With spring in full bloom and summer just around the corner…I know it’s time to lighten things up!!  I also might have done a number on my son’s easter chocolates because it was just too much for a three year old. He pretty much went all ‘survival of the fittest’ at the charity easter egg hunt and collected quite a lot.  I will say I was a cross between embarrassed and super duper proud at his sleuthfulness.  I felt kind of bad for other kids that didn’t get as many eggs and I did share quite a few with them but truthfully, my inner monologue was also kinda saying…sister, you gotta get out there and try harder, I mean really…THE EGGS ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE!!!!  TRY…a little, don’t make me give you these pity eggs!!

Sorry for that little tangent.

Now that this chocolate fest is outta my house completely, I figured I would try to whip up a sweet treat that will kibosh those sweet cravings and i’m going to whip up some date spread.  Okay, i’m sure you are like…BACK IT UP, Date Spread ain’t no mini eggs so calm down with this kitchen voodoo.  I get it.  You are right, there is no replacement for chocolate but I did want to give everyone a nice little alternative for having something in the fridge that was sweet and could work in multiple sweet treat recipes that are remotely healthy for you.  Let’s get on with this wizardry shall we?

I am already confessed my love for the medjool date and this will be the star of this spread.  Its so super simple, lasts quite a while in your fridge and serves up great as a dip, you can mix it with tonnes of stuff and use it in many recipes that call for a form of sweetner.  Dates have all sorts of health benefits as they are very rich in several vitamins and minerals.

All you have to do here is take the pits out of 25 medjool dates.  Throw them in your blender with about 2 cups of water and blend completely until its smooth and creamy.

Put those dates in to your blender

BLEND BABY BLEND

If you want to enhance the flavour a bit, you can add vanilla, vanilla powder or cinnamon. *I added 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla bean powder and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and then blended again to make sure it was nice and smooth and creamy.Load it up in a jar and store in your fridge.  I like to serve this dip with fruit slices as it’s delicious and a great snack for the little humans in your life.

Add in some cinnamon and vanilla and WOAH, Flavour Winner!!

YUM

Ideas for using this spread:

• add a spoonful to a smoothie to sweeten it up
• mix 1 tbsp of nut butter in with 2 tbsp of date spread.  A wicked, nutty and creamy dip to use with fruit slices.
• spread this on pancakes or crackers…SO good!!

Store this bad boy in your fridge for when that next sweet craving hits you.

Date Spread

Ingredients

• 25 medjool dates (pits removed)
• 2 cups of water
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder or paste (optional)

Directions

Blend until smooth and creamy!!  Then store a jar in your fridge.

Hope you like this lovely and delicious spread!!!!  The lion loves when I mix this date spread with a few spoonfuls of peanut butter.  The great thing about it is that it is easier to dip rather than usual nut butter that is a little tough for toddlers with not so great fine motor skills.

This is what it looks like when mixed with some peanut butter. Sorry that this picture kind of sucks.  Guess what doesn’t suck though??  This spread, Its freaking DELICIOUS!!