Treat yourself to a dark chocolate covered dessert featuring a healthy cheesecake filling with our Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Dates. Stuffed dates are a trendy snack made with simple ingredients, and they’re easy to whip up with a variety of fillings and toppings.
For this recipe, we stuffed fresh Medjool dates with Lifeway Farmer Cheese, an excellent source of high-quality protein, before covering them in dark chocolate, a touch of sea salt, and freeze-dried strawberries. The result is a delicious, candy-like treat that you can enjoy for a dessert or a snack.
Our farmer cheese makes the perfect stand-in for cream cheese since it’s mild in flavor, ultra-creamy, and has no added salt or sugar. It’s higher in protein than cream cheese, however, which makes it more filling and a healthier choice if you’re looking to sneak more protein into your diet here and there.
Dates are packed with prebiotic fiber, magnesium, B vitamins, and potassium. They’re often referred to as nature’s candy, because while they’re concentrated in natural fruit sugar, they’re low on the glycemic index due to their high fiber content and other nutrients that support blood sugar metabolism. Dates are also thought of as an energizing food and often used in energy bars and bites for this reason. All in all, they’re a great way to enjoy treats without the sugar crash, especially when paired with the protein in Lifeway Farmer Cheese!
TIP: When choosing dates at the store, be sure to choose Medjool dates, which are found in the produce section of supermarkets nationwide, instead of choosing dried dates found in the aisles of the supermarket. Medjool dates are not only fresher, but they’re super soft in texture, and substantially larger and easier to slice open to fill them with.
Grab a container of our farmer cheese at a store near you, and be sure to treat yourself to these healthy gems—you’ll be glad you did!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 30 mins Servings: 12Ingredients
- 12 pitted Medjool dates
- 1/2 cup Farmer Cheese
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips/chunks
- 2 tsp. extra-virgin coconut oil
- 1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries (pieces)
- flaky sea salt, as a garnish (optional)
Directions
- Line a large pan or dish with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a food processor, crush up the freeze-dried strawberries and set them aside in a small dish.
- In a piping bag (or you can use a ziplock baggie and cut off the tip), fill it with the farmer cheese. This is what you'll use to fill the dates with.
- Slightly slice open each Medjool date on the side so you can fill it with farmer cheese (don't cut them completely open). Fill the dates with the farmer cheese, then place them on the parchment paper covered pan.
- Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave in 20-second increments, mixing in between, until melted. You can use a double-broiler method instead of the microwave if desired.
- Using clean hands or a fork, quickly dip each date in the chocolate, until fully coated, then let the excess drip off, and place it back on the prepared pan covered in parchment paper. Immediately garnish with crushed strawberries and flaky sea salt. Repeat this process for the remaining dates.
- Sit them in the fridge to firm up 15-20 minutes, or you can leave them there longer (or overnight) to enjoy. If you have leftovers, keep them in the fridge!
