Nature's Snickers

happy halloween

If you’ve never had a date stuffed with nut butter, drizzled or coated in chocolate, sprinkled with salt and FROZEN, we are not the same. This is a true delicacy. If you like Snickers, or any combination of caramel and chocolate with nuts/nut butter, you will lose your shit over this 3-ingredient treat. If you don’t think you like dates, don’t worry—when frozen, they transform into a pure caramel carrier for the hard chocolate shell and salty, nutty interior.

I’ve come to a point in my life where I simply can’t have dates in the house because I will abuse the privilege. I went really hard a couple years ago and had to cut myself off for a time, but I’m ready to get hurt again.

Make these for the kids in your neighborhood on Halloween just so their parents can turn them away (homemade treats = sus) and you can have them all to yourself. You tried.

TOOLS:

• quarter baking sheet or tray that can fit in the freezer

• unbleached parchment paper

• bowl for microwave, or double boiler to melt chocolate over the stove

right cred to carly stone for a v day-edition date

INGREDIENTS:

• ~10 whole medjool dates — juicier than pre-pitted 💦

• unsweetened nut butter of choice — I like peanut butter or tahini

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (70%+) or bar broken into chunks

• 2 tsp coconut oil

• your favorite salt

• optional add-ins:

  • nuts, to add to interior or crush for garnish — if you don’t have nut butter, you can fill the dates with ~2 nuts each. fyi, a garnish of crushed pistachios or sesame seeds goes great with tahini filling.

  • other garnish — fresh orange zest, shredded coconut, edible flowers, dried lavender

STEPS:

1. Line your tray with parchment paper.

2. Cut small slits in your dates to remove the pit and create an opening.

3. Stuff each date with ~1 tsp nut butter (+ sprinkle crushed nuts, if desired), but not too much that you can’t close the opening.

4. If using, prep any additional garnish you want to add besides salt.

5. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together, either in a double boiler over the stove (low heat, stirring constantly) or in the microwave in 15 second increments (stirring between each).

   1. If your chocolate isn’t runny/drippy enough, add more coconut oil.

6. Using a fork, dip each date in the chocolate and turn to coat, then transfer to the parchment-lined tray. Alternatively, you could drizzle the dates in the chocolate. After each, sprinkle with salt + garnish.

7. Freeze for at least 30 minutes. Enjoy immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.