{Recipe} Pecan Date Nibblers | Cinnamon Date Slice
February 25, 2013 22 Comments
Both of these recipes feature dates. One is raw, one is baked. Both are suitable for school lunchboxes, or an afternoon snack. Cinnamon Date Slice is gluten free and refined sugar-free, with an oil free option. My children adore this slice.
Pecan Date Nibblers are wheat free, oil free, and refined sugar-free. There is a variation to make them gluten-free. They are very popular in my household. The recipe lists lemon or orange zest as optional. I always use orange zest. I think it should be compulsory! The orange flavour is very appealing.
Pecan Date Nibblers
Recipe from: Let them Eat Vegan by Dreena Burton (yes, another Dreena recipe!).
Quantity: 12-15
Recipe available here.
***
Cinnamon Date Slice
Adapted from a recipe in Fresh Blends, the book that accompanied our Blendtec blender.
Quantity: 20 squares
Ingredients:
2/3 cup raw almonds
2/3 cup raw macadamia nuts
1 cup flax seeds
1 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup date paste, store bought or homemade (recipe below)
1/3 cup sultanas
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1 tbsp agave syrup (or maple syrup)
Topping: 2 tbsp ground almonds, 2 tbsp shredded coconut, 1-2 tbsp sunflower seeds, 20 walnut pieces.
Method
1. Add almonds, macadamia nuts, cinnamon and sea salt to a food processor (or high speed blender), and process until nuts are ground.
2. Add nut mixture to a large mixing bowl. Grind the flax seeds (I use a small coffee grinder) and add to the mixing bowl. Mix well.
3. Add date paste and agave (or maple) syrup to the mixing bowl, and stir until incorporated.
4. Add raisins and walnuts. Mix well.
5. Line a large baking dish with baking paper* (parchment) and scoop the mixture into the dish. Flatten the mixture with the back of a large spoon.
6. Sprinkle the top with ground almonds, shredded coconut, and sunflower seeds.
7. Refrigerate (or place in the freezer) for a few hours before cutting into 20 squares. Place a walnut piece on each square. Store slice in fridge or freezer.
Date Paste
Quantity – approximately 1 cup
Ingredients:
10 dates, pitted
2 tbsp agave syrup (or maple syrup)
2 tbsp coconut oil (optional, but the slice is drier without it)
1/4 cup dried apricots
1 cup of water (for soaking dates)
Method
1. Soak dates in water for 1-2 hours. Reserve 1/4 cup of the soaking water for step 2.
2. In a small food processor, add ingredients in the following order: soaking water, dates, agave (maple) syrup, coconut oil, and dried apricots.
3. Process until smooth.
Store the leftover date paste in the fridge. Date paste is yummy on bread or crackers, with macadamia butter.
* I had run out of baking paper on this occasion. It is much easier to extract the slice from the dish if you use baking paper, but it is not essential.
Each Monday, I feature a couple of delicious vegan recipes that are enjoyed by my own family. I hope your family enjoys them too!
Ally
About Ally
That cinnamon date slice sounds so freakin’ delicious! Also – totally loving that you dig cute bento stuff too… The only difference between us being that you have kids to use as an excuse
haha! Yes, I get to live vicariously through my children! Lunchboxes in my day were so dull – a vegemite sandwich, frozen ‘poppa’, apple, and ‘vita-weat’ biscuits wrapped in aluminium foil or grease proof paper. Ah, those were the days! haha…
I have been indulging my almost forgotten love of dates quite a bit lately! I hadn’t bought them for years until a couple of months back, and now I always have them on hand. They are such a good snack – they are just delectable. They are like nature’s perfect dessert. I love the sound of the nibblers and the slice
I love dates too. They are so versatile. Medjool are my favourite variety.
I took the nibblers to a picnic recently, and they were very popular- with kids and adults.
Two thumbs up, Ally! Both treats look soooo yummy! Great idea to use dates over refined sugar, especially for the kiddies.
Hi Angela. They are both yummy, and easy to make. Gluten-free too
3 amazing & well flavoured recipes, dear Ally! So special all too!
MMMM!
Thanks Sophie
I hope you are well.
Both sweets look delicious, your kids are very lucky!
Thanks! That is kind of you to say. Hopefully they agree with you
yum, yum, yum and yum! Archie and I just made the nibblers, delicious! Not sure if there’ll be any left for jas and connor when they get home
Got inspired and ordered Dreena’s cookbook too, thanks ally.
Oh that’s great Nik! I’m so happy to hear that you and Archie enjoyed them. I have been known to make a double batch just to make sure there are enough to go around. Mat really likes them too.
I am a big fan of Dreena’s recipes. Stating the obvious, I know
Enjoy the book. The first recipe we made from it was a dressing – curry almond dressing. Superb. Then we made the pumpkin cake – scrumptious.
Thanks for letting me know about the nibblers.
So where do I sign up for my own, personal, awesome lunch-maker like yourself? I’m seriously envying your kids right now. Those date slices look fantastic!
haha! That is kind of you. Maybe we can do an exchange.
I’ll make you a yummy lunch box and you can make me some choc hazelnut spread. 
Don’t tease me. If we lived on the same continent, I’d jump on that offer!
Those date bars look unreal! Oh my gosh I must make those.
Thanks Britt. Not as scrumptious as a cupcake, but hey, they are good enough!
Your raw food always looks so amazing! I am so unfamiliar with raw foods besides juicing and vegetables. Thanks for sharing another great looking (and im sure tasting) recipe
glad you posted these, I’ve been thinking about making something similar this week!
Oh good! I’m glad you found it useful. Thanks.
These look incredible Ally! I love the sound of the cinnamon one. I love how much of a treat they are, but still so healthy! Delicious!
Thanks Brandi! Yes, I agree. The slice is very dense, so you don’t need a big piece to feel satisfied!
I hope you are well.