Dates And Nuts Roulade
A Delightful Vegan Dessert That's Loved By All
Quick answerMakes 8-10 servings, ready in 5 - 20 minutes, Mediterranean cuisine.
We used to eat this dates and nuts roulade at my home forever. It's one of those desserts / dishes where the taste is much greater than its limited list of ingredients. It has an unbelievable umami that hits you the second you take a bite of it.
Now I know this is vegan and it's probably very trendy, but the only reason I make it is because it's just good!
Making it couldn't be easier! But you would need to gather some ingredients — or should I say one in particular. To make it, you would need to find a dates paste. It's not always an easy task unless you know exactly where to look.
Another option is to make the paste yourself, but that would mean pitting the dates and mashing them to a paste. Not fun!
Assuming you've found the dates paste, all you need to do is:
- Roast the nuts
- Mix them with the paste
- Roll into a roulade shape and
- Cover with coconut flakes
More tips for success:
- Work with a room temperature date paste (otherwise you're in for an exercise...)
- Always look for pit parts in the paste. They don't always do a good job cleaning them at the factory
- My favorite date type would be Medjhul. Look for it if possible
- Feel free to add / remove nuts to your liking but...
- Hazelnuts are important so keep them in :)
Method
- 1
Roasting The Nuts· 10 Minutes
Skip to the next step if no need to roast the nuts. In a dry pan on a medium heat spread the nuts. each kind separately and roast till lightly brown but not burnt!!
- 2
Making The Roulade· 5
Mix the nuts in the dates paste. Spread the mixture on an aluminium foil. Form a roulade shape by pressing the foil with your hands. After you have the desired shape, spread coconut flakes to cover all sides. Store in the freezer. It is much easier to cut it when frozen.
Recipe by
Jaron Kimhi
Jaron Kimhi — self-taught home cook from Tel Aviv, writing and cooking every recipe on this site himself. 20+ years of tinkering in the kitchen, leaning toward slow cooking, classic technique, and honest ingredients.
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Questions & answers
Can I swap out any of the nuts?
Absolutely — use whatever roasted unsalted nuts you have on hand. Almonds, cashews, or pistachios all work great here.
Do I have to use dates paste or can I make my own?
You can blitz whole pitted dates in a food processor until they form a smooth paste. Just make sure it's fully blended so the roulade holds together.
How do I actually cut it cleanly?
Keep it in the freezer and slice it straight from frozen — that's the whole trick. A sharp knife and you're done.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, this is a great make-ahead dessert. Shape it, coat it in coconut flakes, wrap it in the foil, and store it in the freezer until you need it.
What if I don't have aluminium foil?
Use plastic wrap instead — you can still press and roll it into shape the same way, just work quickly so the paste doesn't stick to your hands.