I’ve partnered with New Seasons Market to bring you this post.
Any time we’re invited to someone’s house for dinner or something casual like a game night with snacks, I always like to bring along a little something as a thank you. Depending on how much time I have it can be something store-bought or homemade. But more often than not it’s something edible – I am a foodie after all.
New Seasons Market is a favorite place of mine, not only to buy amazing freshly baked sourdough baguettes, local artisan cheeses and fresh local produce and meats, it’s also a great place to scope out the perfect hostess gift – everything from a handmade wooden cutting board made by local artisans to locally-made, all-natural hand cream and soap bars or, my latest find, premium tea blends. Steven Smith Teamaker has made some unique holiday blends exclusively for New Seasons Market, like Winter Moringa and Merry Citrus, packaged in elegant satiny tea bags (gorgeous!). To give it as a gift just tie a ribbon around the box, slip it into a gift bag, or present it with a thank you card and you have a classy, elegant gift anyone will be thrilled to receive.
New Seasons Market always has something fit for every occasion.
Edible goodies geared towards entertaining always make great hostess gifts. A few of my favorites include homemade Sweet Pepper & Onion Relish (a Harry & David copycat recipe that’s amazing mixed with cream cheese and spread on crackers), homemade giardiniera(a perfect addition to any cheese or charcuterie board or tossed in pasta or salads), spiced roasted almonds (recipe to come!), and gourmet marinated olives (I LOVE New Season Market’s olive bar!) – the latter two are great for snacking and also perfect accompaniments to a cheese/charcuterie board.
Oh, and something for the sweet tooth that will make your baked goods absolutely “pop” are Homemade Candied Citrus Peels. Package these in a clear cellophane gift bag and tie it with a ribbon and you’ll have a classy and delicious gift the hostess will love!
Today’s recipe is inspired by some of my other favorite New Seasons Market finds – a wide selection of gourmet fruit spreads that I love to serve with my cheese and charcuterie boards.
I experimented with a flavor combination that is just downright delicious served with cheese/meat and crackers/baguettes.
The comforting earthy flavor of toasted hazelnuts is sweetened with dates and rounded off with white wine. It’s sure to win over your guests and impress the recipient of your next hostess gift!
Let’s get started!
To toast the hazelnuts, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place a few whole hazelnuts single-layered on a cookie sheet on the middle rack and toast for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned and fragrant. Place the hazelnuts in a clean kitchen towel and rub them to remove the skins. Discard the skins and finely chop the hazelnuts once cool enough to handle. Set aside until ready to use.
Finely chop the dates.
Place the dates, water, wine and lemon juice in a medium-sized saucepan and bring it to a rapid boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes.
Stir in the sugar and the pectin and return to a rapid boil for 1 minute. Stir in the hazelnuts and remove from heat.
Pour the spread into a sterilized jar with a lid. Once cool refrigerate and let it sit for at least a day or two before using to allow time for the flavors to meld. Makes about 1 cup of spread.
Serve with a cheese, charcuterie, crackers, baguettes, etc.
Enjoy!
Be sure to check out my tutorial on How To Create a Cheese & Charcuterie Board!
Toasted Hazelnut Date Spread
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup chopped dried dates
- 1/4 cup quality white wine
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons cane sugar
- 1 tablespoon Ball Classic Pectin or equivalent
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped toasted hazelnuts
Instructions
- To toast the hazelnuts, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place a few whole hazelnuts single-layered on a cookie sheet on the middle rack and toast for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned and fragrant. Place the hazelnuts in a clean kitchen towel and rub them to remove the skins. Discard the skins and finely chop the hazelnuts once cool enough to handle. Set aside until ready to use.
- Place the dates, water, wine and lemon juice in a medium-sized saucepan and bring it to a rapid boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the sugar and the pectin and return to a rapid boil for 1 minute. Stir in the hazelnuts and remove from heat.
- Pour the spread into a sterilized jar with a lid. Once cool refrigerate and let it sit for at least a day or two before using to allow time for the flavors to meld. Makes about 1 cup of spread.
- Serve with cheese, charcuterie, crackers and bread.
Nutrition
Thank you to New Seasons Market for sponsoring this post and to my readers for supporting the brands who help make The Daring Gourmet possible!
Cherie Duggan says
Is it possible to can this in a water bath for longer preservation?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Cherie, this has not been tested for water bath canning so that is not something I can recommend as being safe.
dot says
how long will this keep? I have tried your mango chutney and its a hit with friends who love it when i have a batch ready for them.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you, Dot, I’m so glad you enjoyed the chutney. This spread will keep for at least a couple of weeks in the fridge, probably closer to a month as long as there is no mold.
maureen says
Will this work w/o sugar and pectin? Thanks.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Maureen, yes and you can also use a sugar substitute. The pectin helps thicken it so while you can omit it, it will be quite runny without it.
maureen madden says
thank, Kimberly. As I do not have pectin, any other thickener i can use so i do not have to buy pectin. I will leave out the, thanks!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Maureen, you could just dissolve a bit of cornstarch in a tiny bit of water and add that at the very end to simmer for a minute until thickened to the consistency that you want. And give it a taste to see if it’s sweet enough for you without the sugar. If not, you could either add some more dates or add a bit of stevia or whichever alternative sweetener you normally use.
Nancy | The Bitter Side of Sweet says
This looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it!
Allyson Zea says
Oh this would be delicious served on a cheese board too!