diff --git a/homeassistant/util/template.py b/homeassistant/util/template.py
index d9b1990a252..3774e9bb898 100644
--- a/homeassistant/util/template.py
+++ b/homeassistant/util/template.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from jinja2.sandbox import ImmutableSandboxedEnvironment
 
 from homeassistant.const import STATE_UNKNOWN
 from homeassistant.exceptions import TemplateError
+import homeassistant.util.dt as dt_util
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 _SENTINEL = object()
@@ -45,7 +46,9 @@ def render(hass, template, variables=None, **kwargs):
         return ENV.from_string(template, {
             'states': AllStates(hass),
             'is_state': hass.states.is_state,
-            'is_state_attr': hass.states.is_state_attr
+            'is_state_attr': hass.states.is_state_attr,
+            'now': dt_util.now,
+            'utcnow': dt_util.utcnow,
         }).render(kwargs).strip()
     except jinja2.TemplateError as err:
         raise TemplateError(err)
diff --git a/tests/util/test_template.py b/tests/util/test_template.py
index 09e0e154888..a3b680c71eb 100644
--- a/tests/util/test_template.py
+++ b/tests/util/test_template.py
@@ -6,8 +6,11 @@ Tests Home Assistant template util methods.
 """
 # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
 import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
 from homeassistant.exceptions import TemplateError
 from homeassistant.util import template
+import homeassistant.util.dt as dt_util
 
 from tests.common import get_test_home_assistant
 
@@ -143,3 +146,19 @@ class TestUtilTemplate(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(
             'unknown',
             template.render(self.hass, '{{ states("test.object2") }}'))
+
+    @patch('homeassistant.core.dt_util.now', return_value=dt_util.now())
+    @patch('homeassistant.util.template.TemplateEnvironment.is_safe_callable',
+           return_value=True)
+    def test_now_function(self, mock_is_safe, mock_now):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            dt_util.now().isoformat(),
+            template.render(self.hass, '{{ now().isoformat() }}'))
+
+    @patch('homeassistant.core.dt_util.utcnow', return_value=dt_util.utcnow())
+    @patch('homeassistant.util.template.TemplateEnvironment.is_safe_callable',
+           return_value=True)
+    def test_utcnow_function(self, mock_is_safe, mock_utcnow):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            dt_util.utcnow().isoformat(),
+            template.render(self.hass, '{{ utcnow().isoformat() }}'))