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Dates are an expensive ingredient, and if you don’t use them often, they dry up and go bad, which is why I long ago switched to making raisin paste to sweeten baked goods, smoothies, and more.
I share my easy recipe below, how to keep it, and how much raisin paste equals a date in this post.
Cheaper Substitute for Dates
Lately, I’ve noticed that healthy dessert recipes call for dates to sweeten them. From smoothies to granola bars, they seem to be in everything.
Dates, while easy to find at most grocery stores, are not cheap. Pitted dates are usually a dollar or so more expensive and in some recipes, it can bring up the cost of the recipe by a lot! They can cost as much as $9 per pound!
Enter my friend, the raisin. A couple of years ago, I began to use raisins instead of dates in my smoothies, grain-free Morning Glory Muffins, overnight oats, and preserves. They are sweet, delicious, and a lot cheaper than dates.
It is true that dates have many health benefits but so do grapes! They are both quite similar in nutritional benefits and in texture.
When I look at how dates are being used in many recipes they are used as a filler (like in homemade bars) and as a sweetener. Regardless of how you use them, I’ll show you my two methods of using raisins as a substitute for dates.
Making healthy swaps is just one simple way that you can eat healthier, cleaner food as a family. And it doesn’t have to be expensive! See how your family can eat clean on a budget here.
Ingredients
To make this awesome substitute for dates, you only need two ingredients. You’ll save money without sacrificing nutrition:
- Dried raisins: the substitute for dates.
- Hot water: to add moisture and resemble the dates’ texture.
How to Make Substitute for Dates with Raisins
Making this raisin paste requires no effort at all: you just need to let the raisins soak in water and then process them into a paste. It’s this easy:
- Hydrate the raisins
Soaking raisins in boiling water for about 10 minutes gives them a dates-like texture. - Make the paste
Process the plump raisins in the food processor with reserved raisins water until you get a thick paste. Standard consistency is similar to thick creamy peanut butter. - Store
Refrigerate in a lidded container or jar for up to 3 weeks. You can also freeze it in an ice cube tray and transfer it inside a zip bag for up to 6 months.
Tips to help Substitute Raisins for Dates
If you are going to substitute raw dates for raisins in baking recipes, like in muffins, brownies, and Lara bars, you’ll want to soak the raisins for about 2-3 minutes in hot water.
Soaking the raisins for about 3 minutes will reconstitute some of the moisture and give them a similar texture to dates. Then, all you have to do is drain and pat dry with a paper towel.
For smoothies and everything else I make raisin paste and keep a small jar in the fridge at all times. To substitute for 1 large date you will need about 1-2 teaspoons of raisin paste.
It might not be the prettiest of all things, but raisin paste is an inexpensive an easy substitute for things like green smoothies. I drink a green smoothie daily, so one teaspoon of raisin paste is all I need to make the “greenness” tolerable.
Raisin Paste – Date Paste Substitute
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups dried raisins
- Hot water
Instructions
Soak:
- Place the raisins in a bowl and pour enough boiling water over the raisins to cover them by 2 inches. Let them sit in the hot water for 10 minutes. Reserve ¼ of the raisin water and drain the rest of the water out.
Make the paste:
- Place the plump raisins inside a food processor and process them until it turns into a thick paste. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved water at a time, until the raisin paste has the texture you want. Standard consistency is similar to thick creamy peanut butter.
Store:
- Transfer the raisin paste into a lidded container or jar and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. It can also be frozen in an ice cube tray and transferred inside a zip bag for up to 6 months.
Use:
- Measure 2 teaspoons or raisin paste for every 1 date in your favorite recipes and smoothies.
Louise says
This raisin paste recipe was exactly what I was looking for.
Barb says
Brilliant idea! Thank you!
BCM says
If the recipe requires 10 medjool dates, how much raisins would you recommend I use? Thank you!
Laura Fuentes says
I recommend you fill a cup with 10 dates and then equally fill the cup with raisins. If you don’t have dates, then an average date is 10 grams so about 100g of raisins.
Thena says
I much prefer raisins to dates, and this was so good!
Luane says
This was great. I served it on toast
Samantha says
Thank you for this! Very useful, I’ll check out your other recipes too 🙂
fran lehen says
Wonderful suggestion, I use dates all the time. Another question: I’m trying to turn a paleo chocolate cake recipe into a pudding cake by adding unsweetten applesauce, frozen banana; since these aren’t dried, do you think I can add pealed grapes instead of raisins to make it a little bit more liquidy inside? Or do you have a suggestion?
Laura Fuentes says
Fran, unfortunately, I cannot advise on a recipe that I haven’t tried making myself. I will say that grapes do not bake well. I suggest you soak the raisins in hot water for 10 minutes to make them moist and then add them to your recipe.
Joanne Altom says
could I use frozen (thawed) grapes instead of raisins? I have lots of extra grapes so have them waiting in the freezer.
Laura Fuentes says
Unfortunately, no. Sorry!
Jonathan Palmer says
My brain told me I could substitute raisins for dates, but how to do it was a mystery. The blender tip is very helpful. I am making no bake oatmeal date power balls for the family picnic, now using raisin paste.
Laura Fuentes says
Perfect!
Robyn says
I made some lactation balls today using this raisin paste and they turned out perfect. Thank you!!
Laura Fuentes says
I’m so glad this worked for you Robyn!
Alythia Wilson says
Amazing, thank you for this recipe. I am allergic to dates amongst a few other things and have had to skip A LOT of recipes as they include Dates, but not anymore!! ❤
Laura Fuentes says
You can make ANY recipe that calls for dates with this method. Enjoy!
Kandy says
Great suggestion, looking forward to trying this, thanks for the tips!! I haven’t been liking the date taste and am hoping that the raisins will give a lighter flavor, yes?? Plus the lower cost will be nice =) Thanks again!!
Laura Fuentes says
Flavor is similar but a different sweetness, I think. Totally more cost-effective. MUCH.
Marta says
Hi Laura,
Sometimes a recipe calls for a certain number of whole dates ie. 5 dates, so what would be the equivalent in whole raisins?
Laura Fuentes says
Marta, you would measure the dates inside a measuring cup and then the equivalent volume in raisins.
Joel says
How long does it take for your food processor to reach this state of thick paste? Mine seems to stay granular for a while…. not sure what’s wrong.
Laura Fuentes says
Add a little water, your dates might be too dry. Enjoy
Andrea Walker says
I need to make a date caramel for a recipie but can’t find dates. Can I use this paste as a replacement?
Laura Fuentes says
I’ve never tried a date caramel but this works exactly as dates would.
Sylvia Thompson says
Trying to make a cake that calls for Medjool dates, can’t find them here in my city, nor do I won’t to give a kidney just to try out a receipt. Can I use this past or do I need to chop the raisins instead?
Laura Fuentes says
You can just “plump” the raisins in hot water as mentioned in the recipe and use those. Same amount. So, if the recipe calls for 1/4 cup dates, use 1/4 cup plump raisins. Enjoy!
Chris Crofton says
Thanks – just found a simple healthy muffin top recipe and have no dates. Will give it a shot but appreciate that I found this.
Sonia | Inglourious Bananas says
I love dates but Medjool are difficult to find this time of the year where I live so this recipe is exactly what I needed. Thanks! I’m going to try it very soon 🙂
Steak Recipes Sauce says
Marinade your steak for a minimum of half an hour prior to you prepare it
so the taste of the steak marinade dish can soak into the
meat.
Julie says
Thank you so much for the info. Do you suppose this would work to make Craisins paste when date paste is called for?
Laura Fuentes says
You can definitely make paste out of dried cranberries. However, they will need to soak longer. I don’t think it would be a great substitute for dates since they are not as sweet. if you are ok with that, then you are good to go!
Marcus Clarke says
How much paste would i need in my coffee to replace 4g of sugar?
Laura Fuentes says
about 1 teaspoon. but it depends on the recipe you are trying to use as a substitute for dates.
Taylor says
Hi! I don’t own a fruit processor. Do you think I could make this paste in my blender?
Laura Fuentes says
Yes you can. You’ll have to stop the blender and assist with a spatula a few times but it will work.
Linda says
What a great idea! Can I use raisin paste in bread recipes to sub out the sugar?
Laura Fuentes says
Linda, raisin paste is not a 1:1 ratio to granulated sugar. It is used whenever dates are called for in recipes.
Anne Stuck says
Hi! Do you know how to substitute raisin paste for dates in recipes using a cup or more? It seems like it would be difficult to count out 2 teaspoons of raisin paste for every date, when my recipes don’t call for a certain number of dates, but rather by the cup. Thanks for your input, I would really like to try this!
Laura Fuentes says
Anne, you can substitute raisin paste for date paste 1:1. 1 cup of dates will yield about 1/2 cup of paste.
Amber says
Thank you! I was wondering this as well.
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
I would have never thought of this!! It’s so smart!
Isabella says
I wish I’d know this last weekend when I made some data and cacoa balls, without the dates because I had run out.
Laura Fuentes says
now you know! you can make them again with a less expensive and easy alternative! 🙂