Samoa Stuffed Dates (Healthy Iftar Stuffed Dates)

Arabic stuffed dates meet American girl scout samoa cookies for a healthy no bake treat! My samoa cookie stuffed dates are filled with creamy cashew butter, and coconut filling, then drizzled with extra dark chocolate.

You don't need to go to the Middle East for yummy stuffed dates, make healthy stuffed dates right at home! And make sure to save this stuffed dates recipe for Ramadan. Stuffed dates are an excellent healthy iftar recipe!

ASK THE DIETITIAN:

ARE STUFFED DATES HEALTHY FOR YOU?

Middle Eastern stuffed dates are typically made with some combination of cream cheese, ricotta cheese, nuts, and chocolate.

My healthy stuffed dates recipe is inspired by the samoa girl scout cookie! My healthy stuffed dates are made with cashew butter, coconut, and vanilla extract.

Health benefits of the ingredients:

• Dates are a good source of fiber, copper, potassium, vitamin B6, and magnesium.
• Cashew butter is high in healthy fats, potassium, protein, iron, magnesium, and vitamin B6.
• Coconut flakes are a good source of healthy fats, fiber, potassium and iron.
• Coconut oil is a great plant based oil high in medium chain fats, that are burned quickly for energy.
• Vanilla extract is simply for flavor. Make sure to buy pure vanilla extract and not artificial.
• Pink sea salt has its natural minerals in tact, which help salt properly function in your body for fluid balance.
• Extra dark chocolate (80-100%) is surprisingly nutritious! The higher the percentage, the more cacao benefits you get. They are high in antioxidants, protein, healthy fats, fiber, magnesium, manganese, and more!

HOW DO I EAT HEALTHY WHEN FASTING?

Whether you are fasting for Ramadan, or fasting for any other reason, it can be done in a healthy way. Think about it, most of the time, your digestive tract (which is basically one giant muscle) is constantly working out after you eat food! So fasting gives your digestive tract much needed time to rest.

But many times, especially during Ramadan, fasting is broken with many highly refined and highly indulgent foods.

How can you eat healthy during Ramadan or after any fasting period?

1. Drink PLENTLY of water. Wake up before the sun rises to drink about half of your daily needs (4-5 cups). Then, at Iftar, drink another 4-5 cups.
2. Load up on the vegetables, fruits, beans, and nuts first. These are super high in nutrients that will keep you energized through your fast instead of making you crash.
3. Make sure you eat enough protein. Get your protein in for more nutrients.
4. Pick whole grains over refined ones. Instead of the white bread and white rice, which will leave you feeling tired, pick whole grain rice, freekeh, whole wheat couscous, and wheat bread.
5. Enjoy the dessert in moderation. Or, pick a healthy dessert like my samoa stuffed dates!

WATCH HOW I MADE MY HEALTHY SAMOA COOKIE STUFFED DATES

TIPS ON MAKING THE BEST HEALTHY SAMOA COOKIE STUFFED DATES RECIPE

USE MEDJOOL DATES. Medjool dates are much bigger and better for stuffing than smaller varieties like noor.

CUT ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE DATE. Don't cut all the way through or the filling will drop out the bottom!

PRESS THE INSIDE OF THE DATE TO MAKE MORE "SPACE" FOR THE FILLING. Press the date and open it up more so you can stuff more filling inside.

STORE IN THE FRIDGE TO SET THE CHOCOLATE. The fridge will chill the chocolate topping and harden it.

FAQ'S

Frequently asked questions about my healthy samoa stuffed dates recipe.

CAN I EAT DATES WHILE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT?

Yes! Dates are actually healthy for you and they satisfy your sweets craving. My healthy sweet stuffed dates recipe is made with all good for you ingredients like cashew butter, coconut, and super dark chocolate.

DO DATES MAKE YOU POOP?

Yes! Dates are actually excellent for gut health and helping you poop because they are high in fiber.

HOW CAN I DECORATE MY RAMADAN DATE?

Dark chocolate is the best date decoration, but you can also use more coconut, or chopped nuts like walnuts or pistachios.

WHAT MAKES DATES TASTE BETTER?

Adding toppings and flavorings will make dates much more interesting. You can even simply dip dates in nut butter.

WHAT CAN BE MADE FROM DATES?

Dates are an excellent refined sugar free for many desserts like healthy dulce de leche cheesecake, chickpea cookie dough, and more!

More healthy Middle Eastern recipes to make during Ramadan and fasting:

1. Healthy Sfiha
2. Arabic Chopped Salad
3. Galayet Bandora
4. Shorbat Adas
5. Whole Wheat Naan with Za'atar

MAKE MY HEALTHY SAMOA COOKIE STUFFED DATES

Make sure to watch how to make cashew butter right in your blender before making these!

SAMOA COOKIE STUFFED DATES INGREDIENTS

• 20-25 medjool dates, pits removed
• 1 cup super fine coconut
• ½ cup creamy cashew butter
• 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of pink sea salt
• optional: 1-2 tablespoons raw honey for sweeter stuffed dates
• Extra dark chocolate (80-100% dark)

HOW TO MAKE THEM

In a medium sized bowl, mix together the shredded coconut, creamy cashew butter, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and pink sea salt. Set aside.

Next, cut half way through each date. Remove the pit and discard.

Fill each date with the coconut filling.

Next, melt 1 cup chopped dark chocolate with 1 teaspoon coconut oil. Dip the bottom half of each date in the melted dark chocolate.

Finally, drizzle the tops of the dates with the dark chocolate. Place in the fridge to set the chocolate till hard.

Enjoy!

OTHER STUFFED DATES IDEAS

You can stuff dates with any combination of peanut butter, chocolate, almonds, walnuts, and cinnamon!

Tell me what you like to stuff your dates with in the comments below!

HOW DO YOU SERVE DATES?

Serve stuffed dates just as they are! Store the rest in the fridge to enjoy later when you're craving a sweet treat.

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Looking for more desserts? Try these!

1. Walnut Baklava
2. Qatayef
3. Basbousa with Cream
4. Rose Milk Cake
5. Pistachio cardamom cupcakes with rosewater frosting
6. Arabic Butter Cookies
7. Samoa cookie bars

If you make this stuffed date recipe and love it, please be sure to tag your photo #thehintofrosemary on Instagram, Pinterest, & Youtube and leave me a rating in the recipe card!