Description
An elegant no-cook dessert featuring sweet Medjool dates stuffed with creamy mascarpone cheese and finished with a luxurious maple syrup drizzle. Ready in just 15 minutes, these sophisticated bites are perfect for entertaining or treating yourself to something special.
Ingredients
12 Medjool dates, pitted
½ cup mascarpone cheese, softened to room temperature
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, plus 2-3 tablespoons extra for drizzling
1 tablespoon pistachios or almonds, finely chopped
Pinch of flaky sea salt
Instructions
1. Make a small lengthwise slit down each date and gently remove the pit. Open the date like a book without cutting all the way through.
2. In a small bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup until smooth and creamy. If too soft, chill for 10-15 minutes until it holds its shape.
3. Transfer the mascarpone mixture to a piping bag or small zip-top bag with one corner snipped off. Pipe a generous amount of filling into each date’s cavity, or use a small spoon to fill each date.
4. Arrange the stuffed dates on a parchment-lined platter. Sprinkle the chopped pistachios or almonds evenly over the mascarpone filling, pressing gently to help them adhere.
5. Add a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt to each stuffed date.
6. Drizzle the remaining maple syrup over all the dates for a glossy finish and extra sweetness.
7. Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes to 2 hours. For the creamiest texture, let chilled dates sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Mascarpone should be softened at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before mixing for the smoothest filling.
These dates can be made up to 24 hours ahead. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and add the final maple drizzle just before serving.
Substitute cream cheese beaten with 2 tablespoons heavy cream if mascarpone isn’t available.
For a chocolate version, fold 2 tablespoons cocoa powder into the mascarpone and drizzle with melted dark chocolate instead of maple syrup.
Try adding orange zest, cinnamon, or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the mascarpone for flavor variations.
Walnuts or hazelnuts can replace pistachios or almonds for different flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 15
- Category: Dessert, Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook, Assembly
- Cuisine: Mediterranean, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 25
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 2.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 1
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 16
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 1
- Cholesterol: 12
Keywords: stuffed dates, mascarpone dates, maple drizzle, no-cook dessert, elegant appetizer, date recipe, easy entertaining, finger food