Walnut Stuffed Chocolate Covered Dates

This post is made in partnership with California Walnuts. All opinions are my own.

Walnut Stuffed Chocolate Covered Dates are the perfect nutritious snack and single bite dessert to satisfy both sweet and salty cravings. These little dates are the perfect four ingredient treat!

Chocolate covered dates just got 10x more exciting

Sure, dates are tasty, and chocolate covered dates are even tastier. But what about when there are walnuts involved? Yep, I agree - it sounds like it just has to taste delicious! Well, it does! 

Walnut stuffed chocolate covered dates recently became my new favorite snack. Since creating this recipe, I've been keeping a hefty supply in my fridge, just waiting for me to dip my hand inside each time hunger strikes!

The great thing about walnuts is that they're both sweet and savory. They really do wonders for satisfying all types of cravings while also fueling your body and keeping you feeling nice and full. When combined with dates and dipped in chocolate, it's no wonder that the flavor is totally on another level.

Ingredients used in this recipe

If you've been thinking about making walnut stuffed dates, I have two words that will convince you: Four. Ingredients. YEP! This recipe requires only four ingredients. Together, the blend of chocolate, walnuts, dates, and the final salty touch make this a snack perfect for all palate preferences.

In total, you will need:

• Walnuts
• Pitted dates
• Chocolate
• Flakey sea salt

This recipe doesn't require many tools, either! Simply grab a cutting board, knife, and something to melt the chocolate, and you'll be ready to get started.

How to make walnut stuffed chocolate covered dates

Get ready for the sweetest salty snack you've ever had! These dates require only ~10 minutes of prep work and are an easy bite to prepare ahead of time for weeklong snacking.

To begin preparing your delicious walnut snack, start by making sure all of the pits are out of the dates. Slice them down the middle, making an easy opening for the walnut centers.

Slice all of the walnuts in half.

Next, place 2 or 3 of the sliced walnuts into the center of each date, pinching it closed after stuffing.

Dip the bottom half of the date into melted chocolate.

Sprinkle with flakey sea salt, and then place on a plate or sheet of parchment paper to harden. You can speed up this step by refrigerating the dates instead.

Keep cold and snack on. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for a longer lasting snack. Enjoy within 4-5 days.

Smart snacking

I'm a huge fan of snacking throughout the day. I need a bit of fuel between meals to hold me over and keep me from going crazy at lunch or dinner! And, besides, I'm sure we can agree that many of us can use an extra kick in the afternoon to help us crush the rest of the day. According to the Mintel Snacking Motivations and Attitudes Report, I'm not alone in this. 94% of US adults snack daily, and 70% enjoy small bites 2 or more times per day!

More and more consumers are turning to healthier snacks too, with a focus on plant-based options. The perfect plant-based, nutritious, filling snack? Walnuts, of course! 

When cravings strike, walnuts are the perfect grab-and-go snack. They're great for carrying out the door, grabbing when you walk through the kitchen, or keeping on hand during back-to-back work meetings. They're the perfect nutritious and satisfying pick-me-up that helps keep you fuller longer!

Why walnuts?

The health benefits of walnuts are probably one of my favorite parts about them. These little nuts pack a nutritious punch! They’re a good-fat food that supply a rich source of the plant-based omega-3 ALA (2.5 grams per 1 ounce serving – that’s more than any other nut!). They're also rich in protein and fiber, are naturally sodium and cholesterol free, and are certified by the American Heart Association as a heart-healthy food (1).

Plus, their versatility is unmatched! Did you know that most people are either Team Savory or Team Sweet, as determined by their DNA? Snacking preferences have a lot to do with genetics! Since walnuts can be added to so many different dishes and can be flavored with salty or sweet toppings or add-ons, they're an adaptable snack that can be custom tailored to fit any preference.

For savory and salty snackers alike, walnuts are a fantastic option. They're great for the 66% of snackers that long for healthier snack options. Learn more about them on California Walnuts’ website. 

Go all-in with walnuts

Here are some more recipes that call for a heaping serving of walnuts. You're going to love how they add so much flavor to these dishes!

• Pasta with Creamy Vegan Walnut Tomato Sauce
• Thai Noodle Salad with Walnut Butter
• Zucchini Noodle Salad with Walnut Pesto
• Peppermint Walnut Brownie Bites

Footnotes:

1. Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 ounces of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet, and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One ounce of walnuts provides 18g of total fat, 2.5g of monounsaturated fat, 13g of polyunsaturated fat, including 2.5g of alpha-linolenic acid, the plant-based omega-3.