Ranginak is a classic Persian dessert made of dates, walnuts and warm spices such as cinnamon . This sweet dessert is commonly served during the month of Ramadan.

What does dates do in baking?

Dates can be used as a sweetener in baking either added in whole, as a syrup, or made into date sugar, which can be bought at markets or made at home. They can be chopped and added to cookies, breads, and other baked goods to add a touch of sweetness and texture .

Do dates need to be soaked before baking?

Dried dates are ready to use straight away - just slice off from the block or pick as many of you need from the box, but you can also soak them in a liquid like tea or various types of alcohol, to boost flavour and moisture .

What pairs well with dates in baking?

Dates pairs so well with cocoa powder, maple syrup, nuts, coconut, peanut butter , and so much more. You'll even find some fresh fruit and sea salt in the mix with these dessert-inspired date recipes. Enjoy layers of chewy Medjool dates, creamy peanut butter, crunchy peanuts, and chocolate.

How long to soak dates before baking?

Let them soak for about 15 to 30 minutes , or until they become soft and slightly plump. The soaking process helps to rehydrate the dates, making them more tender and easier to blend or chop. Once the dates are soaked, drain the water and pat them dry with a paper towel before using them in your recipe.

What can dates replace in baking?

So dates are 2/3 (67%) sugar by mass. This means it takes 1.5 times the mass of dates as sugar, to get the same amount of sugar. For example, in a recipe with 100g of sugar, substitute 150g of dates. Making the dry fruit into a paste seems like a good way to get the sweetness evenly distributed through your batter.

Can dates replace sugar in baking?

It can be used to substitute white sugar 1 for 1 while decreasing the dry ingredients called for in your recipe by 25% . Date sugar can be used for cookies, sweet bread, muffins and even as a topping for cinnamon toast or your oatmeal.

Why do you use dates instead of sugar?

While dates are a concentrated source of sugar, they're considered lower glycemic than other refined sugars. The fiber in dates helps balance out the sugar preventing such a drastic blood sugar spike . This along with the additional nutrients make dates a great sugar replacement!

Are dates better than added sugar?

Natural sweetener Dates are a source of fructose, which is a natural type of sugar found in fruit ( 1 ). For this reason, dates are very sweet and also have a subtle caramel-like taste. They make a great healthy substitute for white sugar in recipes due to the nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants that they provide .

Date Walnut Dessert Recipe (Ranginak) (2024)

Published: Nov 15, 2021 Updated: Apr 12, 2022 Author: Roxana Begum· This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to Recipe

This fabulous date dessert with walnuts is so easy to make and mouthwatering. Known as Ranginak, this rich Persian dessert is full of walnut-stuffed dates and uses less sugar. Just a small piece is enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Date Walnut Dessert Recipe (Ranginak) (1)

Table of Contents

What is Ranginak?

You may not have heard of this Persian date dessert recipe, but it is a clever way of making something very satisfying and rich with minimal ingredients and preparation time.

This no-bake dessert is packed with dates and walnuts. Most of the sweetness comes from the dates and only a little bit of sugar is needed to sweeten the flour portion of the dessert.

And honestly, if you don’t tell anyone how easy it is to make this recipe, the appearance and taste of it will make people think that you have slaved for a long time.

Ranginak is especially popular during Ramadan, the fasting month when dates are abundantly consumed.

Date Dessert Ingredients

Date Walnut Dessert Recipe (Ranginak) (2)

Dates: I prefer to use medjool dates as they are easy to work with and also taste great.
Walnuts: Good quality walnuts with a fresh taste is what we need.
Flour: Traditionally all purpose flour is used. Try chickpea flour for a gluten free version as in Chickpea Cookies.
Butter: Use grass fed butter or ghee if possible. To lower the amount of butter, check below the butter + oil variation.
Confectioners Sugar: Also known as powdered sugar.
Spices: Choose fresh cardamom and good quality cinnamon powder.
Pistachios: I use bright green and flavorful unsalted pistachios.

How to Make it

Brief overview below.*Full recipe at the end of blog post.

Date Walnut Dessert Recipe (Ranginak) (3)

Stuff Dates: Fill pitted medjool dates with walnuts.
Date Layer: Pack walnut-stuffed dates in a pie plate or cake pan.
Toast Flour: Melt butter, add flour and stir until lightly toasted.
Flour & Sugar: Pour the hot flour-butter layer over dates. Mix sugar with spices and sprinkle over flour layer.
Pistachios: Top with ground pistachios.
Cut and Serve: Let it set overnight and cut into pieces using a sharp knife.

Top Tips

After adding the pistachio layer, pack it down well and smooth.
Let the date dessert set overnight. The butter will permeate all layers, which will also help keep it together.
Use a very sharp knife to cut smaller pieces. It is easy to press back together any separated layers.

Date Walnut Dessert Recipe (Ranginak) (4)

Variations

This date walnut sweet is vegetarian, egg free and soy free.

Vegan and Dairy Free:Try coconut oil instead of butter. But it will impart a different flavor.
Gluten Free:Use the type of chickpea flour we chose for making the chickpea cookies.
Nut Free: Replace walnuts with toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds but the crunch will not be the same. Another option is to use pretzels.
Lighter and Healthier:
- Substitute butter with ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons neutral-tasting oil, but this option will not have the nutty flavor.
- You can also combine 7 tablespoons grass-fed ghee with 7 tablespoons neutral oil. This will give some nutty flavor while lowering saturated fat.
- Yet another option is to toast the flour using ½ cup oil or ghee, add ½ cup creamy nut butter and stir couple minutes until heated through. The final consistency of dough should be like a thin, smooth and spreadable nut butter.
No Added Sugar: I have not tried it myself, but you may test replacing powdered sugar with sugar substitutes such as sucralose, allulose, stevia, etc. Before using, I also encourage researching the pros and cons of these substitutes on reputable sites.

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How to Serve It

Traditional: Ranginak is often served whole as a pie. And people cut a piece as per their liking.
My Choice: I typically cut it into pieces and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Gifts: You can place individual pieces in small paper cups and pack in gift boxes for sharing.

What to Serve with It

Some ideas for what to serve with this delicious date dessert.

With beverages: Saffron Tea, Rose and Dried Fruit Homemade Tea, Black tea or Coffee.
With a meal:
- Nihari or Grilled Lambs Chops with Naan
- Persian Lentil Rice with Egg Curry
- Spinach Feta Pizza and Spicy Corn Salad

Once you master this no-bake dessert, it will become your go-to recipe for an easy and satisfying treat!

Date Walnut Dessert Recipe (Ranginak) (6)

Make Ahead

The dates can be stuffed with toasted walnuts ahead of time and kept ready.

Storage and Leftovers

Store this date dessert in airtight containers at room temperature for a week. Leftovers can be refrigerated. Ranginak also freezes very well. Make sure to wrap in parchment paper and pack in freezer safe containers.

Nutrition Facts

This is a very rich dessert as it is made with lots of walnuts and butter. Although, a small piece is enough to satisfy. Be sure to check out lighter variations above.

Dates are high in fiber, potassium, magnesium and vitamin B6. They are rich in polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. So they are a great alternative to refined sugar.

Walnuts are a good source ofhealthy fats —monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, fiber, protein and antioxidants. They also provide some minerals — copper, manganese, magnesium. These nuts are highly recommended as they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

More No-Bake Desserts

Dark Chocolate Orange Slices
Green Tea Ice Cream With Chia
Easy Fruit Salad With Orange Juice
Persian Mulberry Marzipan Candy (Toot)

★DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE COMMENT AND GIVE IT A STAR RATING BELOW!

5 from 11 votes