This 2-ingredient Date Butter is a smooth, sweet and salty spread made with just dates and butter. It blends into a thick, caramel-like spread that’s perfect on toast, sandwiches, or crackers.

date butter in a bowl on a blue dotted plate

Add a little sweetness to your sandwiches with date butter.

Date butter is a creamy, naturally sweet spread made by blending soft dates with butter until smooth. It has a rich, caramel-like flavor and silky texture, making it perfect on toast, crackers, or sandwiches. Unlike jam or other sweet spreads, it is made from whole fruit, so you get natural sweetness without added sugar. It is quick to make, no-cook, and very versatile. You can enjoy it with cheeses, cured meats, or even nut butters for a sweet and salty addition on sandwiches or snacks.

This recipe was inspired by the classic treat of stuffed dates with butter and honey butter. If you haven’t tried butter-stuffed dates yet, they taste like rich, decadent cookie dough or ice cream, and I wanted to recreate that sweet and salty flavor onto bread or in a sandwich. Honey butter is similar in that it combines something sweet with butter, and I used that concept to create this dreamy, two-ingredient date butter that is silky, naturally sweet, and spreadable.

Ingredients and Substitutions

All you need is 2 ingredients:

  • Butter: Use salted or unsalted; for a vegan version, substitute with vegan butter.
  • Dates: I recommend Mazafati dates for the softest, most tender texture, but you can also use other soft varieties such as Medjool, Sukkary and Halawi.
  • Pink Himalayan salt or flaky salt

How to Make Date Butter

Making date butter is super simple:

  1. Blend butter until smooth and creamy.
  2. Add dates and salt, and process until fully combined into a silky paste.

VIDEO: Watch How to Make It

Lisa’s Recipe Tips

  1. Use soft dates: Mazafati dates are best, but other soft varieties work too. If your dates are hard, soak them in warm water for 15–20 minutes and drain well.
  2. Blend thoroughly: Keep processing until the butter is completely smooth and silky.

Serving Suggestions

I love using date butter as a spread on sandwiches, especially when paired with creamy cheeses like Brie, Camembert, or Gorgonzola. For a savory-sweet combo, add cured meats like prosciutto, salami, or crispy bacon.

Other ways to enjoy it:

  • Swirled into oatmeal or yogurt for a natural caramel touch
  • Spread on toast, crackers, or even pancakes
  • As a dip for fresh fruit or pretzels

It’s one of those spreads that makes simple snacks feel a little fancy!

Recipe FAQ

How long does date butter last?

Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, date butter will last up to 1 month. The flavor deepens after a day or two in the fridge. Always use a clean spoon to scoop to keep it fresh longer.

More Recipes Using Dates

Enjoy! If you make this Date Butter recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below, and if you share it on social media, tag me on Instagram @Okonomikitchen. I can’t wait to see your creations!

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date blended with butter in a white bowl with a butter knife scooping it up

Date Butter


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  • Author: Lisa Kitahara
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 1/4 cups
  • Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegetarian

Description

This 2-ingredient Date Butter is a smooth, sweet and salty spread made with just dates and butter. It blends into a thick, caramel-like spread that’s perfect on toast, sandwiches, or crackers.


Ingredients

Units
  • 1 stick (113 g) salted butter, room temperature
  • 1.5 cups (200-220 g) dates, room temperature
  • pink himalayan salt or flaky salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Add butter to a food processor and blend until smooth.
  2. Add the dates and blend until smooth and well combined.
  3. Taste and add more salt to your liking.
  4. Transfer to air tight container. Keep refrigerated for up to 1 month.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Condiments
  • Method: Blending, Food Processor
  • Cuisine: Modern Pantry

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 tbsp
  • Calories: 65
  • Sugar: 6.5 g
  • Sodium: 3.9 mg
  • Fat: 4.3 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.14 g
  • Carbohydrates: 7.3 g
  • Fiber: 0.74 g
  • Protein: 0.28 g
  • Cholesterol: 11 mg
Konnichiwa

About Lisa

I'm Lisa, a home cook, recipe developer and founder of Okonomi Kitchen. Here, you'll find a mix of classic and modernized Japanese recipes, and creative, plant-forward meal inspiration using seasonal ingredients. I hope to share more about Japanese cuisine and culture through food and recipes.


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