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5 from 2 votes

Easy Date Syrup (Molasses) Recipe

Date syrup, also known as Date Molasses, is a delicious natural sweetener that you can make with fresh dates.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Condiments
Cuisine: Assyrian, Middle Eastern
Servings: 1 8 oz jar
Calories: 90kcal

Ingredients

  • cups dates
  • 5 cups water
  • 1 pinch salt
  • ¼ tsp. cardamom (optional)

Instructions

  • Remove the pit and the round "cap" from the end of the dates and chop them into quarters.
  • Add dates to a medium-sized pot and cover with 5 cups of water.
  • Add a pinch of salt and ¼ teaspoon cardamom (optional). 
  • Bring the mixture to a boil then simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Skim the date skins that float to the surface. It's ok if you don't get them all. Towards the end of the 45 minutes, mash the dates with a wooden spoon. Or use an immersion blender, being careful not to splatter the hot liquid.
  • When the 45 minutes are up, strain the date mixture through a soup bag that's draped over a large measuring cup.
  • When the mixture is cool enough to handle, massage the bag with both hands, squeezing out as much liquid as you can. Twisting the top of the bag helps to squeeze out even more of the liquid. You should end up with 2 to 2-½ cups of liquid.
  • Strain the liquid and add to a smaller saucepan. Simmer for 45 minutes or until the liquid reduces by more than half. The liquid will thicken and get darker the longer it cooks. 
  • When you're satisfied with the texture and color of the molasses, pour it into a mason jar to store. It should keep for up to a month in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • When pouring the syrup out of the pot, resist the temptation to scrape the sides of the pot with a spatula to get it all. The syrup on the sides of the pot is thicker and will leave clumps in the syrup (speaking from personal experience). You can, however, scrape it up and stir it into some vanilla ice cream!
  • If you overcook the syrup and it gets too thick, you can just add ¼ to ½ cup of water and simmer it a little longer until it reaches the desired consistency. Remember the date syrup will thicken further as it cools.
  • Save the date pulp to use in smoothies, shakes, or to make Date Paste or Kileche. Freeze the pulp in a zip lock bag until needed. Make sure you write the date and contents of the bag so you don't have to guess what's in the bag later. Wash and dry the soup bag to use in other recipes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ounce | Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 55mg | Sugar: 20g