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Three ingredients is all you need for these healthy, chewy, naturally sweet date rolls flavored with pumpkin pie spice and pecans.
I love a naturally sweet treat that’s great for snacking! When you need a little boost of energy or just a nibble of something to tide you over for an hour or two, date rolls come to the rescue. Date rolls aren’t anything new, but adding a few teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice turns these into a wonderful fall treat.
What kind of dates can you use for Pecan Pumpkin Spice Date Rolls?
We prefer fresh, soft Medjool dates for snacking and for making these date rolls. Medjool dates are a fresh fruit grown in California, Arizona and Florida and the Middle East. There are more than 1,500 varieties of dates grown throughout the world. Dates are truly amazing!
How do you store dates to keep them fresh?
Dates are often sold in the stores at room temperature. However, dates will dry out a little over time. ย To keep them fresh for longer periods, refrigerate or freeze the dates and they’ll keep for months.
What’s the best way to eat Medjool dates?
There is no wrong way to eat a date! They’re a great natural sweetener and the perfect addition to smoothies, muffins, cookies, bars and a big hot bowl of oatmeal. Stuff dates with peanut butter or cheese for a quick and delicious appetizer. One of our all-time favorite no-bake snacks are these homemade Larabars sweetened with Medjool dates. And finally, transform your everydayย spinach salad from pretty good, to that something fantastic by adding a few chopped dates.
What’s in pumpkin pie spice?
Spice blends labeled pumpkin spice, or pumpkin pie spice, are easy to find in the grocery stores these days, or online. You can also make your own pumpkin spice by combining the warm flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves or allspice. There are many recipes out there for homemade pumpkin spice blends but my favorite is pretty simple:
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
Sometimes I make my own spice blend while other times a jar of pre-made finds it’s way into my grocery cart. The jar of pumpkin spice shown above is made with a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. It’s pretty easy to have pumpkin spice on hand for all your fall recipes. Make a batch and you’re ready for recipes like Pumpkin Breakfast Cake, Pumpkin Spiced Oatmeal Cookies and our all time favorite Pumpkin Pie Smoothie.
How do you make these Pecan Pumpkin Spice Date Rolls?
First, make sure the pits are removed from the dates and check for any dried stems still attached. Dump the soft, chewy dates in the bowl of your food processor and pulse until they turn into a paste. Add the pumpkin spice and pulse again until mixed. Transfer the mixture to a piece of plastic wrap and roll into two 18-inch logs. Cut each roll in half and coat in chopped pecans. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour then slice the date rolls into 1-inch pieces and serve! Store the date rolls in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Remove from the fridge an hour before serving, or keep a few at room temperature for snacking.
We recently enjoyed a trip to Squaw Valley near Lake Tahoe California and took these wonderful date rolls with us. They were the perfect snack on the plane, and while hiking up the mountain to High Camp in the Sierra Nevada mountains. We enjoy the boost of energy from these slow carbs and love eating a healthy, delicious snacks. Dates are very nutritious, high in fiber, contain cancer-fighting antioxidants, promote brain health, and are low on the glycemic index. Enjoy dates rolls anytime!
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Pecan Pumpkin Spice Date Rolls
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 12 ounces pitted Medjool dates
- 2 ยฝ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ยฝ cup finely chopped pecans
Instructions
- Check the dates for stems or pieces of pits. Add the cleaned dates to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until they break down and start to form a paste. Add the pumpkin spice and process again until combined.
- Transfer the date mixture to a piece of plastic wrap. Divide the mixture in half and roll into an 18-inch log. Repeat with the remaining half. Cut each of the two logs in half. You should now have 4 rolls, at 9-inches each.
- Cover the date rolls in chopped pecans, pressing to adhere the nuts. Wrap and refrigerate for an hour or more.
- Cut each log into 7 pieces, a little more than one-inch in length. Serve at room temperature or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until needed.
Recipe Notes
- Feel free to make the logs larger or thicker as desired. We find this size great for one big bite ๐
Nutrition
Thanks so much for stopping by! Tricia
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
I love dates and so I’m just loving these simple treats! I bet they’re just lovely with the pumpkin spice.
Tricia Buice
The hint of fall flavor is a nice addition to sweet dates. I be you would love them Jennifer! Thanks.
Sue
How did you know, I just bought a big tub of plump dates, and I had no idea what to do with them! Love this simple recipe ๐
Tricia Buice
So simple and delicious Sue – enjoy!
Chris Scheuer
What a wonderful idea for a healthy snack. I don’t think they would last long around here though, they sound very hard to resist!
Tricia Buice
Sweet and chewy and loaded with pumpkin spice flavor – what’s not to love Chris?!!!