Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to celebrate love, sweetness and indulgence. Chocolates and flowers are classic gits, but why not elevate the experience with these very special ruby chocolate-covered dates. The gorgeous pink chocolate colour is all-natural and gives that extra romantic V-Day vibe. Add a sprinkle of dried raspberries for an extra pop of pink and your homemade chocolates look and taste like gourmet confections!

Why make chocolate-covered dates?

Make this Valentine’s Day extra special and create your own homemade chocolate treats! Dates covered in chocolate are super simple to make but taste absolutely divine. And to boost they are relatively healthy too, without any icky additives or loads of added sugar. Go for good quality chocolate, a plump and chewy date and an optional filling and garnish of your choice to make these easy and delicious chocolate treats. 

Are chocolate-covered dates really healthy?

Well, that all depends on your ingredients and your definition of ‘healthy’. I consider these snacks a healthy treat. Here’s why: 

When you use pure ingredients these snacks are ‘clean’. What I mean by this is that they don’t contain extra added sugar and no icky chemicals or additives. Dates are like nature’s candy. They are packed with natural sugars and have a rich, caramel-like flavour. They are also full of fibre, potassium and antioxidants. 

Good quality chocolate is actually good for you! Dark chocolate in particular is rich in antioxidants and minerals like iron, magnesium, copper and manganese. Milk and white chocolate usually have more sugar added and a lower cocoa content, so these have fewer health benefits. 

Optional fillings like nuts or nut butter contain healthy fats and loads of fibre. Nuts are also full of nutrients like magnesium, selenium and vitamin E. 

Extra decorations like freeze-dried fruits add colour, flavour and all the nutrients found in that fruit. Other ‘clean’ garnish ideas are a sprinkle of crushed nuts, dried edible flowers or salt flakes. 

Valentine’s Day Special: Ruby Chocolate

Go the extra mile this Valentine’s Day and make these chocolate-covered treats extra special by using naturally pink ruby chocolate. 

We all know about dark, milk and white chocolate but there’s a fourth type… ruby chocolate. Ruby chocolate has a vibrant pink colour that’s all-natural. The bright pink hue of ruby chocolate makes it visually very appealing and sets itself apart from the classic brown or white chocolate. No artificial colourants are used, this chocolate is made from the ruby cocoa bean which gives this chocolate its exceptional red-pink colour and fruity taste. 

So what does ruby chocolate taste like? 

Ruby chocolate tastes like chocolate but has a very fruity and slightly more tart undertone. I’d describe the flavour of ruby chocolate almost as white chocolate that has been mixed with raspberries. No berries or flavours have been added though, this chocolate gets both its pink hue and berry flavour from the ruby cocoa bean that’s used to make it. 

Its gorgeous colour and interesting flavour profile make this chocolate perfect for when you want something extra special. Valentine’s Day is a perfect occasion to go the extra mile and splurge on this pink chocolate. Other great occasions could be Mother’s Day, a baby shower, a special date or any other time you want something a little more exquisite. 

What do you need to make chocolate-covered dates?

You can make these sweet yet healthy snacks as simple or as complicated as you’d like! In its most basic form, all you need are dates and chocolate. 

• Dates: You can use any type of date that’s most easily available to you. I like using organic medjool dates. Medjool dates are slightly bigger and have softer flesh that gives these snacks a gooey caramel-like filling. Carefully cut open the dates, without cutting all the way through, to remove the pits before you fill and dip them.  
• Chocolate: Melt your favourite chocolate and dip your dates. You can melt your chocolate in the microwave or use a double boiler (au-bain-marie style). White, milk or dark chocolate each have their own flavour profile, so use what you like best! To make these chocolate-covered dates extra special I went with naturally pink ruby chocolate by Callebaut. 

Dates and chocolate are all you need to make a basic chocolate-covered date, but for more interesting flavour profiles you can mix and match with extra fillings and toppings. Here’s what I used to create these bright pink Valentine’s Day-themed treats: 

• Almonds: Roasted almonds and dates are a classic combination. You can also use regular almonds, but quickly roasting them in the oven or a dry skillet intensifies the almond flavour. Be careful not to burn them though!
• Freeze-dried raspberries: Freeze-dried raspberries have a great shelf life and add a gorgeous bright pop of pink. Raspberries also play into the berry flavour notes of ruby chocolate, making them the perfect addition for this Valentine’s Day version. 

You also need a bowl to melt your chocolate, a sheet pan with parchment paper and toothpicks or a fork to dip the dates without making a mess. 

How to make chocolate-covered dates?

Making chocolate-covered dates is super simple. Melt your chocolate and dip your dates… Check out this step-by-step guide for extra tips and tricks.

Step 1: Carefully cut open your dates lengthwise and remove the pits. Be careful not to cut all the way through to the other side. 

Step 2: When removing the pit be sure to check each date for mould or bugs. I hate to break it to you, but sometimes little creepy crawlies will get in there. That’s another reason to always remove the pit before popping a date into your mouth. If you see a bug or loads of little brown dots inside the date that’s a good indicator to throw it away. 

Step 3: Add a filling of choice. In this case, I’ve filled each date with two almonds. You can also fill them with nut butter or a combination of nuts and nut butter. Close up the date after filling. 

Step 4: Melt your chocolate. Either in the microwave or in a double boiler. If you microwave your chocolate make sure to do this in short intervals and stir in between to make sure it doesn’t burn. If you use a double boiler method add a layer of water to a saucepan. Place your chocolate in a heatproof bowl that fits on top of that saucepan and place the saucepan on medium heat. 

Step 5: Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. This prevents the chocolate dates from sticking to the sheet pan and makes it easy to remove once the chocolate is set. 

Step 6: Use a toothpick or fork to dip each date into the melted chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl before moving the dipped date to the lined sheet pan. Repeat until all dates are covered in chocolate. 

Step 7: Add your toppings of choice while the chocolate is still soft. Sprinkle on some chopped-up freeze-dried fruits, nuts, edible flowers or fleur de sel. The chocolate should remain soft enough to make the entire batch. Work in batches if your chocolate sets too quickly.

Step 8: Either let the chocolate set at room temperature or stick the sheet pan in the fridge or freezer for 15-30 minutes to speed up the process. 

Step 9: Enjoy your chocolate dates! Serve them with a cup of tea or coffee or go the extra mile and pair them with a glass of champagne.

Tips & Alternatives

• Make an assembly line. To make the process extra quick and easy create a little assembly line. Start by cutting open all the dates and removing the pits, then fill all the dates with your filling of choice, move on to dipping and finally add your garnish.
• Switch up the nuts. Go for any type of nuts you like. Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and pecans are all great options. 
• Roast your nuts. Roasting intensifies the nutty flavour. Pop them on a baking sheet in the oven or give them a quick roast in a dry skillet. Be careful not to burn them. 
• Switch up the chocolate. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate are easier to acquire than ruby chocolate, so use whatever is available to you. Each type of chocolate also has its own flavour profile so always go for what you like best. You could also cover your date in one type of chocolate and then drizzle another type of chocolate on top as decoration.
• Nut butter filling. Instead of whole nuts, try adding nut butter like peanut butter, almond butter or even a seed butter to the middle of the date. Optionally, you can combine this with a whole nut or chopped nuts for extra texture. 
• Add a topping of choice. Chopped nuts, shredded coconut, freeze-dried fruits, fleur de sel or edible flowers are all great options to garnish your chocolate date bites. A topping is a great way to add extra flavour and visual appeal. 

Here are two classic flavour combos to help you get started: 

• Make all-natural Snicker bites: Fill a date with peanut butter and chopped peanuts, then cover it in milk chocolate. Optionally, add a sprinkle of fleur de sel on top. 
• Go for the classic Ferrero flavour: Add a roasted hazelnut to the middle and cover in milk chocolate. 

Are you looking for more Valentine’s Day recipes?

• These Apple Rose Puff Pastries are the prettiest individual apple pies you'll ever see. They look like elegant roses and are perfect for a special occasion.
• Bake these decadent Brownies with a rich chocolate flavour, a fudgy middle and crispy edges. They’re chocolate heaven!
• Try this Eton Mess with Lemon Curd and Fresh Berries. It’s the perfect fresh and light dessert to end an indulgent Valentine’s Day dinner.