Date Syrup Recipe

Updated: November 23, 2024, By Swasthi

Learn to make Date Syrup at home with this time-tested recipe. Date syrup is a healthy, delicious & natural sweetener made with dates. Use it over pancakes, desserts, ice creams and a lot more. The options are endless! Date syrup is somewhat of a lesser-known sweetener that deserves the attention of individuals seeking to enjoy healthy alternatives to sugar.

While it is available at some grocery and health food markets, it may not be familiar to most, though there are a great many reasons to give it a try. It is really delicious and has a number of health benefits.

date syrup

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About Dates Syrup

Dates syrup is a natural sweetener made with just 2 ingredients – Dates and water. Although this alternative sweetener is not necessarily low in calories it is a natural sugar that has the added benefit of being less processed than white sugar. Beyond that, it is certainly a healthier option than granulated sugar which has little nutritional value.

Date are rich in iron, magnesium, potassium, and other trace minerals. It stands to reason that date syrup delivers some of these valuable nutrients, making it a good nutritional choice.


There is evidence to support a long history that is associated with date syrup. Also known as date molasses or date honey, it is commonly used in the Middle East where date are widely available, dating back centuries.

A number of companies throughout the world produce and bottle date syrup including a number of Indian and California-based companies where dates are known to flourish.

For those who are familiar with it, and wish to make it at home or for those who have never tried it, this recipe will show you how easy it is to make it with just a couple of ingredients and a very simple process.

Consisting of nothing more than dates and water, this process is as simple as rinsing then soaking dates in hot water to soften them. Once soft, they are simply mashed well which extracts a great deal of the sweetness from the fruit.

It is then filtered through cheesecloth or fine muslin which will allow the liquid to pass through. After this first pressing, the pulp is then rehydrated again, extracting the remainder of the liquid which is collected

At this point, you will notice that the liquid is quite thin and watery. In order to make this into a syrup, you must simmer the syrup in a pan until a thick consistency is achieved, stirring frequently to prevent burning.

After several minutes over medium heat, you will notice that syrup will thicken considerably the outcome should look much like honey. At that point, your date syrup is ready to enjoy!

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dates syrup in a bottle

Photo Guide

How to Make Date Syrup (Stepwise Photos)

1. Add dates to a large bowl and pour boiling hot water over them. Soak for at least 2 hours until softened.

soaking dates in hot water

2. Once they soften, mash them well with a masher. They should be completely soft.

mashing date to make syrup

3. Strain the liquid through a nut bag or a thin muslin cloth.

filtering in a cheese cloth to make dates syrup recipe

4. Squeeze it well to extract any liquid. You may also rehydrate the pulp again and extract the juice once more.

filtering

5. Transfer the strained liquid to a pot and bring it to a boil on a medium heat.

addition of pulp back to bowl to make date syrup recipe

6. Keep string at regular intervals to prevent burning at the bottom.

step by step photos on making date syrup recipe 06

7. Boil the mixture until it becomes thick. The right consistency is to be as thick as honey. It took 11 mins for me on a medium high flame.

thick consistency

Cool this completely and transfer to air tight glass jar and refrigerate.

how to make date syrup

How to use the syrup

Dates syrup is more than a sweetener. It brings a unique flavor along with a beautiful caramel color to your table. It is delicious on pancakes, bread, or baked goods. You can also drizzle it over ice cream or swirl it into yogurt.

Use it to sweeten a smoothie or enhance a bowl of oatmeal. Sliced apples dipped in date syrup makes a perfect snack. You can also use date syrup in your baking, substituting it for honey or other sweeteners. Homemade granola sweetened with dates syrup will take on a beautiful color and flavor.

You can feel good about serving date syrup to your children, including babies. Because it is derived from natural dates it is a good option sweetener. Add to that its iron and fiber content and you have a perfect option, even for infants.

Another way to use date syrup is to sweeten coffee. Whether enjoying it hot or over ice, date syrup adds a subtle caramel note to coffee beverages that complements it quite nicely.

Once you have tasted it you will certainty agree that it deserves a place in your kitchen. You will find yourself reaching for it as you would molasses or honey.

How to use the pulp

Once you have extracted the liquid from the dates that you will turn into your delicious date syrup you will be left with the remaining pulp. This byproduct of making dates syrup will not have the sweetness that you associate with dates as they will have given up their natural sugar.

However, what you are left with can and should be saved for use in smoothies. You can also add a bit of the date syrup back in to the pulp to create a sort of jam that won’t be quite as sweet, but will still have a good amount of fiber and nutrients.

Use this in your oatmeal or spread it on to a piece of toast. Finally, if nothing else, you can simply compost the pulp and feel good about doing something for the environment.

How to Store it

Once you have strained and reduced your syrup to your desired consistency, it is important to store it in a glass jar with a lid and keep it refrigerated. It is best used within three weeks.

Once you have tried this delicious, sweet syrup you will be sure to enjoy it in a number of ways. From beverages to smoothies and baked goods, it is a great sweetener to have on hand and one that you will feel good about using for yourself and your family.

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Recipe Card

date syrup recipe

Date Syrup Recipe, How to make Date Syrup

4.97 from 96 votes
Date syrup is a healthy, delicious & natural sweetener made with dates. Serve it over toasts, pancakes, desserts, ice creams, smoothies and a lot more ..
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time17 minutes
Servings10
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 1 cup dates seedless / pitted dates (250 grams)
  • 1 cup water , hot boiling


Instructions

How to make Date Syrup

  • Soak dates in boiling hot water for about 2 hours. If using a softer variety like medjol you can soak only for a while.
  • Mash the dates using a masher. Strain through a nut bag or a muslin cloth, placed over a strainer. Squeeze the pulp well to extract the juices.
  • Place the pulp back to the soaking bowl and add more water. Mash up and strain again.
  • Add this water to a heavy bottom pot. Bring it to a boil and reduce the heat.
  • Boil this until the mixture thickens and reaches a thick consistency. It will thicken further upon cooling.
  • When done it becomes glossy and thick. Cool and pour dates syrup to a clean air tight jar.
  • Refrigerate and use date syrup as required on your toasts, cakes, smoothies, ice creams and pancakes.


Notes

  1. Do not over boil; else the syrup will be burnt
  2. While boiling, the mix looks frothy and white, do not worry, it will settle down once cool and you will get a glossy syrup
  3. Keep refrigerated. It lasts in the fridge for 2 to 3 months.
  4. Do not blend the dates, you won’t be able to extract the juice. It is easier to extract the juice from mashed dates.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Date Syrup Recipe, How to make Date Syrup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 41
% Daily Value*
Sodium 1mg0%
Potassium 96mg3%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 9g10%
Calcium 6mg1%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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About Swasthi

Iโ€™m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthiโ€™s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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Mine has turned very watery. Is that okay to use in watery form ? Been steering for 30 minutes

You have mentioned that the date syrup can be refrigerated for three weeks and then in under notes, you mention 3 months?

5 stars
excellent, will make it over and over again =]

Which dates can I use ? Can I use lion dates?

5 stars
Trying the recipe now. Thank you for the clarity in the instructions. Having a healthier diet my new years resolution.

5 stars
Wonderful recipe! I will sure make it for smoothies, coffee, etc.

i was wondering if I can use this date syrup in place of chashni (sugar & water syrup) for Indian sweets? I understand the color will be dark because of the dates vs. sugar.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you!

How many millilitres or cups of date syrup does this make?

5 stars
I made this and it turned out great! Would you recommend using this in coffee? I am trying to find an alternative to sugar. Thank you!

Can this be hot water bath canned? Is the sugar content sufficient to preserve? (Why 3 weeks time limit)

5 stars
Thank for sharing this recipe ?

5 stars
Beautiful syrup!!! My first time making it. It is a lesson in patience, but it was well worth it. Thank you

Hi Swasti,

I used khidri organic dates and extracted everything out of it left only almost skin. Now it’s like a semisolid substance. It’s not liquid at all. Am not sure what went wrong and did I extract so much from it.

5 stars
I made this and the first time was only able to get like a tablespoon of syrup ?โ€โ™€๏ธIt was delicious.. tried a 2nd time and it never got hard? Going to try again.. is there a particular pot I should use?

5 stars
Swasthi, I will try this soon. In the meantime, I seek your wisdom about store-bought date syrup that is not syrup at all. It is sludge and won’t come out of the squeeze bottle. I know I can thin it down but how? I am thinking hot water is the only thing to get it thinner so it can even come out, but hot water and plastic just don’t mix. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

5 stars
Thanks for your assistance and kindness

Hi Swasthi, first I want to say thank you for all the details on how to make date syrup as well as the ideas of what to do with the remaining pulp. I was wondering if you have a solution for a bottle of date syrup I bought a few months ago which got hard and won’t flow out of the bottle. Thank you for any tips you can share!

5 stars
Tried this for the first time as I wanted a healthy sweetener. Turned out really well. Very pleased with the result. Thank you.

5 stars
I needed date molasses for a recipe and couldn’t find any in shops. Found this recipe and tried it. Was soo pleased with the result. First time your recipe measurements were just enough for my recipe. Ive just made a second batch with double measurements, so ive got plenty to experiment with…just as impressive second time round.
I used a block of pitted dates which have already been chopped, i found these so much easier to mash up( i did check, nothing else is added to them).

Thank you for sharing this recipe.

5 stars
Hi,

Thank you for your recipe! I was wondering what’s the serving size in the estimated nutrition fact?

5 stars
Can we just grind the dates instead of mashing it?

5 stars
Such a simple recipe I will definitely try it for my 9 month old baby …โค๏ธ?