I Can't Stop Eating These Chocolate-Covered Date Bites

I normally love making my own snacks and treats to have on hand when I need (or want) a little something between meals. Actually, that’s not true. I love eating homemade snacks—having to wash dishes coated in oil or, worse, nut butter, makes DIY goodies (almost) more trouble than they’re worth. Anyway, the point is, my life has been extra hectic lately—with starting my new job at SELF, figuring out where in the U.S. I want to live so I can move out of my mom’s apartment (there’s something I never thought I’d say again in my adult life), and generally being a grownup in a capitalist society. As such, I’ve had barely any time to get creative in the kitchen and even less patience for soaking and scrubbing measuring cups.

All this to say, I’ve been in the market for good packaged treats, which typically don’t call my name. It’s not that I’m anti-store-bought (I’m grateful to live in an era where there are plenty of delicious packaged snacks available to me), I’m just a bit of a snack snob. I’m usually looking for satisfying texture (chewy is my number one, with crunchy trailing close behind) and simple ingredients (for taste reasons; not diet-y reasons). I’m also an aspiring intuitive eater and I’ve noticed that snacks with fiber and/or protein tend to make me feel more energized and focused during the workweek. I’m delighted to report that I found all of that and more in Magic Dates 100% Dark Choco Snack Bites, my go-to sweet pick-me-up (pre-workout, post-lunch, mid-stress-spiral) these days.

I usually find date-based snacks overly sweet—dried fruit just doesn’t do it for me; to each their own—but since Magic Dates energy bites are dipped in unsweetened dark chocolate and stuffed with buttery walnuts, the flavor is really well-balanced, especially if you smear peanut butter on top as I obviously do (solid life advice in general). They’re a little crunchy, a little chewy, and a lot satisfying. The chocolate-covered collection comes in four flavors, but Choco Coconut Cookie is my favorite because it reminds me of Mounds, one of my favorite candy bars, and makes all of my dark-chocolate-coconut dreams come true.

Oh, and another major selling point for me: the Magic Dates founder is a Syrian-Canadian woman on a mission to help rewrite the current narrative of the Middle East and its refugees by bringing people together over dates, an ancient crop with a history as rich as its flavor. Plus, the packaging recently underwent a glow-up and it’s really pretty—as in, I once left my Choco Coconut Cookie pouch out on my desk just so I could look at it.

Would these bites taste just as good in a paper bag and a mission-less backstory? You bet. But I find that a snack that aligns with your values (like supporting POC-owned brands) is all the more satisfying. I know it sounds like hyperbole, but these bites really are quite magical.