Delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Date Bites

Sometimes you just need a little chocolate in your life. These fun, bite-sized, chocolate-covered, peanut butter-filled dates are an excellent afternoon pick-me-up. The chocolate peanut butter date bites also make a great addition to your holiday confections and holiday cookie plate.

This post contains links to affiliate websites, such as Amazon, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you using these links. We appreciate your support!

Ingredients in this Chocolate Peanut Butter Date Treat

Sometimes less is more when it comes to ingredients, and that’s certainly the case with this chocolate peanut butter date recipe. With just six ingredients and a little technique, you can make these impressive bite-sized chocolate date bites in just a half hour.

Let’s look at the ingredients you will need.

Chocolate

When it comes to chocolate, there’s a whole spectrum of flavors and options to explore! From creamy milk chocolate to rich dark chocolate, each type offers a unique taste experience.

Varieties of Chocolate that can be used in the Chocolate Date Bites

Milk chocolate is made with a combination of cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, creating a luscious treat that is rich and sweet.

For those who crave a more intense flavor, dark chocolate is the way to go. With its higher percentage of cocoa solids, dark chocolate delivers a deep, bittersweet taste. It’s like diving into a pool of rich cocoa goodness, with hints of fruit and earth.

Quality of Chocolate

Chocolate quality is important, but how do we tell the difference between good chocolate and bad chocolate? Let’s delve into this delicious mystery.

Listen: Have you ever taken a moment to listen to your chocolate? Yes, you read that right! The sound of chocolate as you break it can be an indicator of quality. Good chocolate has a clean, crisp, sharp snap when broken. It’s like music to a chocoholic’s ears!

See: And let’s not forget about the look of the chocolate. High-quality chocolate should appear glossy without blemishes or bubbles. If you see white areas, cloudiness, or discoloration, it might indicate a lower-quality product. So, remember to feast your eyes on the chocolate before feasting on it with your mouth!

Now, allow me to let you in on a little secret. The best chocolates often have cocoa solids over 70 percent. And many of the finest chocolates have their origins coming from one geographical location. It’s almost like a fine wine that way!

Smell: But what’s in a smell, you ask? A whole world of flavor, my friend! Good chocolate will smell strongly of chocolate. So next time, rub your fingers over the surface to warm the chocolate and then take a deep breath. If it doesn’t smell like a chocolatey wonderland, it probably isn’t top-tier.

Taste: And finally, the taste. The cocoa provides most of the chocolate’s flavor. Its amazing taste depends on the variety of the cocoa tree that it comes from. So, each bite is like a journey to the exotic places where these trees grow!

Budget when Buying Chocolate

Ultimately, buy and use the best quality chocolate you are willing to pay for. I tend to use ingredients that I have on hand. Costco semi-sweet chocolate chips are a freezer staple in our house, so using them makes sense to me.

They produce a good quality result that’s not too sweet yet richly and intensely chocolaty. Combined with the rest of the ingredients, this semi-sweet chocolate produces a balanced and robust flavor without being too sweet.

Try whatever chocolate you have on hand, and the next time you make these tune your experience with your chocolate selection. This way if you are a chocolate snob, respectfully, you will have excellent chocolate to use and likely a great outcome.

Peanut Butter

Maybe a better second ingredient would be the less specific term “nut butter”. Like chocolate, there are endless options on the spectrum that is nut butter. Let’s cover some good options for this ingredient that is at the core of these chocolate date bites.

Single Ingredient Nut Butter vs. Blends

I am a big supporter of using what you have on hand, but In the pursuit of balance, let’s all agree to not use sweetened nut butter. Smooth or chunky, single-ingredient peanut butter is a great option to add a little nutty, savory, and even crunchy balance to the caramel consistency of the dates and the richness of the chocolate.

Other options like cashew butter, and almond butter work great, but stick to the pure, single-ingredient types free of added oils, sweeteners, and preservatives.

Seed Butters can be an excellent choice especially if you are making these in a nut-free environment. I like tahini or sunflower butter, but I’m sure if this resonates with you, you already have a favorite peanut butter replacement standing by.

Quality of Nut Butter

Like the quality of the chocolate, the quality of the peanut butter is important. With a high-powered blender, you can actually make your own nut butter. This will open up endless possibilities for making your own blend of nuts and seeds to create a smooth or crunchy experience. Costco has both organic peanut butter and almond butter and from time to time NuttZo. All of which are limited ingredients, unsweetened, and made from good quality nuts and seeds.

As always use what is on hand, if it includes sugar, then embrace it. But next time you make these treats, pick up a better option to really elevate the quality and flavor.

Dates

Dates are the single most important ingredient in these chocolate peanut butter date bites. They are what give us that caramel sweetness to contrast the savory flavor of the peanut butter and enhance the richness of the chocolate. There are many different varieties and qualities of dates. While those are important, it is most important to prepare and process them for the best possible outcome.

Varieties of Dates

A few date varieties to consider are:

1. Medjool date. Known as the “king of dates,” this variety is large, plump, and incredibly sweet. With their caramel-like flavor and buttery texture, Medjool dates are a natural choice for those seeking a healthy yet indulgent treat. Just imagine sinking your teeth into that juicy flesh – it’s like a moment of pure, sugary bliss!
2. Deglet Noor date. Smaller and less sweet than the Medjool, the Deglet Noor is often referred to as the “queen of dates.” Its delicate, nutty flavor and firm texture make it a favorite for cooking and baking.
3. A few other dates: There’s the Zahidi date with its golden color and rich, honey-like taste. The Barhi date, is small and round, with a flavor that’s reminiscent of butterscotch. The Thoory date is known as the “bread date” for its dry, chewy texture and sweet, nutty flavor. And let’s not forget the Halawy date, its name meaning “sweet” in Arabic – and boy, does it live up to it!

As with most ingredients, use what you have on hand. I happened to have some Medjool dates left over from a different recipe, so I used them. They are fantastic and really do have a caramel-like flavor.

How to Process Dates and What to Look Out For

Dates have to be checked while you are processing them for your recipe. You will occasionally find a date with bugs, bug eggs, or even mold. Open the date by slicing it from top to bottom with a knife, peel the dried fruit open, and remove the seed.

It’s very important to inspect the inside of the date. If you find matte black-looking patches or swaths, toss the whole date and move on. You may also experience small light-colored dots, little dead bugs, or both. Toss that date too.

Watch my YouTube short down below and you can get a feeling for how I like to process my dates.

Coconut Oil

Okay, so you have your ingredients and your chocolate is ready to be melted down to make this recipe. You toss the chocolate into a bowl over simmering water and wait for the magic to happen.

But oh no! Instead of turning into a smooth, shiny river of chocolate, it seizes up, becoming a grainy, lumpy mess. What went wrong? Enter, Coconut Oil.

You see, chocolate is a temperamental creature. It can be all too easy to overheat it, causing it to seize and turn grainy. Adding a bit of oil creates a safety net, helping to keep the chocolate silky and smooth. It’s like giving your chocolate a little protective shield, allowing it to melt evenly without clumping together, separating, or burning.

Pistachios

The nut topping is all about texture. You could absolutely use almonds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, etc. For this recipe, I have chosen pistachios because they synergize with the dates to take this treat in a more Middle Eastern or Mediterranean direction.

If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times, use what you have on hand. Then next time tune the recipe in the direction you most resonate with.

Salt

Salt is like a flavor multiplier, use it sparingly to bring out the warmth and savoriness of the chocolate and peanut butter, and to compliment the caramelly sweetness of the dates. Coarse Sea salt works great, flaked salt is another excellent choice. Be fancy with Pink Himalayan salt or black volcanic salt, but probably avoid smoked salt. Unless you want smokey chocolate. If you try smokey salt, reply in the comments about how it went. I would be very curious to know!

Equipment to Make the Chocolate Peanut Butter Date Bites

You should be able to do this chocolate peanut butter date bite recipe with the kitchen equipment that you already have on hand. However, a few items can make it easier.

1. Double Boiler
2. Silicon Form
3. Kitchen Scale

Alternatives for these two items can be an ice cube tray or a small muffin tin. I don’t have a double boiler, so I use a metal mixing bowl. If you aren’t measuring by weight yet, consider adding a scale to your tools and using measuring cups.

The silicon forms that you see in the image above are simple square ice cube trays.

Instructions for the Chocolate Date Bites

Process and measure the Ingredients for the Chocolate Date Bites.

Prepare the Dates

Slice open the dates lengthwise and remove the pit. Inspect the inside of each date discarding any dates with bugs or mold. Close the date and cut it into two equal parts along its waist.

Chope the Pistachios

Roughly chop the pistachios and weigh out 500g of chocolate and 50g of coconut oil.

Melt Chocolate

Heat water in your double broiler and melt the chocolate and coconut oil over simmering water. Mix regularly to ensure a smooth consistency. Pour approximately half of the molten chocolate into the forms to coat the bottom.

Fill the Dates

Working quickly, scoop some peanut butter on the end of a butter knife and fill the half dates, then place them cut side down into the forms with the liquid chocolate.

Pour the Chocolate

Pour the remaining liquid chocolate over the dates being sure to cover them completely and evenly.

Sprinkle with Salt and Nuts

Evenly sprinkle to cover the chocolate peanut butter date bites with the roughly chopped pistachios. Add a small pinch of coarse sea salt or flakey salt to the top.

Place in Freezer

Place your forms in the freezer.

Leave in the freezer for a couple of hours to solidify the chocolate. Remove the forms and pop out the chocolate peanut butter date bites.