During Tu B’Shvat, it is customary to eat dried fruit and nuts that are grown in the land of Israel. This tradition signifies our centuries long connection to the land of Israel and carries a kabbalistic significance. Eating dried fruit and nuts represents our generations long connections to the Jewish people and represents the seed of new life – the generations to come.
Growing up in Israel and enjoying both fresh and dried fruits from its land, I’ve always loved Arava dates: eating them as they are or enjoying them in various ways in baking and cooking. One of my favorite recipes does not include baking or major prepping, but the simple mixing of dates and nuts into a marble-like treat that can be enjoyed on Tu B’Shvat – and year-round. You can find the step-by-step instructions in the video and recipe below.
Tu B’Shvat Sameach!
Date and Nut Marble Treat Recipe
Ingredients
For two cakes:
1 pack of baking dates
½ cup natural almonds, chopped
½ cup natural walnuts, chopped
½ cup natural pistachios, chopped
½ tsp cinnamon
1 cup toasted sesame seeds or natural shredded coconut for coating
Instructions
- Add dates, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and cinnamon to a food processor and pulse together into a mixture with the consistency of a play dough. The nuts should be roughly chopped and not finely ground.
- Remove the mixture from the food processor to your work area, and with your hands roll it to a cylinder.
- Spread toasted sesame seeds or natural shredded coconut on your work area and roll the cylinder to cover.
- Place the cylinder in a plastic wrap or airtight bag and let it sit in the fridge until you are ready to serve it, and no less than an hour. The mixture needs time to cool for it to hold together when slicing.
- To serve, slice the cylinder to ½ inch thick pieces and enjoy!
Variations
- No food processor? Chop the nuts with a knife and mix with the dates and cinnamon with your hands.
- No baking dates? Use pitted dates, around 12-14 large medjool dates (you will need a food processor or a blender here!)
- You can use any nuts you like, be creative. I recommend natural ones, but if you prefer roasted and salted, you can use them, it will just change the flavor and make it even less sweet
- Feel free to add chia or flax seed, too.
- Not loving the flavor of dates too much? Add ¼ cup natural tahini. Don’t like tahini? Add 2 tbsp natural cocoa powder for a chocolaty flavor, you can also cover the treat with cocoa powder as well when you do that.
- If you are making it ahead of time, place the cylinder in the freezer after step 4. When it’s time to serve, thaw for 10 minutes before slicing.