Peanut Butter Dates with Coconut

These dates are filled with peanut butter and topped with shredded coconut for a naturally sweet snack that's sure to satisfy any sweet tooth! These peanut butter dates are a healthy and delicious dessert.

I always love having dates around so I can whip up these bites whenever I get a craving for something sweet. The dates are perfectly chewy and sweet and pair beautifully with the peanut butter and coconut.

What are dates?

Dates come from the date palm tree. They are a fruit that are naturally sweet. Because of this, they are used as a healthy sugar substitute in many recipes. Medjool dates are a common type eaten due to their sweet, caramel flavor. They have a large pit in the center that is removed before eating. Many times you can buy pre-pitted dates from the store.

Where can you find dates?

You can easily find dates at grocers like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Local grocery stores may sell them as well. If you have trouble finding them, you might try a speciality store or purchase online.

Why make this recipe?

When I have a sweet tooth, I usually turn to dates. A couple of these is so satisfying! Dates just have that natural sweetness, but they're healthy! And then paired with the peanut butter and coconut? So delicious.

Plus, this recipe is incredibly easy to make. No stove or oven required. All it requires is a bit of assembly.

This can absolutely be kid-friendly too. And it can be fun for kids to make themselves! They can have so much fun putting the peanut butter into the date halves and then sprinkling with coconut. To make it extra-special for them, you can also add some sprinkles for them to add to the top.

Ingredients:

• Dates - I love using pre-pitted medjool dates, but other varieties will also work!
• Peanut butter - this could easily be swapped out for almond butter, cashew butter, or seed butter
• Coconut - I prefer to use unsweetened shredded coconut. I feel like the date already has enough sweetness, that using unsweetened coconut works perfectly.

Recipe tips:

• I like to slice the dates completely in half before putting the peanut butter in. It's more like an "open-faced" date. However, you could just slice the date, leaving it intact, and put the peanut butter in the middle, sprinkling the coconut on top if you wish to leave the date whole.
• To make easier, buy pitted dates.
• The peanut butter can easily be swapped out for almond butter or seed butter.

How to make:

Remove the pits from the dates if needed. Take your dates and slice each date in half.

Add your nut butter to each date half.

Sprinkle with shredded coconut.