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This date sugar recipe is the perfect one ingredient alternative sweetener that couldn’t be made any easier with the use of your oven and by following this step by step guide.

**UPDATED PLEASE READ THE RECIPE CARD/NOTES

It’s been quite some time since I did a tutorial post. I don’t like to overwhelm my readers too much with “how to” posts so I often submit them periodically.

Anyway, today I’m going to teach you how to make your own date sugar and I promise you will LOVE it.

If you haven’t noticed before I’m quite found of using dates in my recipes and I like to use them in various forms.

Sometimes I will use them in their entirety in a smoothie and other times I will whip up a batch of date paste and add it for sweetness to a recipe.

Nowadays more people shy away from processed white sugar and seek healthier ways to get their sweet fix. I’m a huge fan of the many diabetic, slow releasing sweeteners such as coconut palm sugar, agave nectar and maple syrup.

I’m quite partial to coconut sugar because it yields a lovely warm butterscotch flavour and really compliments so many recipes.

The sweetener that I would like to introduce you to is date sugar, yes you read correctly, DATE SUGAR…..now before you recoil in horror, there many health benefits in dates, so please bear with me.

As a society we quickly get so transfixed on the word sugar that we fail notice that some of these fruits actually contain other health properties that actually nourish the body.

The health benefits of date sugar

Dates are great for promoting bowel movement due to their incredibly high fiber content. If you’re afflicted with constipation I would highly suggest adding a teaspoon or two to your beverage.

We all know antioxidants contain cancer fighting agents, well dates are packed with them.

Also potassium which is a crucial mineral and eletrocyte that not only induces muscle contraction but also has the ability to reduce sodium levels and boost the body’s metabolism.

Another mineral to note is magnesium, great for keeping teeth and bones strong which lowers the risk of osteoporosis.

How to make date sugar in steps (with pictures)

This is how to dates should look which is quite dark in colour and slightly hard after roasting and will become hard as they cool down.

Use a coffee/spice grinder to pulverise the dates into sugar date

Ingredients you will need

A baking tray

A bag of fresh medjool dates (the dates should be pitted (without stones)

Parchment paper

Coffee grinder or food processor

How long should I roast the dates in the oven for?

This going to differ for each person, it may take a few hours. You are aiming for the dates to darken and become more solid. They shouldn’t be mushy to the touch but not rock hard, somewhere in the middle.

Allow them to cool completely and you will notice as pictured

Grinding them in a coffee/spice grinder. I will go into much more detail further down, but you get the gist of what needs to be done.

How should I store the date sugar?

Once you have pulse the dates you can store the “sugar” in an air tight container for up to several months.

Serving suggestions

Use as a sweetener

Baked goods

Porridge or puddings

Troubleshooting *POST UPDATE*

** LET’S TALK**

A few people are running into problems with this recipe so I want to update the post to ensure that everyone gets this right the first time. I don’t want to see anyone waste their time and most importantly money.

I take pride my posting the BEST recipes and do my up most to post step by step pictures to assist you all

Oven temperature differs – PLEASE note that oven temperatures differ, my oven runs very cool at 300F the temperature which I initially recommended. Depending on where you live and the altitude levels is will impact you temperature/roasting time

Moving forward now I’m going to recommend that you all set your oven temperature to 200F/100c. Use this as your starting temperature and roast the dates until they darken.

Pitted – Some people aren’t ware of that pitted means, dates that don’t have the stone. You want dates that are labelled pitted

Chop the dates in half – This something I am now recommending, chop all your dates before placing them on parchment paper (the step by step picture doesn’t reflect this so I am stating it here)

Roasting time – This is going to differ, roast the dates until they are SEMI HARD, NOT BURNT! This will vary a few hours

Please keep an eye one your date while they roast, as soon as they begin to hard, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool down.

DON’T NOT LET THEM BURN I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS!!

Other DIY Recipes to try

**Don’t forget to comment below and star rate if you have tried my recipes. Let’s be friends and engage on Facebook and Instagram I also like to pin on Pinterest, where you can find more amazing recipes.**

How to make date sugar (paleo/gluten free) How to make date sugar from scratch - Paleo, gluten free, vegan *RECIPE UPDATED* 4.29 from 7 votes Print Pin Prep Time: 2 minutes Cook Time: 2 hours Total Time: 2 hours 2 minutes Servings: 1 jar Calories: 390 kcal Author: Charla Ingredients 1 large baking tray 1 large baking tray

A bag of fresh dates pitted , A bag of fresh dates pitted ,

Parchment paper Parchment paper

Coffee grinder or food processor Coffee grinder or food processor Instructions Preheat the oven to 200f/100c

Chop the dates in half and place the dates evenly on the entire baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Place the baking tray in the oven and allow the dates to roast in the oven until they are SEMI HARD (not mushy) so keep a watchful on them during the entire process. How long the dates take to roast will be a few hours

Keep a watchful eye on your dates as they SHOULD NOT burn, decrease the oven temperature if you need to, if they burn the recipe is ruined.

Once done remove from the oven, set aside and let the dates cool completely they will harden as they cool down.

Once cooled and hardened, pulse the dates in segments using either a food processor/coffee grinder into a powdery form. The sugar may lump after pulverising, don't worry this is normal and still be used.

Store in an airtight container (can last for several weeks) Notes Troubleshooting *POST UPDATE* ** LET'S TALK** A few people are running into problems with this recipe so I want to update the post to ensure that everyone gets this right the first time. I don't want to see anyone waste their time and most importantly money. I take pride my posting the BEST recipes and do my up most to post step by step pictures to assist you all Oven temperature differs - PLEASE note that oven temperatures differ, my oven runs very cool at 300F the temperature which I initially recommended. Depending on where you live and the altitude levels is will impact you temperature/roasting time Moving forward now I'm going to recommend that you all set your oven temperature to 200F/100c. Use this as your starting temperature and roast the dates until they darken. Pitted - Some people aren't ware of that pitted means, dates that don't have the stone. You want dates that are labelled pitted Chop the dates in half - This something I am now recommending, chop all your dates before placing them on parchment paper (the step by step picture doesn't reflect this so I am stating it here) Roasting time - This is going to differ, roast the dates until they are SEMI HARD, NOT BURNT! This will vary a few hours Please keep an eye one your date while they roast, as soon as they begin to hard, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool down. DON'T NOT LET THEM BURN I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS!! Nutrition Calories: 390 kcal | Carbohydrates: 170 g | Protein: 41 g | Fat: 3 g | Sodium: 23 mg | Potassium: 147 mg | Fiber: 152 g | Sugar: 150 g | Vitamin A: 282 IU | Calcium: 136 mg | Iron: 20 mg Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today! Mention @ThatGirlCooksHealthy or tag #ThatGirlCooksHealthy