Dates have been a staple food in the Middle East for centuries. The earliest use of the fruit has been traced to prehistoric Egypt where the ancient Egyptians used them to make date wine. They also considered dates symbols of fertility. Egyptians first used date sugar to brew and store alcohol.

Dates were first introduced to Mexico and California in 1765. Asian and Mediterranean cultures have made and continue to make significant use of dates.c

Date sugar is made by finely chopping or grinding dried, dehydrated dates. It is light brown in color with a grainy texture and sweet taste. Since date sugar can clump and doesn't melt, it is not a suitable substitution for other sweeteners in baked goods or beverages. If you have a recipe that calls for sugar, but does not require it to melt, date sugar may be used. Note that when baked, it will appear in your dish as small brown flecks.  

As a general rule, when using date sugar in a baking recipe, substitute it for granulated sugar using a 1:1 ratio.

Replacing sugar with date sugar when you make cakes, muffins or quick breads can add more sweetness to the finished product. 

Your baked goods will be softer in texture when using date sugar as a sugar substitute.

Try using it in place of brown sugar for crumb toppings on pies and fruit crisps. You'll get the same taste, plus the fiber, potassium and iron from dates that table sugar lacks.

According to Mayo Clinic, date sugar is one natural sweetener the FDA recognizes as being safe for consumption.c Date sugar is a strong source of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and manganese, all of which aid healthy metabolic processes in the human body. As a source of potassium, date sugar helps maintain blood pressure and reduces water retention. The magnesium in date sugar aids in the relief of fatigue, relaxes the muscles and eases tension.

Even though the date fruit has a low score on the glycemic index, through the process of drying and dehydrating, the date sugar that is made from the fruit has a much higher score. That being the case, diabetics should stay away from date sugar as it will cause spikes in blood sugar levels.

Unless you want to chop up your own dates, note that date sugar tends to be pricier than brown or white table sugars at $6 per pound as compared to $2 per pound for the generic. 

Make sure you store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark cupboard before opening. Once opened, it will keep well at room temperature for up to a year.