Whole Pitted Dates, 1kg

Somerset Foodie Whole Pitted Dates are soft, naturally sweet whole dates with the stone already removed - a proper kitchen staple for anyone who bakes regularly or likes having a genuinely useful natural sweetener to hand. These dates have a deep, honeyed caramel sweetness and a rich, fudgy texture that holds up well in baking, blending and cooking alike. They arrive with nothing added: no sugar, no syrup, no preservatives. The 1kg bag gives you the kind of quantity that makes them easy to reach for without a second thought.

At this quantity, dates become a genuine kitchen workhorse. Blitz them into smooth date paste and use it in place of refined sugar across a range of bakes - sticky toffee pudding, flapjacks, energy bars and raw chocolate brownies all benefit. Soak a handful in hot water for ten minutes, blend until smooth and you have a natural sweetener that works just as well stirred into porridge as it does in a salad dressing with tahini and lemon. They’re a reliable base for homemade cereal bars, a natural binder for bliss balls, and a satisfying snack eaten straight as they are. The 1kg bag makes the cost per use genuinely competitive with refined sugar alternatives.

Recipes to try using this ingredient:
•    [Recipe Name] (link: somersetfoodie.com/blogs/recipes/[slug]) — placeholder
•    [Recipe Name] (link: somersetfoodie.com/blogs/recipes/[slug]) — placeholder

Why we love it:

Whole pitted dates with a naturally deep, honeyed caramel sweetness — no added sugar, syrup or preservatives

Soft, fudgy texture that works straight from the bag for most recipes - no soaking needed unless blending to a very smooth paste

The 1kg bag gives genuine kitchen quantity - enough for regular baking, batch cooking and snacking without restocking constantly

A versatile natural sweetener: one date has roughly the sweetening power of a teaspoon of sugar, with added fibre, potassium and iron

Naturally gluten-free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans

Works across sweet and savoury cooking - from sticky toffee pudding and energy balls to salad dressings and marinades

How to use:

• For date paste (an all-purpose natural sweetener), soak 200g dates in just-boiled water for 10 minutes, drain, then blitz with 3–4 tbsp of the soaking water until completely smooth. Store in a jar in the fridge for up to two weeks. Use 1 tbsp in place of 1 tbsp sugar in bakes, smoothies and sauces.
• For sticky toffee pudding, swap the chopped dates directly into your usual recipe — these are soft enough to use straight from the bag. Soak in 200ml hot water with ¾ tsp bicarbonate of soda for the traditional method.
• For homemade energy bars, blitz 300g dates with 150g oats, 100g mixed nuts and 2 tbsp nut butter until the mixture holds together. Press firmly into a lined tin, refrigerate for 1 hour, then slice into bars.
  

More information:

• Packed for Somerset Foodie in 1kg bags
  
• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Reseal the bag after opening,...