Trader Joe's RECIPE: Chocolate Almond Dates

Have you heard that saying that goes something like, "Don't have sweets in the house, and you won't be tempted?" Yeah. How it works around here is, "Don't have sweets in the house? I will make something sweet."

These Chocolate Almond Dates are my new favorite treat. I've made, oh, 4 batches in the past month? They're perfect when you want a little something sweet, but you're still getting the goodness of dates, almonds, and almond butter.

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The dates are caramel-y and chewy and pair so well with the crunch of the almond. And yeah, everything is better with chocolate! 

The ingredient list is small...dates, Trader Joe's Almond Butter, Trader Joe's 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Chips, Trader Joe's Slightly Coated Dark Chocolate Almonds, and Trader Joe's Coconut Oil. 

You might notice that the dates are NOT from Trader Joe's. The reason for that is two-fold. 

1. Trader Joe's doesn't always have dates in stock,
2. The best dates I've found BY FAR are from Ranch Meladuco. As in, they are fabulous, delicious, moist, luscious, etc. etc. They also ship super quickly, so I always have a steady supply. 

NOTE: You can make these with store-bought dates. If they are dry, soak in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain well and pat dry. 

Start by pitting the dates, but don't cut all the way through. 

Fill with almond butter and top each with a Trader Joe's Slightly Coated Dark Chocolate Almond. You can use any of the TJ's almond butters here. 

For extra points, stir some vanilla extract into your almond butter. 

Freeze. 

Melt Trader Joe's 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Chips with a bit of coconut oil to keep the chocolate soft. Don't skip this or the chocolate will harden and break into a million pieces when you bite into it. 

Dip frozen, filled dates into the melted chocolate. Use a fork to remove to a cookie sheet. And 1/8th sheet pan works great here. 

Freeze until set, then store in the refrigerator. 

Helloooooo! Can you see that caramel-y date goodness?

Trader Joe's RECIPE: Chocolate Almond Dates

12 medjool dates

1/2 cup Trader Joe's Almond Butter

12 Trader Joe's Slightly Coated Dark Chocolate Almonds

1 cup Trader Joe's 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Chips

1 teaspoon Trader Joe's Coconut Oil

Pit dates, but do not cut all the way through. Place on a rimmed cookie sheet (such as a 1/8 sheet pan) lined with parchment or waxed paper. 

Fill each date with 2 teaspoons almond butter. Place one almond into each. Freeze for at least 30 minutes. 

Pour chocolate chips and coconut oil into a bowl. Melt in microwave at 50% power for 30-second intervals, stirring between, until melted. 

Dunk filled dates into melted chocolate. Cover each completely in chocolate, then use a fork to lift it back onto cookie sheet. 

Freeze until set, then transfer to refrigerator for storage.