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Tuesday, March 5, 2024

How to Make Sugar-Free Snipped Dates. Naturally sweet and delicious!

How to Make Sugar-Free Snipped Dates, naturally sweet and the perfect topping for oatmeal or even cold cereal in the morning. Easy and delicious, Sugar-Free Snipped Dates sweeten without adding refined sugar to your morning. 


What could be better on your cereal, and no refined sugar?

I love dates, not only are they sweet and delicious, but very healthy with a number of minerals delivered in each serving. Dates are the perfect natural ingredient for sweetening other foods, with their caramel like sweetness. The only problem is that they are very, very sticky! Commercially prepared snipped dates are sugar-coated to keep them separate and easy to crumble over the top of oatmeal or other foods. Convenient yes, but I don't want or need the added sugar...especially in my morning bowl of cereal. 

That added sugar is the very reason I don't buy commercially prepared snipped dates. And what inspired me to create my own jar of sugar-free snipped dates. It is very easy and only takes a few minutes of your time to get the job done. Plus, honestly, sometimes I like this type of tactile hands-on busywork, much like meditation, it helps me sort through life's decisions. And I get a jar of snipped dates in the process! And by the way, the smashing part is great fun for little kitchen helpers!

Opps, but a blessing in disguise!

You might have noticed that my bag of shredded coconut states that it is reduced fat. The purchase of this style of coconut was actually an error. You see, one of my great superpowers is to grab the wrong package from a shelf when I shop at a new store, and that is exactly how this ended up in my cart and then into my kitchen. Originally we were going to return it to the store, but then my husband began reading the package before putting the bag away in the pantry. 


It turns out that the excess coconut oil is removed through a mechanical pressing process and not with chemicals. Making this bag of exactly what we needed, because the texture of the coconut is quite dry, making it the perfect ingredient to coat the sticky date pieces. You can bet I will buy this type of coconut again. And proof that no matter how long you have been cooking, or simply buying groceries mistakes will happen, but are often quite easy to work around! 

I like to keep these prepared date bits in a jar, right there in the pantry right by the cereals. Making it easy for everyone to sweeten their own bowl of cereal...


Ingredients needed for this recipe:
  • whole Medjool dates
  • finely shredded coconut
You will also need the following:
  • large flat bottomed pan or bowl
  • kitchen scissors
  • kitchen knife
  • cutting board
  • screw-top jar or freezer container with lid for storage
Now you are ready to begin!


Ready to use, Sugar-Free Snipped Dates. Naturally sweet and delicious.

Sugar-Free Snipped Dates
by the seat of my pants!
UPDATED: 03.06.2024

18 Medjool dates
1 - 1 1/2 c finely shredded coconut

Place about 1 cup of coconut into a flat bottomed pan or bowl. 

Carefully slice open one side of the date, open and remove the pit. Continue until the pits have been removed for all the dates. 

Open and lay the date flat (like a book) sticky side down into the coconut. Press with the heel of your hand to flatten slightly and push coconut into the sticky surface. 


Sugar-free Snipped Dates. Naturally sweet and delicious.

Once all the dates have been opened and laid into the coconut to coat the sticky side, begin cutting into matchstick pieces. I use kitchen scissors for this, they work great!


Easy to making Sugar-Free Snipped Dates, perfect to add a bit of sweetener at breakfast.

Carefully coat the cut sides of the matchstick date pieces. 

Keep in mind, the thinner you cut the matchsticks, the smaller the cubes of dates will end up.


How to make Sugar-Free Snipped Dates, perfect to sweeten hot and cold cereal.

And finally, cut the matchstick pieces of dates, crosswise, into small cubes. 

Once the dates have all been cut into cubes, toss in the remaining shredded coconut in the bowl, adding more if needed, until all the cut surfaces have been coated evenly in coconut.

Transfer to a jar with a screw top lid.

To use, spoon over cereal or other foods where you want a sweet delicious flavor.

Storage options for Sugar-Free Snipped Dates. Store covered at room temperature for up to three months. You could freeze if desired, but there is no need, dried fruit keeps naturally at room temperature. 

UPDATE:  For your convenience, a "copy and paste" version of Sugar-Free Snipped Dates has been included below. 

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Printable "copy and paste" version:


Sugar-Free Snipped Dates
by the seat of my pants!
UPDATED: 03.06.2024

18 Medjool dates
1 - 1 1/2 c finely shredded coconut

Place about 1 cup of coconut into a flat bottomed pan or bowl. 

Carefully slice open one side of the date, open and remove the pit. Continue until the pits have been removed for all the dates. 

Open and lay the date flat (like a book) sticky side down into the coconut. Press with the heel of your hand to flatten slightly and push coconut into the sticky surface. 

Once all the dates have been opened and laid into the coconut to coat the sticky side, begin cutting into matchstick pieces. I use kitchen scissors for this, they work great!

Carefully coat the cut sides of the matchstick date pieces. Keep in mind, the thinner you cut the matchsticks, the smaller the cubes of dates will end up.

And finally, cut the matchstick pieces of dates, crosswise, into small cubes. 

Once the dates have all been cut into cubes, toss in the remaining shredded coconut in the bowl, adding more if needed, until all the cut surfaces have been coated evenly in coconut.

Transfer to a jar with a screw top lid.

To use, spoon over cereal or other foods where you want a sweet delicious flavor.


Storage options for Sugar-Free Snipped Dates. Store covered at room temperature for up to three months. You could freeze if desired, but there is no need, dried fruit keeps naturally at room temperature. 

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Would you like to comment?

  1. I'm a big date fan, so I usually eat them and cook with them straight out of the container.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too! I use them as often as possible in cooking. This was a natural extension of using dates to sweeten, perfect for cereals and in a PB&D (peanut butter and dates) sandwich or anywhere you want a touch of sweet or date flavor.

      Delete
  2. Thanks so much for linking up at A Themed Linkup 83 for Recipes in a Jar. Pinned!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dee, you are very welcome, the link-ups you share are always interesting and fun!

      Delete
  3. CONGRATS! Your post is FEATURED at A Themed Linkup 84 for What Do You Sell? from my previous linkup for Recipes in a Jar.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amazing, I will enjoy this and will have to be careful not to eat a handful on its own

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Esme, I enjoy these as a spoon on sweetener for cereal, both hot and cold.

      Delete
  5. Thank you Melynda. This is for sure on my to try list. Love dates

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Esme, you are welcome. They are perfect to spoon over anything where you want a touch of sweetness!

      Delete
  6. Melynda, this sounds so good. I'm going to pin this recipe so that I can prepare some soon. Thank you for sharing with us at The Crazy Little Lovebirds link party #28.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephanie thank you. I like having them available to sweet cereal or yogurt without sugar first thing in the morning.

      Delete
  7. Melynda, I ended up preparing some and we just love it! It turned out so nice and it sure is a nice topping for cereal. Happy to feature your post tomorrow at The Crazy Little Lovebirds link party #29. Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipe with us!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephanie, thank you so much for the feature and hosting a great link party!

      Delete

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