Moroccan sweets are magical in some way – it is not only about sugar, it is about moments. A bridal table. The excuse of a vacation. A teatime with mint tea, and there in the center of that delicious culture is something plain, and modest, and something very satisfying: Moroccan Date Bonbons
These bite-sized snacks are not fancy. You will not find them juicing in fondant or as oozing pastries. And what they are is what they are good and pure, everything that goes into them with a little bit of love and carefully packed, in them, there are noble ingredients, and what is served is warm. Each morsel is delicious with the flavour of a grandmother’s kitchen, the flavour of stories that have been told by hands that did not use recipes, but were cooked in memory
Simplicity- which resulted in a Sweet Tradition
Moroccan culture considers dates to be a sacred thing. Not only because they have such a luscious, caramely flavour, but because they have always been viewed as a hospitality and health symbol. In the early days, when sweet things were produced with whatever was available, no fancy chocolate, imported high-priced sugar, the solution was dates
After some time, these became the staple branch of bonbons. They are served during Eid, during weddings, and quite frankly, just because. They can be found in small packages on the side of almond cookies, or individually wrapped in tiny paper cups as gifts. They are sweet, and sweet is sweet, but they are also nice, wholesome, wherewithal you can really feel good about handing over.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup roasted almonds or walnuts
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon orange blossom water (optional, but traditional)
- Unsweetened shredded coconut (for coating)
- Sesame seeds or crushed pistachios (optional topping)
- A pinch of salt
Swap Ingredients
- No Medjool dates? Use Deglet Noor or any soft, sticky variety — just soak them in warm water for around 10 minutes and then it’s ready to use
- No almonds? Walnuts, hazelnuts, or even sunflower seeds work in a pinch, so you don’t need worry now!!
- No orange blossom water? Don’t worry… just use a bit of orange zest it adds a nice lift
- Low on coconut? Roll them in cocoa powder, sesame, or even finely chopped nuts instead
Instructions
Step 1: If your dates are firm then all you need to is just soak them in warm water for about 10–15 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Make sure there are no pits left — this is important
Step 2: Lightly brown your almonds or walnuts in a dry pan for a few minutes until they give off their aroma and then blend them when they have cooled
Step 3: Place the dates, nuts, cinnamon, salt and orange blossom water in a food processor. Whisk until you have a sticky slightly chunky paste. When pinched it should be able to hold together easily
Step 4: Scoop out small amounts and roll into balls — about the size of a truffle. Don’t worry about making them perfect. This isn’t a pastry competition — it’s home cooking
Step 5: Roll each ball in shredded coconut, sesame seeds, or finely chopped pistachios. Place them in mini paper cups or directly onto a serving plate.
Step 6 : You can serve them immediately, but they firm up beautifully in the fridge after an hour or two
Serving Tips
- To serve them: it should be done with a pot of strong sweet Moroccan mint tea, nothing bests it
- Wrap them in tiny paper wrappings or on a lace or doilies-covered tray to give them that old-fashioned touch
- A small bowl of rose water by the side so that people could rinse their fingers. That is Moroccan style Angelenas
Precautions
- It is believed that someone will live longer when they are pregnant than when they are not
- Never make a roll up without tasting the paste, perhaps more cinnamon is called, or a hint of cardamom
- Wrap or refrigerate the food in the refrigerator using an air-tight container; it will last more than one week
- Do not process the nuts too much- you are not making nut butter
These come up dairy-free and gluten-free by nature, which suits everyone.
More About Date Bonbons
Whether it is store-Bought candy and Instagramable desserts, there is something that really matters: Moroccan Date Bonbons are delicious, passionate, and communal. They are not showy but straight. They are done lovingly by hand, they are passed around a table, and they are remembered long after being consumed.
