DATE PASTE!!! A DIY Natural Sweetner that doesn't come in a package

Date paste... It may sound very weird but it is an amazing thing to add to deserts for anything. It's great because it's an unrefined sugar so there's more fiber, meaning it will break down slower than something like white granulated sugar. This is better for our bodies and there will be no 'sugar rush' after eating this. It's so simple because all you need are dates and water. There are also many different variations that you can implement yourself. I made cinnamon date paste which tasted just like cinnamon sugar! I ate these with some apples and it had the vestige of apple pie filling or an apple turnover. I've never actually had an apple turnover but I know it does encompass the flavorings of apple and cinnamon.

The uses for date paste are endless! You can add it to baked good recipes like banana bread or muffins. It can be used on toast as an added touch of sweetness instead of sugar filled jams. Date paste can be added to puddings ... honestly the combinations are endless. It can also be blended into smoothies, smoothie bowls, or acai bowls to add some sweetness if the fruit you are using doesn't have a concentrated sweet flavor. It's all up to the user and if you like added sweetness, this is much better than adding refined cane sugar or even the high fructose corn syrup in some baked goods. Dates in Hawai'i are usually carried at local health food stores but I purchase mine from Costco where they sell Medjool Dates for around eight dollars a box and deglet noor dates. Medjool Dates are much more expensive but they work so much better because they are chewy and more blendable than the Deglet Noor. I recommend using the Medjool Dates for date paste.

Another note about Date paste is that it must be refrigerated. You do add water to these dates and its is perishable. It usually stays fresh for a week and if you add cinnamon, a few more days. Anyways, here's to the recipe!


Raw Vegan Date Paste
Makes about 2-3 Cups of Date Paste (adjust the recipe to your own liking)
Ingredients:
-About 2 cups of Medjool Dates
-Mason Jar or something big enough to hold the Dates
-Enough Water to soak the dates in the jar, cup, or container you have the dates in.
-Extra Water to blend the dates in. For 2 cups of Dates, use 2 cups of water or coconut water

Instructions:
1. First, put all the dates into the mason jar or container.
2. Pour the amount of water needed to immerse all the dates in the container 
3. Soak the dates for a few hours until soft.
4. Pit all of the dates and throw away the pits
5. Place all of the dates in a blender along with the extra water
6. Blend until very smooth, almost creamy.
7. Place into a sealed container and refrigerate or use!