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Justine Doiron

just real good food

Breakfast, Dips + Spreads + Toppings, Recipes, Special Diets, Toasts, Vegetarian · January 17, 2024

Date Ginger Butter

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Date Ginger Butter on toast

This is less of a recipe and more of a concept, but believe me, once you make this date spread once, you’ll want to put it on your toast every morning. Or at least most mornings. Or any morning where you need something both sweet but also salty, and also supremely comforting. Date Ginger Butter is here for you.

Date Ginger Butter on toast

Table of contents

  • What is Date Ginger Butter?
  • What you need for this spread
  • How to serve this Date Ginger Butter
  • Looking for other ways to use your dates?
  • Watch the recipe here

What is Date Ginger Butter?

Now to answer the most obvious question – this butter is just a mix of warmed dates, fresh ginger and salted butter. Not super revolutionary, but everything balances PERFECTLY. Plus, it’s super easy to make. You can make this either in the microwave or on the stovetop, and it takes about two minutes either way. Less, if you’re quick!

Of course, I recommend using this for toast, but it is also great to put on anything that likes a spread. Think: biscuits, crumpets, english muffins, you name it! Date Ginger Butter would be happy to be on it. And along the lines of my Molten Date and Olive Oil Oats, it would work great on oatmeal, too.

Toast on baking sheet

What you need for this spread

This butter is beyond simple. For every two dates, you’ll need about half a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger and one tablespoon of salted butter.

Toasted sesame seeds and flaky salt are optional for topping – but WOW are they good.

To make this butter vegan, simply use vegan butter (duh!). And if you’re not a fan of ginger, you can opt for another aromatic ingredient like cinnamon or nutmeg. Although this won’t give it the same punch, you’ll still get a hint of spice in the date butter that will make its sweetness even more interesting.

Date Ginger Butter

How to serve this Date Ginger Butter

You shouldn’t eat this butter right after mixing, if the butter is a little too melted, spreading it will be difficult. I like to let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes (usually while I’m toasting whatever bread I want to serve it on!) or I pop it in the fridge for a minute or two. This helps firm the butter up and make the date ginger butter more like a spread, and less like mashed dates and melted butter. Trust, me the extra few minutes are worth it before you spread it on your toast!

Date Ginger Butter on toast

Looking for other ways to use your dates?

Here are a few things I love from the blog!

Date Bars with Tahini & Pistachio Swirl
These nutrient-packed, sweet and chocolatey date bars are my perfect dessert. They're rich and decadent, but easy to make and filled with wholesome ingredients. Add the tahini and pistachip butter swirl on top for a showstopping, simple dessert.
Check out this recipe
Date & Walnut Balls
These date and walnut bites are the perfect snack when you're on the go and need a quick pick-me-up! They're so easy and mess-free, but pack a good amount of protien and are so addicting.
Check out this recipe
Baked Cauliflower Salad with Feta and Dates
This cauliflower salad is a combination of warm and roasty, as well as crisp and fresh. It's the perfect marriage of salty, sweet, herbaceous and just plain good. It uses a whole cauliflower head to start, then adds on fresh peas, radishes, dates, basil and mint, as well as some salty feta. The combination is truly out-of-this world and absolutely worth the effort. It just might be your new favorite salad.
Check out this recipe
Molten Date and Olive Oil Oats
Ok yes, these oats are my obsession. These oats are my life. Sticky dates melt into perfectly chewy oatmeal that is seasoned with a touch of miso (fermented foods are good for you!) and everything is finished with a drizzle of olive oil. They are rich, they are sweet and they are so unbelievably good. It's the perfect way to start the day.
Check out this recipe

And that’s it for this Date Ginger Butter!

If you make it, please tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can see! It’s my favorite thing to scroll through stories and see what you all are making.

And of course feel free to leave any questions, comments or reviews! This is the best place to reach me, and I’d love to hear from you <3

Watch the recipe here

The video may not fully represent the recipe. For best results, follow the instructions as written.

Date Ginger Butter

5 from 1 vote
This supremely simple spread is my favorite way to turn dates into a spreadable, salty-sweet breakfast spread. Warm dates are smashed with fresh ginger and butter, making a spread that is equal parts sweet, rich and salty. It's comfort food at its finest.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time:5 minutes mins
Course: Breakfast, Spread
Cuisine: American
Keyword: butter, dates, ginger
Servings: 1 serving

Equipment

  • 1 small dish or sauce pot

Ingredients

  • 2 large medjool dates
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • Cinnamon, flaky salt and toasted sesame seeds optional, for topping

Instructions

  • Remove the pits from the dates and tear them into a small dish. Grate in the ginger.
  • Head the torn dates and ginger in the microwave for 3-45 seconds or until they are soft and pliable. You can also do this in a sauce pot over medium heat, just add a tablespoon of water to help the dates soften.
  • Add the butter to the bowl of warmed dates and mash everything into a paste. It should look whipped. If the butter melts too much and separates from the dates, place the bowl in the fridge to firm up a bit before mashing everything together again.
  • Spread this on your toast or base of choice. Sprinkle with cinnamon, sesame seeds and flaky salt. Serve immediately!
  • This recipe can scale up or down as you need, just make sure the ratios stay the same.

Posted In: Breakfast, Dips + Spreads + Toppings, Recipes, Special Diets, Toasts, Vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amy says

    January 20, 2024 at 3:39 pm

    Super yummy and easy! Definitely recommend the stove approach as my date mixture started to burn in the microwave

  2. eliana says

    January 21, 2024 at 8:37 am

    soooo good

  3. Martell Sandra says

    January 21, 2024 at 4:53 pm

    OMG!!!!!
    This is beyond delicious!!! I want to share it with the world and keep it to myself at the same time 🤣
    Your recipes are creative and fenomenal, Justine. You are really good at this.
    It’s funny how, by following someone, one gets to feel close, invested and affection towards that person. May you continue rising, learning and having success and enjoying it all.

    I have to share that I bought date paste in an asian market: everything is so much easier this way!

    And thank you. For sharing your recipes and yourself with us.

    Sandra M

  4. Sarah Bales Mikkelsen says

    January 23, 2024 at 5:36 pm

    5 stars
    This was terrific! In the future, I plan to make it in bigger batches to serve at parties and give to friends.

    We tried it every way described in this blog post, and liked it best topped with the sesame seeds and flaky salt. The cinnamon was fine, but it detracted from the ginger flavor.

    • Justine says

      January 24, 2024 at 12:32 am

      So glad you liked it! And good to note on the cinnamon, it can be a lot of flavor haha

Next Post >

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Hey! I'm Justine. A recipe developer, highly dedicated eater, and bread enthusiast with an archive of both savory and sweet. This is where I store all my recipes, feel free to take a look around!
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