Date syrup? I had never heard of such a thing! What a wonderful surprise though! A Moscow “local” has been supplying us with this delicious nectar for a little under a year. This treat comes from the date palm tree and is the ideal substitute to processed sugar in baking and cooking recipes. Great topping for things that call for honey or syrup. Date syrup also has a very high mineral content – especially potassium, magnesium and iron.
This sweetener is organic, kosher, vegan, gluten free and dairy free. Some examples of uses include: top of waffles/pancakes, substitute for sugar and syrup in baking and cooking, in oatmeal/cereal, on ice cream and in smoothies. My personal favorite is drizzled on goat cheese with crisp bread.

Here are some recipes for you to try with the date syrup you will purchase after reading this article:

Out of the Pantry Gluten Free, Dairy Free Chocolate Cake
The key ingredient may seem unlikely at first, but trust us – this one’s a keeper!
8 ounces dark chocolate or chocolate chips, melted
3 Tablespoon cocoa
1 can garbanzo beans, drained
4 eggs
1/2 cup date syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Mix beans, eggs, date syrup and cocoa in blender until smooth. Add melted chocolate and blend until well mixed. Transfer mixture into prepared cake or spring form pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes. Serve with fresh whipped cream or ice cream.

You Will Not Believe This Pizza Sauce
2 Shallots, finely minced
Splash of olive oil
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper to taste
1/3 cup date syrup
1/3 cup water
Sauté shallots, red pepper flakes and pepper in olive oil for 2 minutes. Add the syrup and water, then slowly reduce over medium heat. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste. When it reaches a “sauce” consistency, it’s ready to spread on your favorite crust!

Berry and Lemon Scones
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup date syrup
4 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk
zest from one lemon
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup frozen or fresh cherries, raspberries or blackberries
Optional: 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl: flour, salt, sugar and zest. Cut in butter. Mix together date syrup, vanilla, milk and lemon juice and then combine with dry ingredients only until dough starts to hold together. Add berries and nuts, if desired.

Press dough into a disc (dough may be a little sticky, don’t let this scare you) and cut into slices. Form into desired scone shapes and bake!
Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes.