Heart Shaped Stuffed Dates and Chocolate Dessert
Need a luxurious homemade dessert to woo your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Heart-shaped stuffed dates and chocolate are an indulgent yet healthy alternative to store-bought chocolates. They’re gluten-free, vegan, and best of all, absolutely delicious!
Be sure to try my Healthy Reese’s Cups next!
Why You’ll Love These Healthy Stuffed Dates
These naturally delicious treats (a.k.a. Nature’s candy) are actually good for you. We all need to be able to enjoy a few guilt-free desserts around the holidays. Valentine’s Day is no exception! With so many processed boxed chocolate temptations, it can feel overwhelming and nearly impossible to make a healthy choice. That’s why I make these heart-shaped dates. Medjool dates are rich in fiber and antioxidants, nutrient-dense, and, due to their natural sugars, provide a sustained burst of energy. The gooey, caramel-like flavor of the dates pairs well with chocolate, nuts & nut butters, jams, and more. My favorite thing about this dessert is how few ingredients are needed, and how quickly it all comes together!
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How To Make Heart-Shaped Desserts Without A Cutter
Make sure your dates are pitted, or open them to remove the pit. Regardless, you will open up the dates on one side. If you find any of the dates a little too stiff, soak them for a few seconds in warm water.
Next, slit your dates halfway down the backside and press them flat against a piece of parchment paper. This should create a heart-like shape. Repeat for all dates. Now you are ready to add fillings.
Here’s where you get creative. You fill the dates with jam, nut butter, nuts, marshmallows, or anything you want to try! Freeze for a few minutes to firm up. Meanwhile, you’ll melt your chocolate and gather your toppings. When the middle is firm, spoon some melted chocolate over the top to give them a rich, velvety coating. Finish with a sprinkle of your favorite toppings.
Return to the freezer or fridge for a few minutes to harden, then sample! I recommend eating these at room temperature. They store well on the counter for 2 days, in the refrigerator for 5 days, and freeze well up to 1 month.
Heart-Shaped Dates Recipe
Grab a large bag of Medjool dates from Sam’s or Costco, and you’ll likely have all the other ingredients on hand! You can adapt my recipe to make a larger or smaller batch. When it comes to brands, use what’s available and affordable. To maximize the nutrition of this recipe, be selective with your toppings. We use dye-free sprinkles, sugar-free jelly, dark chocolate chips, and good-quality nuts like walnuts or pecans. To make this recipe dairy-free, I recommend using Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Chips.
Chocolate Covered Date Hearts – Filling Alternatives:
- peanut butter
- cherry jelly
- marshmallows, sliced in half
- cream cheese frosting
- mashed sweet potato
- buttercream frosting
- cookie dough
Experiment and decide which ones are your favorites! I love making this easy, delicious, and healthy treat to share with my loved ones. You may choose to savor them all to yourself or share them with friends or family. Either way is encouraged. Enjoy!
Other recipes you might enjoy:
- Easy Broiled Banana Dessert
- Healthy Baklava Stuffed Dates
- Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
- Gluten-Free Frozen Peanut Butter Balls
Heart Shaped Stuffed Dates and Chocolate
Ingredients
- 24 medjool dates
- 1/3 cup strawberry jelly pick one with no sugar added
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- Various toppings: dye-free sprinkles, chopped nuts, flaked salt, mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the dates in half and remove the seeds. On the opposite end, create a slit in the date, halfway up.
- Form the date into a flat shaped heart, then lay it on the cookie sheet. Repeat until all the dates are heart shaped.
- In a Ziploc bag, add the strawberry jelly, and cut a small hole in a corner of the bag. Pipe a small amount of jelly on the top half of the date.
- Place dates in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- While the dates are in the freezer, melt the dark chocolate chips in the microwave for 1 minute, or use a double boiler.
- Bring out the cookie sheet. Spoon a small amount of chocolate over the dates to cover the strawberry jelly.
- Sprinkle various toppings over the chocolate.
- Let the dates harden in the refrigerator or freezer for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy!
- I do not enjoy these frozen; they are best at room temperature.
- These stuffed dates will last for 2 days on the counter and 5 days in the refrigerator. They do freeze well, too, for up to 1 month.
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