A recipe for a simple homemade candy: chocolate covered date recipe with almonds. Pitted medjool dates, stuffed with roasted almonds and covered in chocolate. The perfect no-bake gluten-free and vegan dessert (or edible gift)!
A few months ago, I made this recipe for no-bake dessert bars with dates and honey, and with it, my lengthy "Ode to dates" where I talked about their nutritional benefits; dates as an energy-boosting snack; and the connection between dates and Middle Eastern hospitality...
Nature's candy, dates remain the best way I sweeten my life. I continue to eat a couple of mejdool dates before working out, and I have also used medjool dates in salads and power shakes. When I have a few strips of bacon around, I make these addictive stuffed dates wrapped in bacon.
The idea for today's chocolate-covered date recipe came to me at a Middle Eastern grocery store--I had spotted a rather pricey box of these treats; I put them down two seconds later and decided to make them at home instead.
What makes these homemade candies special is the intensity of semi-sweet chocolate combined with the melt-in-your mouth sweet medjool dates. The stuffed almonds inside each date and the little almond-pistachio garnish add crunch and texture, while balancing the sweetness.
These chocolate covered dates are an easy option for a gluten-free dessert, and depending on the kind of chocolate, it can be a vegan dessert. And I think they would make a special holiday edible gift for friends and family!
Here is the step-by-step for today's chocolate covered date recipe with almonds:
Cut a slit in each date and remove the pit. In place of the pit press in an almond. Enclose the dates to completely cover the almonds and set aside in a bowl or tray.
Place the chocolate chips, canola oil and ground cinnamon in a heat-safe bowl that fits tightly on top of a pot with barley simmering water. 
Stir regularly until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from the heat. Drop the the dates, one-at-a-time, in the melted chocolate, and roll gently to coat the dates. Remove with a spoon and carefully set on a tray lined with parchment paper.
Once you have the chocolate-covered dates assembled on the tray, sprinkle each lightly with the mixture of crushed almonds and pistachios.
Chill in the freezer for about 1 hour or until the chocolate hardens. Leave at room temperature for 10 minutes before ready to serve. Enjoy!
Chocolate Covered Date Recipe With Almonds
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: serves 24 1x
Description
A recipe for a simple homemade candy: chocolate covered date recipe with almonds. Pitted medjool dates, stuffed with roasted almonds and covered in chocolate. The perfect no-bake gluten-free and vegan dessert (or edible gift)!
Ingredients
- 24 medjool dates
- 24 unsalted roasted almonds
- 1 ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tsp canola oil
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp crushed almonds and pistachios
Instructions
- Cut a slit in each date and remove the pit. In place of the pit press in an almond. Enclose the dates to completely cover the almonds and set aside in a bowl or tray.
- Place the chocolate chips, canola oil and ground cinnamon in a heat-safe bowl that fits tightly on top of a pot with barley simmering water. Stir regularly until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from the heat.
- Drop the the dates, one-at-a-time, in the melted chocolate, and roll gently to coat the dates. Remove with a spoon and carefully set on a tray lined with parchment paper. Once you have the chocolate-covered dates assembled on the tray, sprinkle each lightly with the mixture of crushed almonds and pistachios.
- Chill in the freezer for about 1 hour or until the chocolate hardens. Leave at room temperature for 10 minutes before ready to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Visit our store to browse our spices, olive oils and bundles!
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Chocolate Dates, Dessert, Dates with Almonds, Chocolate Dessert, Dates,
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Have been making a very similar recipe for nearly fifty years now. I make my own almond paste (not marzipan as I find it far too sweet) and use that to replace the pit. Started off as a present for my grandparents. Then evolved into my children doing this super easy recipe as a present for their grandparents! Only ever do it for Christmas, which makes it a real treat.
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That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing, Susan!
Delicious. How long will they store in airtight container in fridge?
Hi, Betty! A few days or so would be fine. Hard to say exactly, for sure, as they disappear pretty quickly in my home, LOL.
can i use white chocolate compound
Sure!
Hi, I am intending to use these chocolate covered dates to place in gift boxes as Raman gifts. Just a quick question how to keep the chocolate from melting. I stay in a tropical country and its very hot here.
HI Aarti. I am not familiar with the temperatures where you are. If you like, refrigerate the chocolate boxes in advance, and perhaps place the boxes in a portable cooler as you distribute them.
Hi what can i use as substitute for canola oil
A lighter olive oil or sunflower oil will work.
Its a great recipe Thank you and can we use salted almonds? And is it durable ? if yes. How long.. ?
Thank you! Yes, I believe salted almonds will work here providing a nice contrast to the sweet chocolate! What I do to keep these a few days, simply pack them in a container with a tight lid and refrigerate. Take them out a few minutes before you serve.
I am working as a chef at a retreat venue and made these the other night for dessert for our guests. Holy Moly! Not only did the guests love them, but these little treats were so easy to make! This is such a great recipe!
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Hi Megan, thanks so much for stopping by and for sharing! So glad to hear this recipe worked out well for you and your guests!!!
So delicious!
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Great! So glad you liked it
Lovely! I wonder how long in advance can you make these? How would you store them until they are eaten? Has anyone tried using white or milk chocolate Ghirardelli Candy Making & Dipping Wafers? I cannot wait to make these!
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I have prepared these in advance before...a couple nights or so would be fine. In my case, I stored them in a container that has a nice tight lid and put them in the fridge. About 20 mins or so before serving, I took them out of the fridge and assembled them in my serving bowl. Hope this helps!
I have not tried them with wafers...but why not?!
Enjoy!
All I can say is YUM??
I'm making these tasty treats foresure!!!
Awesome, Debbie! Hope you love them!
Wow, these look amazing and I bet are totally delicious too!
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These chocolate covered dates sound fantastic! Love a nice simple, sweet tooth satisfying recipe like this 🙂
I have never thought to try chocolate covered dates. I am sure it is wonderful and your presentation makes it look very enticing!
These are addictive, Peter! Thanks so much for stopping in.
These dates bring back a funny memory. I have always loved dates and when I was 8 or 9 I went along with my parents to a wedding and they served gorgeous medjool dates and they'd been lightly drizzled with chocolate. I parked myself right next to the bowl and at the first opportunity (meaning my mother wasn't looking) I took one off the side of the plate.
Into my mouth it went and then I was stuck. I felt something hard and assumed it was the pit. I didn't dare swallow it and I couldn't take it out so I hid it between my teeth and gum. My mother noticed I had a lump and I said I had a toothache.
It just got worse until my brother took a date and said, "Oh, it's got an almond inside."
My toothache got better instantly. 🙂
Anyway, I love your dates.
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Maureen, I laughed so hard reading your story! Thank you for making my day, friend. XO
Gosh, these look so good! Where do you find the whole dates? I've only had date nut bread (a gift), but loved the date taste. Pinned. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Mary! Medjool dates are available in a lot of grocery stores now. I have found them at Whole Foods and at Costco as well!