These Date Nut Bars are easy to make and have no added sugar. They take less than 20 minutes to make and taste rich, fudgy and delicious.
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Indian sweets/ desserts are usually very rich and decadent. Like this Bengali malpua, gulab jamun cake and churme ka ladoo.
Here, I have a date and nut burfi recipe that has no added sugar. This is a quick and easy to make dessert that needs about 15~20 minutes of hands on time.
Recipe is adapted from Sanjeev Kapoor's Sweet temptations cookbook. This recipe uses dates, dried figs and your choice of mixed nuts. The resulting fruit and nut bars are fudgy, rich and absolutely delicious.
The sweetness in the recipe comes from dried figs and dates. So, these are perfect no sugar fudge bars that are fancy enough to be given as edible gift during the holidays.
I made these as part of my Diwali treats along with khara boondi and urad dal murukku. These are a great take on popular Indian Anjeer burfi. All in all this khajur anjeer burfi is a yummy snack and is perfect treat for any occasion.
Why I love this recipe
- no added sugar
- easy to make
- customizable recipe
- delightful, fudgy texture
- perfect edible gift during the holidays
Ingredients
You will need the following to make date nut bars:
Dates - Medjool or Deglet noor dates are the best to use because they are soft, inherently sweet and delicious.
Dried figs - buy unsulphured and unsweetened for the best flavor.
Mixed Nuts - I used unsalted, unroasted cashews, almonds and pistachios in this recipe. But feel free to use any combination of your favorite nuts. Keep the total quantity to about ½ cup.
Feel free to use ground nuts instead of whole. I used almond flour/ meal since I ran out of almonds.
Ghee or butter or oil
Instructions
Start by soaking the dried fruit. If you plan ahead, then soak them in regular room temperature water for 2~3 hours. If you don't, then soak them in hot water for 20~30 minutes.
Drain the water and grind them to a smooth paste adding little water.
Melt ghee or oil in a medium size nonstick pan on medium heat. Add the ground dry fruit puree and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture dries out about 10~15 minutes.
Stir in the nuts and mix well to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, for another 5~8 minutes or until the mixture starts to leave the sides of the pan.
Remove the mixture into a greased plate or tin and sprinkle with more chopped nuts, if desired. Set aside to cool.
Cut into squares or diamonds when completely cooled. Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Freeze them for up to 2 months.
Tips
- If you don't like the combination of fig and nut bars, then substitute dried figs with dried prunes. Or simply use more dates in the recipe.
- If you plan ahead, then you can soak the dried fruit in room temperature water for 3~4 hours.
- You can grind the nuts instead of chopping them. This would give a smooth texture to the burfi.
- Use any of your favorite mix of nuts in the recipe. Make sure that the total quantity is about ½ cup.
- Bars set up considerably as they cool. If they do not, chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Add ½ teaspoon of ground cardamom to add more flavor to this fruit and nut fudge.
More recipes using dried fruit and nuts to try
Here are a few more sweet and savory dishes made with dates and nuts:
- Date and walnut cake
- Eggless Christmas plum cake
- Cranberry Pistachio Cream Scones
- Sheer Kurma
- Eggless Fruit & Nut Cake
- Quinoa Salad with pistachios and dates
Date Nut Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dates, pitted and chopped (about 10~15)
- 1 cup Dried Figs, chopped (about 12~15)
- 2 tablespoons Ghee or oil or unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons Almonds, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons Cashews, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons Pistachios, finely chopped
Instructions
- In a small bowl, soak the dry figs and dates in hot water for 15~20 minutes. Drain the water and grind them to a smooth paste adding little water.
- Melt ghee or oil in a medium size nonstick pan on medium heat. Add the ground dry fruit puree and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture dries out about 10~15 minutes.
- Stir in the nuts and mix well to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, for another 5~8 minutes or until the mixture starts to leave the sides of the pan.
- Remove the mixture into a greased plate or tin and sprinkle with more chopped nuts, if desired. Set aside to cool.
- Cut into squares or diamonds when completely cooled. Store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Notes
- Dried figs can be subbed with dried prunes. Or simply use more dates in the recipe.
- If you plan ahead, then you can soak the dried fruit in room temperature water for 3~4 hours.
- You can grind the nuts instead of chopping them. This would give a smooth texture to the burfi.
- Use any of your favorite mix of nuts in the recipe. Make sure that the total quantity is about ½ cup.
- Bars set up considerably as they cool. If they do not, chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Add ½ teaspoon of ground cardamom to add more flavor to this fruit and nut fudge.
alka
Beautiful Recipe Pavani and the clicks to match
Julie
Pavani this looks like such a decadent treat but the ingredients are healthy and delicious! Your photos make me want to jump in a grab one of your bars. I am sure the family loved them!
lavina agarwal
Lovely pictures. .This is on my too cook list from a long time. .very healthy and guilt free sweet
CassieChelsi Jahn
These look delicious and your photos are beautiful. Thank you for sharing this!www.diyjahn.com
Victoria
Looks delicious . Love that this is sugar and flour free. Such a shame it rained all throughout the festival : ((
Global Tastes & Travels Inc.
what a healthy and delicious looking bar - looks so moist
Srivalli
wow those burfis are looking so awesome pavani..bookmarked for sure..love how nicely it has come out..
Usha Rao
Burfi looks great and has held its shape despite not using sugar. Nice healthy one.