Creamy Pecan Stuffed Dates (Vegan)

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by Alena Schowalter
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Make these creamy pecan stuffed dates as simple vegan finger food! The sweet and savory mixture will make everyone come back for more — plus, they are so easy to make.

If you’re no stranger to our website, you’ll know that we love creating recipes that feature dates

From peanut butter to cream cheese-stuffed and chocolate-dipped, these varieties can be endless.

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Yes, you can enjoy dates as savory finger food! Thanks to their shape, they are wonderful little appetizers just longing to be stuffed with all kinds of plant-based goodness.

You can even make them with kids in about 10-15 minutes — only a handful of ingredients and pretty much no kitchen tools needed!

If you like the mixture of sweet and savory, our quinoa-stuffed aubergines feature a cozily spiced filling that contains raisins!

Let’s take a look at the recipe together.

round plate with dried tomato, pecans, vegan cream cheese, herbs and medjool dates

Ingredients needed

  • Medjool dates — we highly recommend this variety over other dates due to their size and taste!
  • Vegan cream cheese — you’ll want a nice and creamy filling for your dates.
  • Pecans — the crunchy star of our stuffed dates! We love them lightly toasted.
  • Flavorings — our recipe uses sundried tomato and fresh basil leaves but we’ll share some swaps with you below.

As we said, this is a really easy-to-make recipe with few ingredients needed! Here’s how you make these savory pecan stuffed dates.

two hands holding a halved large date and removing its pit

round chopping board with half a dozen pitted medjool dates

How to make savory stuffed dates

Pit the dates

Using a sharp knife, carefully slice each date lengthwise without cutting all the way through them.

Pry the sides open with your thumbs, push the back of the date with your index fingers to expose the pit. Pull it out and put it aside to compost later.

Place the pitted dates on a large plate next to each other.

Make the filling

Put your vegan cream cheese, sundried tomatoes and chopped basil in a small bowl and mix with a spoon until well-combined.

Adjust to your liking with a sprinkle of salt or other flavorings.

Stuff the dates

Using a small spoon, distribute the cream cheese filling evenly between all dates. Once all of them are stuffed, put half a pecan nut on top of each date!

Sprinkle with more fresh herbs or some salt if wanted or drizzle with maple syrup.

hand reaching for a savory pecan stuffed date on a plate

Storing & serving suggestions

The stuffed dates should be refrigerated for an hour before serving so they become firmer.

The assembled dates can be kept at room temperature for several hours if you serve them at a party!

You can place them on a vegan appetizer platter alongside a herbed almond cheese ball, some green goddess hummus, mango chutney, and oven-baked tortilla chips.

They can also be used as a kid-friendly snack or taken with you as part of your cold vegan lunch!

woman holding a white plate with several different kinds of vegan stuffed dates

Tips & adjustments for this vegan appetizer

Meal prep stuffed dates

You can pit and stuff your dates with the cream cheese mixture ahead of time (about half a day before serving them) and store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

Within an hour of serving them on a platter, remove the stuffed dates from the fridge and decorate them with pecan nuts.

Recipe variations

  • Vegan cream cheese can be replaced with almond ricotta or soft vegan cheese.
  • Sundried tomatoes can be omitted and instead of basil, you can use thyme, rosemary, or any other herb of your choice.
  • If you don’t have any pecans, simply use almonds, walnuts, or cashews.

Other topping ideas include lemon zest or orange zest, maple syrup, sesame seeds, balsamic reduction, pistachios, and cracked pepper.

hand reaching for a pecan stuffed date on a place with more dates

More vegan finger food

Did you make our vegan pecan stuffed dates and like them? Be sure to let us know in the comments below, give the recipe a rating and Pin it here.

Easy Pecan Stuffed Dates (Vegan)

by Alena Schowalter
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Make these creamy pecan stuffed dates as simple vegan finger food! The sweet and savory mixture will make everyone come back for more — plus, they are so easy to make. This healthy appetizer is perfect for any gathering!
Serves 10 dates

Ingredients

  • 10 Medjool dates
  • 2-3 tbsp vegan cream cheese
  • 10 pecan nuts toasted
  • 1 sundried tomato finely diced
  • 2-3 fresh basil leaves chopped

Instructions

  • Cut the Medjool dates open lengthwise and remove the pits. Arrange them in a single layer on a large plate.
  • In a small bowl, mix vegan cream cheese with sundried tomatoes and chopped basil until well-combined.
  • Using a small spoon, fill all dates with the savory cream cheese mixture. Stuff a pecan nut into the creamy filling for a pretty finish!
  • Refrigerate the stuffed dates for an hour before serving.

Notes

  • You could also use unsweetened vegan yogurt or vegan ricotta instead of cream cheese.
  • Feel free to use any herbs of your choice instead of basil!
  • The dates can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days in a sealed container.
Course: Snacks
Cuisine: American
Nutrition Facts
Easy Pecan Stuffed Dates (Vegan)
Serving Size
 
1 date
Amount per Serving
Calories
104
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
4
g
6
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Sodium
 
8
mg
0
%
Carbohydrates
 
18
g
6
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
16
g
18
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated automatically, their accuracy is not guaranteed.
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Hi, I'm Alena Schowalter — a Certified Vegan Nutritionist who has been a vegetarian since childhood and vegan since 2012. Together with my husband, I founded nutriciously in 2015 and have been guiding thousands of people through different transition stages toward a healthy plant-based diet. I enjoy discussions around vegan ethics, walks through nature, and creating new recipes. Read more about us here.

2 Comments

  1. I made these last night. They were delicious. Love the flavor combination. I was given a big container of figs as a holiday gift, and this was the perfect way to use them. Thank you for the recipe.

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    I was craving something sweet but healthy and I tried this recipe it’s absolutely delicious!! Warning it’s addicting!!

    Reply
4.50 from 18 votes (17 ratings without comment)

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