chocolate.

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Simplicity (as it often is) is the key to success here. The soft, sweet dates are stuffed with a filling of moist coconut subtly flavored with just the barest hint of vanilla or cinnamon.

I like to use a combination of orange blossom honey and cinnamon for a spicy, floral note but maple syrup makes for a tasty version as well.

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When chilled they get firm and pleasantly chewy, however a little rest on the counter top will make them a bit silkier. A pinch of sea salt (or if you prefer, a pink Himalayan variety) enters as a background note, adding a lingering taste that rounds out the sweetness.

Then comes the fun; the whole thing takes a dip in a rich raw chocolate bath, encasing the dates in a thin shell of flaky chocolate that cracks gently between your teeth giving way to the chewy date and tender filling underneath. A sprinkle of coconut on top finishes them off.

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Package them up in a pretty box and you have homemade gift that’s sure to be remembered. Or, treat yourself and keep these on hand for an after dinner or mid-afternoon treat with a cup of tea.

Chocolate Covered Coconut Stuffed Dates Recipe (Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Paleo)

Yields makes about 20 stuffed dates

Raw Chocolate Covered Dates Stuffed with a Chewy Coconut Filling

45 minPrep Time

1 hrTotal Time

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Ingredients

    For the Stuffed Dates:
  • 1/2 cup/40g unsweetened shredded coconut (plus extra for topping)
  • 2 tablespoons/ 30ml Coconut oil, melted
  • 2 tablespoons/ 30ml Maple syrup or raw honey for a non-vegan version (I like orange blossom honey here)
  • Pinch of sea salt or pink Himalayan salt
  • ½ a vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped or ¼ tsp cinnamon (optional but recommended if using the orange blossom honey)
  • About 20 large very soft Medjool dates
  • For the Raw Dipping Chocolate
  • ½ cup/ 120ml coconut oil, melted
  • ½ cup/ 112g raw cacao (or natural cocoa powder for a non-raw version), sifted
  • ¼ cup/ 60ml maple syrup or raw honey for a non-vegan version
  • Pinch of sea salt or pink Himalayan salt

Instructions

    Prepare the stuffed dates:
  1. In the bowl of a food processor (or alternative mix together by hand for a more textured version), combine the shredded coconut, coconut oil maple syrup pinch of salt and scraped vanilla bean (or cinnamon if using). Process until a smooth paste is formed, set aside.
  2. Cut the dates in half lengthwise on one side and remove the pit.
  3. Stuff a small amount of coconut mixture in each date and press to close.
  4. Place stuffed dates in the freezer to firm for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Prepare the dipping chocolate
  6. Combine the melted coconut oil with the cacao powder in a medium sized bowl and whisk to combine.
  7. Add in maple syrup and a pinch of salt and whisk again to incorporate until smooth.
  8. Dip the cold dates in the chocolate. Roll each to cover completely and then lift out with a fork letting the excess chocolate drip off before placing on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  9. Sprinkle extra shredded coconut on top of each chocolate covered date as you go.
  10. Place the finished dates in the refrigerator to firm.
  11. Serve cold or bring to room temperature for 10 minutes before serving for a softer bite.

Notes

Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan (use maple syrup instead of honey), Raw, Paleo, Refined Sugar-Free

7.8.1.2
83
https://gourmandeinthekitchen.com/chocolate-coconut-stuffed-dates-recipe/
gourmandeinthekitchen.com


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Filed Under: Courses/Meal, Diets, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Paleo, Raw, Recipes, Sweets, Vegan Tagged With: candy, chocolate, coconut, dates, gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, raw

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    Rate this recipe: ☆☆☆☆☆

  1. Rosa says

    May 8, 2013 at 12:46 am

    Delicious! A wonderful tea/coffee time treat. Cheers, Rosa
    Reply
  2. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

    May 8, 2013 at 4:21 am

    Aren't medjool dates wonderful? So sweet, soft inside and all over wonderful. I love what you've done to them.
    Reply
  3. Carolyn says

    May 8, 2013 at 4:49 am

    Just lovely. I wish I could eat dates but they would send my blood glucose soaring. Still, I can admire your lovely creation.
    Reply
  4. Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says

    May 8, 2013 at 5:49 am

    Such a pretty presentation!
    Reply
  5. Sophia @ NY Foodgasm says

    May 8, 2013 at 7:04 am

    WOW and yummmmmmm! This sounds AMAZING and decadent!
    Reply
  6. Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

    May 8, 2013 at 7:06 am

    Oh my! I looove this idea! I love coconut and dates! Cover it all in chocolate and it's a bliss! :) Pinning!
    Reply
  7. Helene Dsouza says

    May 8, 2013 at 8:14 am

    I am quite fussy with dates. Not sure if I had had the Medjools variety before, but they do look interesting. A very smart treat Sylvie!
    Reply
  8. Alyssa (Everyday Maven) says

    May 8, 2013 at 9:03 am

    Medjool are by far my favorite dates. I rarely don't have a huge mason jar full of them. This is absolutely beautiful and I am sure delicious!
    Reply
  9. najwa kronfel says

    May 8, 2013 at 9:39 am

    I love dates, what a wonderful treat!
    Reply
  10. Malgosia says

    May 8, 2013 at 11:01 am

    Totally making this! Maybe with regular melted chocolate to coat, but still!
    Reply
    • Sylvie says

      May 8, 2013 at 6:48 pm

      That works too!
      Reply
  11. sweetsugarbelle says

    May 8, 2013 at 1:31 pm

    I adore dates, Sylvie! My mouth is watering!
    Reply
  12. Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says

    May 8, 2013 at 3:19 pm

    Such a delish, elegant and EASY idea for parties! I love it, Sylvie!
    Reply
  13. Emily Whitish says

    May 8, 2013 at 5:17 pm

    Oh my gosh I am SO making these! Almost like a mounds bar but fancier. Great idea!
    Reply
  14. Grace @ Perpetual Nomming says

    May 8, 2013 at 7:37 pm

    These are definitely going on my Mother's Day list! My mom absolutely loves dates and coconut, so together.....mmm!
    Reply
  15. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

    May 8, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    Dates are such a treat, love the dip in chocolate!
    Reply
  16. chinmayie @ love food eat says

    May 8, 2013 at 10:35 pm

    This is such a delicious gift idea! Looks lovely :)
    Reply
  17. Brian @ A Thought For Food says

    May 9, 2013 at 4:32 am

    These look so simple and elegant. And, being a bit coconut obsessed, I just love that you not only include it inside but how it's sprinkled on top too. Gorgeous.
    Reply
  18. Kate@Diethood says

    May 9, 2013 at 7:16 am

    Oh my, my, my... This sounds amazing, and the photos are so stunning, as always.
    Reply
  19. Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says

    May 9, 2013 at 9:03 am

    Oh, how I adore Medjools! Could eat them in bulk. Love coconut and chocolate, too. What I appreciate is that you used orange blossom honey with the cinnamon and a hint of vanilla. I can taste these in my head! Who needs Mounds candy bars? Must make these ASAP. A perfect gift for Mother's Day, too! Sylvie, you've created nature's ultimate candy bar! Pinning... xo
    Reply
  20. TidyMom says

    May 9, 2013 at 12:20 pm

    Dates bring back such fond memories for me!! My grandma always them at her house, and I would eat them every time I spent the night there - I never had them any where else. This looks fabulous Sylvie!!
    Reply
  21. Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective says

    May 9, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    This is my kind of snack!
    Reply
  22. Nami | Just One Cookbook says

    May 9, 2013 at 2:08 pm

    Gorgeous treats! Medjool dates - I will remember that. I like the dates, coconut and chocolate combination!
    Reply
  23. Jen @ Savory Simple says

    May 9, 2013 at 2:50 pm

    What a perfectly wonderful dessert. Beautiful to look at and I can only imagine how amazing this tastes.
    Reply
  24. Laura @ Family Spice says

    May 10, 2013 at 5:06 am

    Love that they are stuffed with coconut instead of the traditional walnuts. Oh yeah, and drowned in chocolate - yum!
    Reply
  25. Jodye @ Chocolate and Chou Fleur says

    May 10, 2013 at 6:26 am

    And I still thought that Medjools were reserved for royalty... that's why they arrived on my doorstep by the pound every week, right? Anyway, these coconut stuffed dates, that are covered in chocolate, sound so amazing! I think we were sharing brainwaves, because this is something I would absolutely make with no changes whatsoever. I always make changes to recipes! As much as I'd love to gift these to somebody, I don't think they'd make it that far!
    Reply
  26. shelly (cookies and cups) says

    May 10, 2013 at 6:36 am

    These are gorgeous! Maybe you could box some up and send them my way? :)
    Reply
  27. SpicieFoodie says

    May 10, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    Dates are one of my favorite treats. I'm so excited to see your recipe and give it a try very soon. The chocolate, coconut and dates together sound dreamy. Thanks for sharing!
    Reply
  28. Kankana says

    May 10, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    Such a clever idea! I love dates, coconut and who doesn't love chocolate, right :)
    Reply
  29. Vanille says

    May 10, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    The kind of little treat I can't stop snacking on !
    Reply
  30. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:55 pm

    Total yum! I love the coconut stuffing! And chocolate. Dates too. Well, all of the above :D
    Reply
  31. Sarah @ SimplyScrumptiousBySarah says

    May 11, 2013 at 6:48 pm

    Yum!! I am just getting into the whole raw food thing and I love dates! These look amazing! :-)
    Reply
  32. Ashfoodfashionparty says

    May 12, 2013 at 8:13 am

    Simply beautiful....You are an inspiration for my food photography..
    Reply
  33. kale says

    May 12, 2013 at 1:03 pm

    totally agree about simplicity; it lets this exotic treat shine!
    Reply
  34. Jeanette says

    May 12, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    What a perfect healthy treat to satisfy any sweet tooth - thanks Sylvie!
    Reply
  35. Nutmeg Nanny says

    May 12, 2013 at 8:39 pm

    These are beautiful little treats :) they look delicious!
    Reply
  36. Viviane Bauquet Farre- Food and Style says

    May 12, 2013 at 9:02 pm

    Such a great treat, Sylvie!
    Reply
  37. Spencer says

    May 15, 2013 at 5:09 pm

    Looks absolutely amazing! I would so love to try some.
    Reply
  38. kulsum@journeykitchen says

    May 21, 2013 at 12:15 am

    We make something similar for Eid around Ramadan. So pretty!
    Reply
  39. Fresh and Foodie says

    May 23, 2013 at 12:05 pm

    I love these! I'm obsessed with dates (I usually eat a few every day as a snack at work), but I never thought of stuffing them in a non savory way. Great idea.
    Reply
  40. Leah says

    February 22, 2014 at 2:39 pm

    I've been eyeing these gems forever. I bet you could make them with an almond or hazelnut filled center...! Doin it now!
    Reply
    • Sylvie says

      February 23, 2014 at 11:40 pm

      Those fillings would be great as well, I hope you enjoy them!
      Reply
  41. Maggie says

    September 18, 2014 at 5:49 am

    Oh wow. This looks absolutely fantastic, and sounds really tasty. I want to try at some stage!
    Reply
  42. Cathy says

    February 8, 2015 at 10:41 am

    Love this! I could eat coconut on anything :) your photos are also beautiful
    Reply
  43. Jeff says

    January 20, 2016 at 6:52 pm

    I love coconut covered dates but this recipe sounds out-of--this-world! I can't wait to try it. Does anyone have a recipe for coconut covered dates? I can't find them anywhere! Thanks!
    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. chocolate-covered coconut-stuffed dates | made with cobb says:
    May 9, 2013 at 3:35 pm
    [...] saw this recipe yesterday, here, and immediately knew i had to try it [...]
    Reply
  2. Random Roundup for June 22, 2013 | It's Primal Y'all! says:
    June 22, 2013 at 3:51 am
    [...] We should not eat sweets every day,  but for a special treat,  you might like these delicious Coconut-Stuffed Dates.    Yum!  I actually never covered them in chocolate as shown in the picture, they were so good [...]
    Reply
  3. Link Love (2013-06-22) | Becky's Kaleidoscope says:
    June 22, 2013 at 6:47 am
    [...] Chocolate Covered Coconut Stuffed Dates (Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Paleo) – Gourmande in the Ki... [...]
    Reply
  4. Epic Recipe Roundup: 200+ Summer Sweet Treats says:
    September 13, 2013 at 8:27 pm
    [...] Chocolate Covered Coconut Stuffed Dates {raw, vegan, gluten free, paleo} by Gourmande in the Kitchen [...]
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