Cooked Date Syrup

Place dates and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a low simmer and cook for 2 hours or until dates are very soft and starting to dissolve. If mixture begins to look dry, add a little more hot water; dates should be mostly covered by liquid throughout the process. By the end of cooking the liquid should be thick and brown.

Place the dates and liquid in a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Press as much liquid out of the dates as you can. Date honey will continue to thicken as it cools.

Once it reaches room temperature, it should be similar to the consistency of honey. If the mixture isn't thick enough for you, feel free to warm it up again.

Store syrup in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Makes about 1 ½ cups syrup.