Date Substitute?

[rawjess]

Almost every dessert recipe calls for dates, but they're expensive and it means a guaranteed trip to WFs or some other store. Is there a raw substitute such as maybe the same amount of raisins + 1 tbs. agave nectar, to get the same consistency as dates? (I'm a newbie btw.) Thanks!

[lovenlife]

I find dates give things a caramel-eeee taste and texture. I dont know how one can duplicate that other than caramel...eeeeeeeeeek and :eek:

[Shine]

This is an issue for me too. I can get them at the regular grocery but I am quite sick of the taste and I find it VERY overpowering so everything tastes like date. I have tried figs in some creations and appricots in others. They both have good consistancy - prob not quite the saem but I like them :)

[DebB]

Just a side note - I'm able to buy bulk (organic) dates at my local health food store. I buy a lot and freeze them. Saves a lot of stops at the store. *Ü*

[DopeRawAbundance]

Figs, apricots, raisins, + agave nectar/raw honey/maple syrup, looks like we're already brimming with suggestions. Dried cherries? Prunes? Da possibilities... de're endlezz.

[Dimond]

If it's mainly for texture, anything that thickens without being too overpowering. Other than dried fruit, avocado, fresh figs, sunflower lecithin, Irish moss, sometimes oils or unsalted nut butters. Bananas may work in some cases if the other flavors are strong.

[JennaHoneyBear]

dried currants are a good one! raisins, figs, any dried fruit really. might give your recipe a different sort of taste, though. nothing can really compare to a date

[rawjess]

Thank you everyone! :o I do have some Sunsweet dried prunes which I thought of using instead, anyone know if they're really raw though or what temp they dry their stuff at? I searched a bit and couldn't find anything.