Making 2-ingredient homemade date syrup is so easy, you'll never buy this specialty condiment again. Learn about silan, the healthy liquid sweetener that contains nothing but dried dates and water, the vegan date honey.
What is date syrup?
Date syrup or silan is one of my favorite sweeteners, and I'm so excited it has finally made its way into the pantries of more and more people across North America and the United Kingdom!
Date honey is a naturally derived sweetener that is extracted from pressing dates with water. It's a thick syrup that tastes a lot like maple syrup, but is a sweet syrup made from a cooked date mixture blended with water.
Natural dates are high in vitamins and minerals, low in calories, and a natural source of potassium. As such, date molasses is an excellent option if you prefer to skip the refined sugars or white sugars. The taste and color are rich, with a caramel-like flavor that can be used to replace honey or maple syrup in various recipes.
Date syrup has been around for over 6,000 years and is believed to have originated somewhere in the Middle East. This would make sense considering the area's richness in date palms, prized as a symbol of prosperity and hospitality to this day in much of the Arab world.
Why is date syrup also called โsilanโ and "date molasses"?
In Israel, date syrup is known as "silan" and is a popular choice used to sweeten desserts or as a spread on breakfast foods and pancakes. Date syrup is also known as date honey syrup, or date molasses, due to its thick texture and syrupy consistency.
How to make date syrup?
Nowadays, you can find date syrup in grocery stores, specialty food stores, and Middle Eastern or Israeli delis.
However, making date syrup at home is equally easy and fun.
You can make date syrup in just a few minutes, and it will last for months in the fridge or a year in the freezer.
Here's the secret: You need only two ingredients to make date syrup: water and dates!
Make sure to pick the best quality dates you can get your hands on, I recommend Medjool dates (I like Natural Delights Medjool dates).
Where to use date syrup?
The best part about this date syrup recipe is that it is one of the most versatile sweeteners in your fridge that you can use. A little goes a long way, and works equally as well in sweet and savory recipes!
You can use date honey to:
- sweeten breads and desserts;
- as an alternative to honey or maple syrup in your morning porridge;
- add to smoothies;
- drizzle over some fresh fruit;
- Top syrniki, Russian pancakes or with low carb apple pancakes!
- fill Date hamantaschen with the leftover pulp.
For savory options:
- it makes for a richer, nuttier sauce ingredient in dishes like glazed BBQ chicken or a dressing for tofu salad.
- Replace the honey, maple syrup or sugar in a vinaigrette sauce for a unique Middle Eastern salad dressing.
Date syrup benefits
Not all sweeteners are created equal. As an all-natural sweetener made from the concentrated juice of dates, it is low in calories and contains significant potassium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, among other minerals, as well as fiber and vitamin B3, B2, B1, B5, A1, and C.
In addition to all the vitamins and minerals that are good for overall health, dates contain a high amount of fiber, which can help promote digestion and prevent constipation. In addition, they are rich in potassium, manganese, calcium, and magnesium. These minerals can aid in preventing heart diseases and regulating blood pressure.
It is also suitable for various diets, including vegan and paleo. It's important to know that this homemade syrup is a completely vegan product! No hidden ingredients or animal products in site.
Is date syrup healthy compared to sugar?
There is no doubt date syrup ranks higher than sugar in terms of its nutritional value.
All of its nutrients and vitamins make it a much better option for your heart, bones, and teeth.
Plus, it's lower on the glycemic index than regular sugar (as well as agave syrup and maple syrup), which means you won't experience the same spike in insulin levels that comes with eating processed sugars.
Why you should make this date honey recipe?
Many date honey recipes are out there, but this is my favorite technique because it allows you to play around with the desired consistency of your dates syrup.
Here are some of the reasons why I love this particular approach to make dates syrup:
- Easy to make
- Requires only 2 ingredients
- Gluten-free
- Relatively fast - no 2 hour cooking here!
- Can be made in advance
- Can be thickened or thinned out as you like
- Safe for babies! Because dates syrup is naturally derived sweetener, it doesnโt spike the blood sugar like artificial sugars or maple, and isnโt poisonous for babies like honey.
Is date syrup healthy?
Because date syrup is made from the whole fruit, it has higher amounts of fiber and beneficial nutrients. Just a single tablespoon of date syrup contains more than twice the iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium levels of maple syrup or honey - and up to 10 times the antioxidants!
Date syrup can even be used by people with diabetes, in moderation. Date syrup is purely pressed dates, which are only sweet with natural sugar. This doesn't spike the blood sugar levels as much as artificial sugar from beets or cane. This makes homemade date syrup safe for people with diabetes, when used in moderation.
However, date syrup is not keto. Dates have a lot of natural sugars, which can still spike the sugars in the blood quickly and take one out of ketosis. For this reason, date syrup is not compatible with the keto diet.
Is date syrup good for babies?
Yes! It has all the benefits and nutrients of dates, plus the added benefit of helping them with constipation. It is a mild, natural sweetener that should still be used in moderation, but is much better than honey or sugar for the littlest ones. In fact, it was my sonโs favorite sweetener for a long time!
Ingredients for homemade date molasses
There really are only 2 ingredients you need to make this date syrup recipe - water and dates.
Dates - I buy my dates in bulk, and process a large quantity of it at once. I then freeze or store the rest in the fridge. While you can use any dates to make date syrup, Medjool dates are preserved fresh and will therefore give you the silkiest, smoothest tasting silan recipe!
Water - The water you use should be boiling hot.
See recipe card for quantities.
Equipment
- Food processor OR blender (I used to make my silan recipe in my old Oster blender, and it takes me two rounds. But a Vitamix blender or my Ninja blender does short work of this!)
- Nut bag OR cheesecloth and strainer (I use a nut bag)
- Saucepan
Directions to make this silan recipe
Soak the dates
First, in a large bowl, place dates in boiling water to hydrate the mixture before mashing them well. The dates will soften, making them easier to process.
Gather in a Jar
Last, pour into a glass jar or bottle (after it has cooled down) and store in the fridge.
Storage
Date syrup lasts up to 18 months in a container that is stored at room temperature. When refrigerated, it has the tendency to thicken, which is easily fixed by warming it or adding water. When frozen, it should last even longer.
In general, date syrup can have a long shelf life, so making it once and keeping a jar in the fridge is ideal. Even so, you should be careful about moisture and mold. The easiest way to tell if your date syrup has gone bad is by smelling it; if it smells fermented or "off," it is probably spoiled.
Top Tips for Homemade Date Syrup
- The leftover date pulp can be used in smoothies, French toast, or mixed with oatmeal. You can also use it in my Gluten-Free Yule Log or Date Hamantaschen.
- If your date syrup mixture looks a bit dry while boiling, you can always add more water. You can thicken it by adding some of the pulp back.
Top Tips
Transfer your homemade date syrup to the fridge to thicken it. It will thicken as it sits.
Recipe
Tried and loved this recipe? Please leave a 5-star review below! Your reviews mean a lot to me, so if you've got any questions, please let me know in a comment.
Homemade Date syrup (silan):
Ingredients
- 2 cups Medjool dates pitted
- 1 ยฝ - 2 cups water boiling hot
Instructions
- Soak Medjool dates in 1 cup of boiling hot water for at least 1 hour. Transfer to a blender or food processor and blend (itโs ok if some chunks remain). You may need to add a bit of water to the blender. Sieve date mixture through a nut bag or double cheesecloth placed over a strainer, getting as much liquid out as possible.
- Return date mixture to blender, add another cup of boiling hot water and blend again, and sieve through the nut bag or cheesecloth again. You should end up with about 1 ยฝ cups of date liquid.
- Transfer the date liquid to a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium and continue boiling, stirring often, until it reaches the consistency of honey. Remove from heat - you should end up with about 1 cup of date syrup.
- Transfer the date honey to a jar, and seal well.
Notes
Homemade date honey will thicken further upon cooling.
Veronika says
What a simple recipe! I love medjool dates and even buy date syrup sometimes but it can get pricey. Love that I can make it myself now!
Gwynn says
This syrup is so easy to make! I will always have some on hand now.
Mikayla says
I had never considered dates as anything but a fruit to eat! This syrup is exceptionally tasty and not overly sweet!
Cathleen says
Why have I never thought to make this myself?? This looks perfect! I'm making this my project for the weekend ๐
Linda says
Yum is all I can say about this easy-to-make syrup! I made it for the first time last week and have since used it in my smoothies or oatmeal every morning. Next, I'm going to try adding it to one of my quick breads. Thanks for the better for you swap for sugar.
kseniaprints says
It's amazing, right??? I think it will be beautiful in a bread.
Raksha says
You have explained the homemade date syrup recipe so well. I will never buy the date syrup from shops any more and will follow your recipe to make it again.
kseniaprints says
I am thrilled you now discovered a new staple!
Ann says
I feel I have been missing out - I have never tried date syrup before. It sounds delicious! Excited to give it a try!
kseniaprints says
Your life will seriously change!
Kathryn says
This syrup is so delicious and satisfying! We use it with waffles, pancakes, anything! Thanks for sharing your easy and 2 ingredient recipe.
kseniaprints says
It's my pleasure! I love this syrup and discovering a way to make it at home just made me so happy!
Amy Casey says
Awesome recipe! I have used dates in baking, but never made syrup with them. My morning smoothie got just the right touch of sweetness.
kseniaprints says
It's such a great addition to smoothies and drinks!
Hayley Dhanecha says
We love to drizzle date syrup on our pancakes, always bought from shop. Not any more as I found your recipe ๐
kseniaprints says
We do the same, but now that I have this homemade version I don't have to look for it in stores anymore!
Allyssa says
Super easy to make and really unique! Thanks a lot for sharing this syrup recipe, very helpful! I really recommend this recipe!
kseniaprints says
I'm super happy to share the love for homemade date syrup with those who may be new to it ๐
Kelley says
This is such a great idea! Thank you for sharing!
kseniaprints says
Glad you like it!
Deb says
Such a simple delicious recipe! I loved the taste and the step by step.
kseniaprints says
Glad it was clear and approachable for yoU!
Sandra says
Really easy to make and such a great substitute for sugar. I'm going to try substituting this in my gingerbread cookies for the molasses!
kseniaprints says
Ooh I think that will be incredible!
Sara says
I've been adding this to my kids' smoothies and they love it and I love that it's a better alternative than adding in honey or maple syrup (even though those are natural).
kseniaprints says
That's exactly how I feel. There's nothing really wrong with maple or honey, but this has a lot more nutrients!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
What a great idea to make date syrup at home. Thanks for the easy instructions too.
kseniaprints says
You're going to love having this in your pantry!
Gen says
This was so much easier than I thought it would be and was just delicious on my morning toast with some butter.
Amanda says
This date syrup is wonderful! I used it to top some oatmeal this morning, and it added such a rich flavor. I'm already looking forward to breakfast tomorrow! Great recipe.
Kris says
Oh my goodness, this was SO much better than store-bought! Way easier than I thought it was going to be too. Can't wait to use it in my morning coffee. ๐
Erin says
It's also called silan?! I had no idea. We're big date lovers here, but I've never been sure what to do with date syrup. I made your recipe and used it over oatmeal. It was fantastic! Thanks.