Chocolate dates with crystallised ginger are dates filled with ginger, coated with dark chocolate and decorated.
They are a delicious homemade alternative to store bought chocolates, are just the thing for offering to guests and are ideal as a homemade gift. They easy to prepare and similar to chocolate rum truffles and chocolate and banana truffles no baking is required and there is very little that could go wrong.
The quantities in this chocolate date recipe can easily be increased or decreased to make the quantity you require.
Ingredients
- 20 pitted dates - I have used deglet nour dates but other types of dates could be used. If you use larger dates then it is likely you will need more chocolate.
- About 3 or 4 pieces of crystallised ginger - these will be cut into slithers to place inside each date.
- 140g dark chocolate - I prefer to use chocolate with a minimum 70% cocoa content for richness of flavour. Make sure you select a type which is suitable for melting.
- 75g white chocolate - this is used to decorate the dates after they have been coated with dark chocolate. Use a type of white chocolate which is suitable for melting.
- About 1 tablespoon chopped nuts (optional) - use chopped nuts to decorate either some or all your chocolate covered dates. Any type of nuts could be used such as hazelnuts, almonds or pistachios.
Equipment needed
- Chopping board
- Small sharp knife to slice open the dates and cut the ginger
- Two bowls suitable to melt the chocolate in the microwave
- Two cocktail sticks
- Icing bag to decorate (optional)
- Teaspoon
- Large flexible board or other suitable board to place the chocolate dates on
How to prepare
Start by cutting 20 slithers of crystallised ginger each about the thickness of a matchstick and slightly shorter than the dates.
Cut a slit in the side of each date and place one slither of ginger inside each date.
How to decorate
Melt the dark chocolate. The easiest way to do this is by breaking into pieces and placing in a bowl in the microwave, set at half power, for bursts of 30 seconds at a time. Stir to make sure all the chocolate has melted and if there are any solid pieces of chocolate place in the microwave again until it is completely melted. This process may seem slow but reduces the risk of the chocolate overheating or burning.
Dip each stuffed date, one at a time, in the melted chocolate. You may find it easier to hold each date with a couple of cocktail sticks. Turn the dates around in the chocolate to make sure they are completely covered with chocolate. Hold the dates with the cocktail sticks above the bowl of chocolate to allow any excess chocolate to drain. When you have covered the dates with chocolate place on a board and transfer to the fridge to set.
Melt the white chocolate when the dark chocolate has set. While white chocolate can also be melted in the microwave it tends to burn easily. A more reliable way to melt white chocolate is to place it in a heatproof bowl over a pan of hot water taking care not to splash any water onto the chocolate. The indirect heat will melt the chocolate slowly and avoid the risk of burning.
Decorate the chocolate covered dates using the white chocolate. Add a few chopped nuts or any other decoration of your choice.
Tips
- If you don't have a microwave the chocolate can be melted in a heatproof bowl over a pan of hot water, but be careful not to splash any water onto the chocolate as this will affect its properties.
- If your dates have stones, form a slit in each date and carefully remove the stones. The same slit can be used to insert the crystallised ginger.
- Homemade chocolate dates are a great gift idea. Place in individual paper cases in a gift box to add a professional touch.
FAQs
They can be stored at room temperature so long as it is not too warm. In hot weather it is a good idea to keep them in the fridge.
You could, but they would probably be very sweet when combined with the natural sugars in the dates and the sugar in the crystallised ginger.
Other homemade gift ideas
Other chocolate recipes
Chocolate dates
Equipment
- Chopping board
- 1 Small sharp knife
- 2 bowls suitable for the microwave
- 2 cocktail sticks
- Icing bag (optional)
- 1 Teaspoon
- Large flexible board
Ingredients
- 20 pitted dates
- 4 cubes crystallised ginger
- 140 g dark chocolate
- 75 g white chocolate
- 1 tablespoon chopped nuts
Instructions
- Cut 20 slithers of crystallised ginger about the thickness of a matchstick and slightly shorter than a date.
- Cut a slit in the side of each date and place a slither of ginger inside.
- Melt the dark chocolate in a microwave on half power at bursts of 30 seconds at a time.
- Hold a date with two cocktail sticks, dip in melted dark chocolate and place on a flexible board. Repeat with the remaining dates and then place in the fridge to set.
- Melt the white chocolate and decorate the chocolate covered dates with stripes or squiggles, chopped nuts or any other decoration of your choice and leave to set.
Notes
- If you don't have a microwave the chocolate can be melted in a heatproof bowl over a pan of hot water, but be careful not to splash any water onto the chocolate as this will affect its properties.
- If your dates have stones, form a slit in each date and carefully remove the stones. The same slit can be used to insert the crystallised ginger.
- Homemade chocolate dates are a great gift idea. Place in individual paper cases in a gift box to add a professional touch.
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