“These Viral Peanut Butter Dates Significantly Cut My Sugar Intake”
In a bid to curb her mid-afternoon sweet-treat temptation, The Handbook’s Contributing Fashion & Lifestyle Editor, Astrid Carter, has been making that viral peanut butter date recipe you’ve seen all over Instagram. It’s safe to say she is hooked on them (in moderation), and they have considerably curbed those 3pm sugar slumps. Here’s everything you need to know…
What are viral peanut butter dates?
If you’re as chronically online as I am and the algorithm feeds you plenty of quick and easy foodie content, chances are you’ll already be familiar with these healthy snack alternatives. They take five minutes to make, use just three supermarket ingredients, and are honestly delicious. People are calling them a healthy version of a Mars Bar, and I personally think they taste even better.
What are the health benefits?
Aside from the fact that they contain just three ingredients – you know there is not a load of sugar, fillers or rubbish going in there – the stars of the show are the dates themselves. Dates are a really nutrient-dense whole food; just be sure to go for Medjool dates, which can be found in any supermarket.
Whilst everyone’s out there worrying about protein intake (which, yes, is also important as part of a healthy diet), many of us don’t know that 96% of Brits are not getting enough fibre – government guidelines suggest 30g per adult per day. Dates are a great way to get that fibre in and help keep your digestion regular.
Many of us don’t know that 96% of Brits are not getting enough fibre.
They also help manage blood pressure and provide a natural source of sustained energy without reaching for processed sugary treats; the fact that they are fibre-rich means they raise blood sugar more slowly than refined sugars.
While dark chocolate and peanut butter aren’t whole foods in the strict sense, I opt for good-quality high-percentage dark chocolate and single-ingredient peanut butter that is as minimally processed as possible.
What do they taste like?
Rich and chocolaty, with a satisfying nuttiness and chewy soft centre. There is something reminiscent of a Mars or a Snickers bar – though when I suggested this to my partner, he called it very optimistic. Nevertheless, I love them.
There is something reminiscent of a Mars or a Snickers bar about them.
If you have a sweet tooth but don’t like anything overly sweet or synthetic-tasting, you’ll love them. Plus, despite being only the size of a single date, they are rich and decadent – one is definitely enough to stop sweet cravings in their tracks.
When and why should you make them?
I’ve been making them with my five-year-old, who also loves a date. They are so quick and easy with no baking faff, and very little washing up, making them a great rainy day or school holiday activity – find me a five-year-old who doesn’t get excited when a bowl of melted chocolate comes out. I always have a stash in the freezer now, and if I can feel I want something sweet, I just pop one, and I’m satisfied.
I also hosted a very lazy girls’ dinner recently and didn’t want the hassle of making a full dessert, so I served good-quality vanilla ice cream topped with extra-virgin olive oil (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it) alongside one of these dates. They were a huge hit, and my guests even asked to take a few home.
They would also make lovely handmade gifts – you can make them fancier by topping the melted chocolate with crushed pistachios or edible rose petals.
Viral peanut butter chocolate date recipe
To say it is a recipe is pushing it, it’s three ingredients and so, so easy…
Ingredients
- Medjool dates
- Good quality dark chocolate – I use at least 85%.
- 100% peanut butter, crunchy or smooth (I think crunchy gives a more Snickers vibe, and smooth is more like a Mars bar). You could also use almond butter.
Method
- Heat the chocolate in the microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring between each interval until smooth and glossy.
- Remove the stones from the Medjool dates and slice them lengthwise down one side to open them up.
- Fill the cavity of each date with peanut butter. Be generous, and if some oozes out, that’s ok.
- Coat the stuffed dates thoroughly in the melted chocolate.
- Place the dates on parchment paper in a freezer-safe container, and freeze for a couple of hours until set.
Tip: You can eat them straight from the freezer for a firmer bite or let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes for a softer, gooier texture.
