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Date Natilla (Spanish Custard)

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a Naturally Sweet Twist on Natilla (Spanish Custard)

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re thrilled to share a delicious, better-for-you take on a beloved traditional dessert: Natilla—made without refined sugar and sweetened naturally with our Natural Delights Medjool dates!

Crafted by a talented food blogger in celebration of her heritage, this recipe proves that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor to make smarter choices. Juicy, fiber-rich, and naturally sweet, Medjool dates bring the perfect creamy texture and depth of flavor to this iconic dish.

Whether you’re familiar with Natilla or trying it for the first time, this version is one you have to taste to believe. It's simple, satisfying, and uses ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.

Recipe by Maria Cedeno

Ingredients

  • 4 cups liquid milk
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 6 soaked dates (soak the dates in hot water for 15 minutes, after that just keep the dates)
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Vanilla to taste
  • Topping (optional): chopped dates

Preparation

  1. First, place the milk, cornstarch, vanilla, and soaked dates in a food processor.
  2. Mix well and place in a pot. Turn the heat to medium speed and add the egg yolks to the pot over medium heat, mix.
  3. Let it cook while stirring until it comes to a boil.
  4. Turn off the heat and add the lemon zest, mix, and let it cool.
  5. Place the mixture in a container or, if you prefer, in individual containers. Enjoy!

*While Medjool dates are high in natural sugars, they are low on the glycemic index thanks to a balanced amount of soluble fiber. The complex carbohydrates found in Medjool dates are digested at a slower rate, making them a source of dietary fiber and releasing energy to the body over a longer period of time.