Food of the Gods: An Irresistible Filipino Holiday Treat

Food Of The Gods is a beloved Filipino dessert, often compared to butterscotch bars but distinguished by its rich blend of dates and walnuts. These delightful treats are not only simple to bake and incredibly delicious but also make wonderful gifts for loved ones during the festive holiday season.

Are you looking for more holiday baking inspiration? Don’t miss out on classic chocolate crinkles and the uniquely flavored ube crinkles, both holiday favorites!

Food of the gods is a quintessential Filipino dessert that carries an air of mystique. Why does its popularity surge only during Christmas? What’s the story behind its divine name, “food of the gods”? And where did this cherished recipe originate?

While definitive answers remain elusive, one thing is certain: those who have tasted food of the gods invariably fall in love with it. Its chewy texture, intense sweetness, and satisfying crunch of walnuts in every bite make it a truly unique and delectable experience. For many, the appearance of food of the gods is an unmistakable herald of the Christmas season.

Let’s dive into what makes this recipe so special.

Why You’ll Adore This Food of the Gods Recipe

If, like many, you grew up enjoying food of the gods, you likely remember them elegantly wrapped in vibrant cellophane, often given as gifts. To simplify the process, this recipe uses cupcake liners, eliminating the need for intricate wrapping. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:

Effortlessly Easy: Despite its sophisticated name, making food of the gods is surprisingly straightforward. This recipe requires just 10 common ingredients, no complex techniques, and is ready in under 30 minutes of baking time.
Mixer-Free Convenience: Simplicity is key! You won’t even need an electric mixer for this recipe. Everything is easily combined by hand.
One-Bowl Wonder: Cleanup is a breeze with this one-bowl recipe. Less time washing dishes, more time enjoying your delicious treats!
Baking Beginner-Friendly: This recipe is incredibly forgiving, making it nearly foolproof, even for novice bakers.
Unforgettably Delicious: Most importantly, food of the gods is simply irresistible. It strikes the perfect balance of sweetness, boasts a delightful chewiness, and delivers a nostalgic flavor that evokes cherished memories. It’s the ideal treat to serve or gift during the holidays.

How to Make Food of the Gods

Making this food of the gods recipe is wonderfully simple. You’ll only need 10 readily available ingredients, many of which are likely already in your pantry, such as unsalted butter, eggs, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Here are a few ingredient notes to keep in mind:

Maple Syrup: Maple syrup is used in this recipe, but you can substitute an equal amount of honey for a slightly different flavor profile.
Walnuts: Traditional food of the gods recipes call for chopped walnuts. However, feel free to experiment with other nuts like cashews or pistachios. Keep in mind that different nuts will impart subtly different flavors to your bars.

(Have leftover walnuts? Consider making delicious pakhlava!)

Essential Baking Tools

As mentioned earlier, this recipe is mixed by hand, so you won’t need an electric mixer. A spoon or spatula is ideal – avoid using a whisk as we want to minimize air incorporation into the batter. Food of the gods should have a dense, fudgy texture.

You will also need a 9×9 inch baking pan.

Step-by-Step Visual Guide

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang on the sides for easy removal.

Combine room temperature butter, tightly packed brown sugar, and maple syrup in a large mixing bowl.

Stir the mixture until well combined and creamy.

Incorporate the eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully mixed into the batter before adding the next.

Continue stirring until all wet ingredients are thoroughly combined, creating a smooth batter.

Sift all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt directly into the wet batter. Sifting prevents lumps and ensures a light texture.

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Add chopped walnuts (reserve about ½ cup for topping) and chopped dates to the batter.

Stir until the walnuts and dates are evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan.

Spread the sticky batter evenly in the pan.

Sprinkle the reserved walnuts over the top of the batter and gently press them down so they sink slightly into the batter.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow the baked food of the gods to cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, slice into squares and enjoy this divine treat!

Expert Baking Tips for Perfect Food of the Gods

Making food of the gods is similar to baking blondies. To ensure perfect results every time, remember these key tips:

Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Room temperature ingredients incorporate more easily, leading to a smoother batter and preventing overmixing.
Avoid Overmixing the Batter: Overmixing can result in cakey, rather than chewy, bars. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet just until they are combined. Use a wooden spoon or spatula instead of a whisk to minimize air in the batter, maintaining the desired dense texture of food of the gods.
Don’t Overbake: It’s better to slightly underbake food of the gods than to overbake them. They will continue to set as they cool in the pan. Overbaking will lead to dry and tough bars.

Recipe FAQs for Food of the Gods

How do I achieve a chewy texture for my food of the gods?

Dates are crucial for the signature chewiness of food of the gods. Also, be careful not to overbake them.

How can I keep food of the gods moist?

To maintain moisture and tenderness, ensure you use the correct flour amount, mix just until ingredients are blended, and avoid overbaking.

How long does food of the gods stay fresh?

Food of the gods can last up to a week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature, and up to a month in the refrigerator.

What’s the best way to wrap food of the gods for gifting?

For gift-giving, you can place the squares in cupcake liners and arrange them in a decorative box. Alternatively, wrap each square individually in food-grade cellophane for an elegant touch.

Other Filipino Holiday Favorites

Looking to expand your Noche Buena (Christmas Eve dinner) menu? Explore these other popular Filipino holiday treats:

[Mention other Filipino holiday favorites with links if available on foods.edu.vn]

Happy baking and happy holidays!

Did you try this food of the gods recipe? We’d love to hear about your baking experience! Leave a comment or a star rating below. Share your creations with us by tagging us on Instagram or Facebook. We can’t wait to see your delicious food of the gods!

Find more inspiration on Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube.

Food for the Gods Recipe

By: Jolina

Food for the gods, a popular Filipino specialty, is similar to butterscotch bars but elevated with dates and walnuts. Easy to make and exceptionally delicious!

Rating: 5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Filipino
Servings: 36 bars
Calories: 121 kcal

Equipment

9×9 inch baking pan
Mixing bowl
Spatula or spoon
Measuring cups and spoons
Parchment paper

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
¾ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup maple syrup (or honey)
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1½ cups chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped pitted dates

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×9 inch pan with parchment paper, with an overhang.
In a large bowl, combine room temperature butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup. Stir until creamy.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the wet ingredients. Fold gently until just combined.
Stir in walnuts (reserve ½ cup for topping) and dates until evenly distributed.
Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
Top with reserved walnuts, pressing them lightly into the batter.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice into squares.

Video

[Link to recipe video if available]

Recipe Notes

Yield depends on slice size; nutrition info is based on 36 bars.
See post for baking tips, FAQs, and step-by-step photos.

Nutrition

Nutritional information is an estimate.

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