Simple & Flavorful One-Bite Dessert: Ghee-Stuffed Dates!

I’ve had “start publishing blog posts on the website” on my to-do list for yeeeears now.

Many people have asked me if they could find recipes on my website and my response is “I would definitely like to someday when I get the time!” To be honest, I’ve had it near the bottom of the list because it’s not a thing yet… and once you start, it’s yet another thing you have to keep up with, right? But I know that getting started is the hardest part, so this is me, getting started!

I thought it would be fitting to have my first post be a super simple recipe for my “ghee-stuffed dates” which debuted at an event called Taste of the Holidays a few months ago. I needed to make 300+ samples of something using the ghee and I came up with the idea of whipping the “stuffing” into a frosting-like consistency so I could fill a frosting bag with it (making “filling” 300+ dates way easier).

Instead of actually stuffing the pitted dates: I sliced the dates in half lengthwise, lined them out (cut side up) on a baking sheet, piped a line of frosting onto each one and then took turns putting one baking sheet in the freezer for ~15 minutes to solidify while I prepped the next tray. Once they’re solid, you can put a layer of wax paper in between and store multiple layers in one container (fridge or freezer), and they’re good eaten at all temperatures as long as they don’t get hot enough to melt. As it turns out, they freeze really well, and folks absolutely loved them. Considering that other businesses had full-on meal plates as samples, I was surprised to hear from a few dozen people that the ghee-stuffed dates were their favorite sample as they came back for seconds and thirds.

There are so many different flavors you could do this with and so many things you can add to make it extra gourmet! Here are just a few ideas I came up with:

• Use Maca White Mocha as the ghee flavor + top with finely chopped macadamia nuts and toasted coconut
• Use Vanilla Lavender as the ghee flavor + top with shaved white chocolate and lavender salt (sea salt pulsed in a spice grinder with a pinch of lavender flowers)
• Use Ginger Reishi as the ghee flavor + top with ground cinnamon and nutmeg
• Use Vanilla Calendula as the ghee flavor + top with dried edible flowers
• Use Chocolate Chaga as the ghee flavor + top with crushed freeze-dried raspberries
• Use 24K Ghee as the ghee flavor + top with finely chopped pistachios and shaved dark chocolate
• Use AphroGHEEsiac No. 1 as the ghee flavor + top with ground cardamom and cinnamon
• Use Plain ghee + top with finely crushed sea salt potato chips (I know it sounds weird, but hear me out!)

You can also drizzle melted chocolate over the whole thing as long as the melted chocolate has cooled off a bit and the topping is frozen (I recommend 30 minutes in the freezer). As long as the topping is small and dry, or something like chocolate that stays solid at room temperature, you can make a bunch and store them in the fridge for a few weeks or in the freezer for several months.

Ghee-Stuffed Dates

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup ghee (softened but not melted, should be at least room temp)
• 1 Tbsp honey
• Dates, pitted and cut in half lengthwise
• Sea salt and/or your choice of other dry toppings (see above for ideas)

Directions:

1. Line dates cut side up on a baking sheet or pan. Optional: line with wax paper before placing dates.
2. Whip softened ghee and honey in a stand mixer (recommended method) or by hand with a fork/whisk in a bowl for a few minutes until light, airy and creamy — think whipped buttercream frosting consistency.
3. Fill a frosting bag with the whipped ghee mixture and pipe along the center of each date.
4. Top each date with a sprinkle of sea salt and either refrigerate or freeze until set. Serve frozen, cold or at room temperature. Do not let them get too warm or the filling will melt. Enjoy!