Vegan

Raw date-square bites

By Sari Huhtala

Years ago I’d make a batch of date squares for the holidays. I even have the old recipe scribbled in my tattered recipe book from 40 years ago, and was aghast at how unhealthy this recipe appears to me today, with a cup of brown sugar, white flour and a cup of butter. Years later I swapped out the ingredients to make it with coconut sugar in very low quantities as dates are already sweet enough, and with spelt flour and coconut oil. This recipe is a simple take on an old fave, and requires little effort and no baking, and is gluten free.

On a nutritional note, dates are a packed with polyphenols – antioxidants that protect the body from inflammation. In fact, dates have more polyphenols than many fruits and vegetables. Plus, they provide a good fiber boost, and are high in potassium and magnesium electrolytes, and are a good source of iron.

Date-square bites

  • ½ cup oats
  • ½ cup walnuts (if nut allergies are a concern, replace walnuts with oats)
  • 1 ¼ cup dates, chopped

It’s a good idea to chop the dates to ensure there are no pits (even pitted dates sometimes have pits). Toss all ingredients in a food processor and process until fine. Roll into bite-size balls. Store covered in fridge to maintain freshness.

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