Date Walnut Dessert Recipe (Ranginak) (2024)

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.

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

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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!

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

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