These delicious and wholesome three-ingredient candies—dates stuffed with walnuts and coated in dark chocolate—are incredibly easy to make. They store perfectly in the refrigerator for a long time without losing their texture or benefits. It’s an excellent, quick dessert for tea time and a simple way to satisfy hunger between meals. Walnuts, dates, and dark chocolate are true brain food, helping you quickly restore energy and vitality. The tradition of pairing dried fruit with nuts comes to us from the East, where such treats have been considered the key to health and longevity for centuries.
Your wholesome dessert is ready! These homemade date and nut candies will give you a great energy boost with your morning coffee.
Ingredients
- 13 medium dates
- 13 walnuts
- 100 g (3.5 oz) dark chocolate
How to Make Walnut-Stuffed Dates
Gather the ingredients. You will need a bar of dark chocolate (75% cocoa or higher), medium-sized dates, and walnuts (whole or halves). Set aside one quarter of a walnut for each date.
You will need meaty dates, walnuts, and high-quality dark chocolate (at least 75% cocoa).
Place the dates and walnuts in a bowl, pour hot boiled water over them, and let sit for 1-2 minutes. Drain the water, then rinse the nuts and dried fruit under running water. Transfer to a paper towel and dry thoroughly.
Thoroughly dry the dates and walnuts after washing so excess moisture doesn't prevent the chocolate from setting.
Remove the pits from the dates. Try to extract the pit carefully so the date doesn’t split completely into two halves.
Carefully slit the dates and remove the pits, trying to keep the fruit intact.
Tuck a walnut quarter into the center of each date.
Tuck a walnut quarter into each date for a classic and delicious flavor combination.
Gently squeeze the dates around the walnuts. The nut now takes the place of the pit, maintaining the natural shape of the date.
Gently squeeze the dates with your fingers to restore their natural shape after stuffing.
Place the remaining walnuts into a blender cup and pulse into fine crumbs. This makes a delicious coating for our candies that will also keep your fingers clean from the melting chocolate.
Fine walnut crumbs make an excellent coating that will also keep your fingers clean from the melting chocolate.
Break the dark chocolate into pieces and place them in a small bowl. Melt the chocolate using your preferred method—microwave, double boiler, or a warm oven. Tip: You can melt the chocolate in a glass jar, then store the leftover directly in the fridge for future use to save on washing up.
Melt the chocolate using your preferred method: in short bursts in the microwave or on a double boiler.
Assemble the candies. Have everything ready so the chocolate doesn’t set prematurely. Line a cutting board with parchment paper. Transfer the ground walnuts to a small bowl. Drop a stuffed date into the melted chocolate—using two teaspoons makes this step much easier.
Use two teaspoons to evenly coat each date with a layer of melted chocolate.
Transfer the chocolate-coated date straight into the ground walnuts. Sprinkle the nut crumbs over the top using a small spoon.
Transfer the chocolate-coated date immediately into the walnut crumbs. Work quickly before the glaze sets.
Place the coated dates onto the parchment-lined board. Transfer the candies to the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to allow the chocolate to set completely. Alternatively, pop them into the freezer for a few minutes.
Place the finished candies on parchment paper and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to set.
Transfer the finished candies to a plate, box, or candy dish. Brew a strong, aromatic coffee or a delicious cup of tea. A cup of coffee and a wholesome candy provide the perfect energy boost and brain food. Enjoy!
Transfer the set candies to a serving dish. Enjoy your delicious teatime treat!
Walnuts contain melatonin, magnesium, and valuable omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These wholesome treats, where dates play the starring role, can help improve memory and process information faster—especially important during periods of high mental strain.
To switch up the flavor, try adding a drop of peanut butter inside or a pinch of sea salt on top of the chocolate glaze to highlight the fruit's natural sweetness. Store the finished treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator; this keeps the chocolate crisp and the nuts fragrant. It's a fantastic alternative to store-bought sweets that both adults and kids will love.
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