Chocolate covered dates with peanut butter are a rich, chocolatey sweet treat you can indulge in without the guilt. If you're looking for a better alternative for a delicious dessert, this is for you!

Why you'll love this recipe
- They're a delicious treat: after the holidays, and headed into Valentine's Day, I still want to feel like I can indulge every now and then. These dates with peanut butter and chocolate are a healthy compromise and still satisfy my sweet tooth.
- Easy to make: you only need a few ingredients to make these sweet treats and there's no fussy pants technique involved.
- Healthier alternative: should you eat dozens of these? No, probably not. But they're a real food option to some of the other sweets you might gravitate to. (I'm talking to you, snickers bars....)
Ingredients
Just a few real food ingredients go into this covered dates recipe. You'll need Mejdool dates, creamy peanut butter, chocolate chunks and coconut oil.
Ingredient Notes
- Medjool dates - if these sound exotic, don't let the name intimidate you. Dates originate from the Middle East by way of Morocco. The good news is you don't have to hop on a plane to get these. Our Aldi and regular grocery store carries them on the regular! These have a chewy texture and a caramel type flavor, which makes them perfect for this recipe.
- creamy peanut butter - you've got options, friends! You can use regular peanut butter, natural, cashew or almond butter.
- chocolate chunks - I used semi-sweet chocolate and felt like it was the perfect foil to the peanut butter. If you have leftover chocolate chips from making healthy oatmeal bites, here's a chance to put them to use! You can play with options like dark chocolate if you like a less sweet option.
- coconut oil - we're using this to melt the chocolate chips. It also helps the chocolate dry to a glossy, magic chocolate shell kind of finish.
- chopped peanuts - peanuts are sprinkled over the top and cling to the chocolate before it dries.
Variations
- Take these to the next level! Try sprinkling the tiniest bit of flaky sea salt over the tops before the chocolate dries.
- Peanut butter not your jam? I've got you covered! These taste great with sunbutter or tahini in its place.
- Make them without the chocolate - I happen to be a chocolate lover, but these are also a treat if you just stuff the dates with peanut butter and call it a day.
How to make chocolate covered dates with peanut butter
First, let's open up the dates by cutting a slit in one side. If there is a pit, take this opportunity to remove it using the tip of a knife.
See in the photo how there's a hole inside just begging to be filled with deliciousness? We're gonna take care of that by filling it with a generous teaspoon of peanut butter.
Next, melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave, 15 to 30 seconds at a time. Give it a stir in between each increment.
See the nice shiny gloss of the chocolate because of the coconut oil? That's what I'm talking about...
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Now it's time to get a little messy. Add the dates one at a time, into the melted chocolate. Use a spoon to cover each date completely with chocolate.
Let the excess chocolate drip off. Tip: a fork is a good retrieval tool and the chocolate drips off through the fork tines. Learn from my mistakes, grasshopper...
Then place the stuffed dates on your parchment paper. Sprinkle the chopped peanuts over the tops of the dates.
Let chill in the fridge for about 5 minutes in order for the chocolate to set.
How to serve and store leftovers
These chocolate covered dates can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or you can freeze them to have them last longer.
I wouldn't store them at room temperature or the chocolate may melt. Then you'll be left with evidence on your fingers, wink wink.
FAQS
Peanut butter, cashew butter, and almond butter all pair well with dates and chocolate!
Yes! These also taste great with sunbutter and tahini.
They are sweet and taste almost like a snickers bar, just healthier!
Yes, you sure can. Store then in a freezer bag and pull one or two out to thaw as you crave them.
More no bake desserts
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
If you make these dates with peanut butter and chocolate, give a rating or review below. I'd love to hear from you!
Chocolate Covered Dates with Peanut Butter
Ingredients
- 12 large Medjool Dates pitted
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 2 Tablespoons chopped peanuts
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Instructions
- Line a sheet pan with a piece of parchment paper. Cut a large slit into the dates with a sharp knife. Take care not to cut them completely in half, but opening up the inside pocket. Remove the pit (if your dates are not pitted).
- Stuff dates with a generous teaspoon of peanut butter inside each. Set aside.
- Melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave at 15 to 30 second intervals. Stir well at each increment, until the chocolate is smooth and melted (depending on your microwave, it may be up to 1 and a half minutes.)
- Place 1 date at a time in the bowl of chocolate and use a spoon to completely coat it in chocolate. Remove from the chocolate and let the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl (I like to use a fork for this so the extra drips between the tines of the fork. Place each chocolate coated date on your parchment lined tray.
- Sprinkle the chopped peanuts over the top of the dates while the chocolate is still runny.
Let chill in the fridge for about 5 minutes for the chocolate to harden.
Notes
Equipment to grab before getting started:
Nutrition
This Farm Girl Cooks is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.