diff --git a/homeassistant/helpers/config_validation.py b/homeassistant/helpers/config_validation.py
index 1e67effb97f..1be157c789d 100644
--- a/homeassistant/helpers/config_validation.py
+++ b/homeassistant/helpers/config_validation.py
@@ -244,6 +244,20 @@ def template(value):
         raise vol.Invalid('invalid template ({})'.format(ex))
 
 
+def template_complex(value):
+    """Validate a complex jinja2 template."""
+    if isinstance(value, list):
+        for idx, element in enumerate(value):
+            value[idx] = template_complex(element)
+        return value
+    if isinstance(value, dict):
+        for key, element in value.items():
+            value[key] = template_complex(element)
+        return value
+
+    return template(value)
+
+
 def time(value):
     """Validate time."""
     time_val = dt_util.parse_time(value)
@@ -310,7 +324,7 @@ SERVICE_SCHEMA = vol.All(vol.Schema({
     vol.Exclusive('service', 'service name'): service,
     vol.Exclusive('service_template', 'service name'): template,
     vol.Optional('data'): dict,
-    vol.Optional('data_template'): {match_all: template},
+    vol.Optional('data_template'): {match_all: template_complex},
     vol.Optional(CONF_ENTITY_ID): entity_ids,
 }), has_at_least_one_key('service', 'service_template'))
 
diff --git a/homeassistant/helpers/service.py b/homeassistant/helpers/service.py
index b594889fd77..21cfb0aab54 100644
--- a/homeassistant/helpers/service.py
+++ b/homeassistant/helpers/service.py
@@ -63,9 +63,21 @@ def call_from_config(hass, config, blocking=False, variables=None,
     domain, service_name = domain_service.split('.', 1)
     service_data = dict(config.get(CONF_SERVICE_DATA, {}))
 
+    def _data_template_creator(value):
+        """Recursive template creator helper function."""
+        if isinstance(value, list):
+            for idx, element in enumerate(value):
+                value[idx] = _data_template_creator(element)
+            return value
+        if isinstance(value, dict):
+            for key, element in value.items():
+                value[key] = _data_template_creator(element)
+            return value
+        return template.render(hass, value, variables)
+
     if CONF_SERVICE_DATA_TEMPLATE in config:
         for key, value in config[CONF_SERVICE_DATA_TEMPLATE].items():
-            service_data[key] = template.render(hass, value, variables)
+            service_data[key] = _data_template_creator(value)
 
     if CONF_SERVICE_ENTITY_ID in config:
         service_data[ATTR_ENTITY_ID] = config[CONF_SERVICE_ENTITY_ID]
diff --git a/tests/helpers/test_config_validation.py b/tests/helpers/test_config_validation.py
index 637d5ead0b7..d9da2c51da7 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/test_config_validation.py
+++ b/tests/helpers/test_config_validation.py
@@ -299,9 +299,7 @@ def test_template():
     """Test template validator."""
     schema = vol.Schema(cv.template)
 
-    for value in (
-        None, '{{ partial_print }', '{% if True %}Hello', {'dict': 'isbad'}
-    ):
+    for value in (None, '{{ partial_print }', '{% if True %}Hello', ['test']):
         with pytest.raises(vol.MultipleInvalid):
             schema(value)
 
@@ -313,6 +311,24 @@ def test_template():
         schema(value)
 
 
+def test_template_complex():
+    """Test template_complex validator."""
+    schema = vol.Schema(cv.template_complex)
+
+    for value in (None, '{{ partial_print }', '{% if True %}Hello'):
+        with pytest.raises(vol.MultipleInvalid):
+            schema(value)
+
+    for value in (
+        1, 'Hello',
+        '{{ beer }}',
+        '{% if 1 == 1 %}Hello{% else %}World{% endif %}',
+        {'test': 1, 'test': '{{ beer }}'},
+        ['{{ beer }}', 1]
+    ):
+        schema(value)
+
+
 def test_time_zone():
     """Test time zone validation."""
     schema = vol.Schema(cv.time_zone)
diff --git a/tests/helpers/test_service.py b/tests/helpers/test_service.py
index 5372b6a77d4..34f321776d6 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/test_service.py
+++ b/tests/helpers/test_service.py
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ class TestServiceHelpers(unittest.TestCase):
             'entity_id': 'hello.world',
             'data_template': {
                 'hello': '{{ \'goodbye\' }}',
+                'data': {
+                    'value': '{{ \'complex\' }}',
+                    'simple': 'simple'
+                },
+                'list': ['{{ \'list\' }}', '2'],
             },
         }
         runs = []
@@ -54,6 +59,9 @@ class TestServiceHelpers(unittest.TestCase):
         self.hass.pool.block_till_done()
 
         self.assertEqual('goodbye', runs[0].data['hello'])
+        self.assertEqual('complex', runs[0].data['data']['value'])
+        self.assertEqual('simple', runs[0].data['data']['simple'])
+        self.assertEqual('list', runs[0].data['list'][0])
 
     def test_passing_variables_to_templates(self):
         """Test passing variables to templates."""