Date Paste & Date Syrup (Dibs) Recipe with Medjool Dates

Across the Muslim world — from Iraqi kleicha stuffed with date paste, to Egyptian menena, to Moroccan makroudh, to South Asian halwa, to date-sweetened Eid cookies — date paste (ma’jun al-tamr, معجون التمر) and date syrup (dibs al-tamr, دبس التمر) are the foundational sweeteners that have replaced refined sugar in households for centuries. Both are simple to make at home with high-quality Medjool dates from our private date ranch, and both keep beautifully for weeks in the refrigerator.

Homemade date syrup dibs al-tamr in jar made from California Medjool dates

Date Paste vs. Date Syrup — What’s the Difference?

Date paste is a thick, spreadable purée made by blending soaked dates with a small amount of water. It is what fills ma’amoul, kleicha, and date cookies, and what binds energy bites and raw desserts.

Date syrup (dibs, دبس, also called silan) is a pourable liquid sweetener made by simmering dates in water and reducing the strained liquid. In Iraqi households, dibs and tahini together form the classic breakfast mix; in Levantine kitchens, dibs is drizzled over knafeh, labneh, and warm bread; in modern cooking, it replaces honey and maple syrup pour-for-pour.

Date Paste Recipe (Ma’jun al-Tamr)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups jumbo California Medjool dates (tamr al-majhool), pitted (about 20–22 dates)
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup warm water
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon lemon juice (extends shelf life)
  • Optional: 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, cardamom, or nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Place pitted Medjool dates in a heatproof bowl. Pour 1/4 cup of warm water over them and let soak for 15 minutes, until softened.
  2. Transfer the dates and their soaking liquid to a food processor. Add lemon juice and any optional spices.
  3. Pulse, then process continuously for 2–3 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. Add additional warm water 1 tablespoon at a time if the mixture is too thick.
  4. Process until smooth and spreadable. The texture should resemble thick honey or natural peanut butter.
  5. Transfer to a clean glass jar. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks, or freeze for up to 6 months.

Date Syrup Recipe (Dibs al-Tamr)

Step by step date syrup recipe made with Medjool dates from California ranch

Ingredients

  • 2 cups jumbo California Medjool dates (tamr al-majhool), pitted
  • 4 cups water
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

Instructions

  1. Combine pitted dates and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 60–75 minutes, until the dates are very soft and beginning to break apart.
  2. Remove from heat. Mash the dates against the sides of the pot with a wooden spoon to release more flavor.
  3. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean saucepan, pressing on the solids to extract all the liquid. Discard the solids (or save for compost — the fiber has been mostly extracted).
  4. Return the strained liquid to the heat. Add the lemon juice. Simmer uncovered for 30–45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the syrup has reduced by half and coats the back of a spoon.
  5. Cool completely, then transfer to a sterilized glass jar. Refrigerate for up to 6 months.

How to Use Date Paste & Date Syrup

  • Fill ma’amoul, kleicha, or date cookies with the paste.
  • Stir a tablespoon of paste into oatmeal or yogurt for Suhoor.
  • Drizzle dibs over labneh, warm bread, or pancakes.
  • Mix dibs and tahini in equal parts for the classic Iraqi breakfast spread.
  • Drizzle dibs over knafeh, baklawa, or vanilla ice cream.
  • Use date paste in place of refined sugar in baking — substitute 1 cup of paste for 1 cup of sugar (reduce other liquids slightly).
  • Sweeten Arabic coffee, mint tea, or chai with a teaspoon of dibs.

Order Premium Medjool Dates From Our Private Ranch

Both paste and syrup depend entirely on the quality of the dates you start with. Our jumbo Medjool dates are hand-harvested at peak ripeness on our private date ranch in California’s Coachella Valley — the natural sugar content and soft, caramel-like flesh produce a deep, complex syrup and a smooth, glossy paste that simply cannot be achieved with the dry, aged dates often sold in supermarkets.

Shop California Medjool dates →
Shop Zahidi dates (also excellent for paste and syrup) →

More Ramadan Recipes & Resources

Ramadan Mubarak (رمضان مبارك) from our private ranch in the Coachella Valley to your Iftar table.