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Coconut Date Balls

An old fashioned sweet treat made of mashed dates, pecans and Rice Krispies, rolled in sweetened coconut or powdered sugar.

As far as recipes go, retro or old fashioned recipes are very appealing to me. Maybe it is the nostalgia factor, picturing wives and grandmas of yesteryear making the foods they grew up with for their loved ones. Case in point, my Great Grandma’s Famous Jimmy Cake. I find those sorts of recipes really charming.

Date Balls are a wonderful, delicious treat. I urge you to try them out for Christmas. If you aren’t a fan of coconut, simply roll the date balls in powdered sugar instead. My mother prefers the powdered sugar actually.

Coconut Date Balls
Date Balls with Coconut

Coconut Date Balls

An old fashioned sweet treat made of mashed dates, pecans and Rice Krispies, rolled in sweetened coconut or powdered sugar.
4.60 from 5 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 30 balls
Calories 107 kcal

Equipment

  • Medium Cookie Scoop (2 Tbsp.)
  • Parchment Paper Sheets
  • Baking Sheet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup chopped dates
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 3 cups Rice Krispies
  • Shredded coconut for rolling OR powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Melt butter in skillet, add eggs, sugar and dates. Cook over low heat until thickened, about 10 minutes. (Keep the heat low so you don’t scorch or scramble the egg mixture) Slowly mash the dates while cooking. Cook until the mixture is thickened and the date pieces are small from all the mashing. Turn off heat.
  • Add pecans, vanilla and Rice Krispies and stir well.
  • While warm, use a lightly sprayed medium cookie scoop (2 Tablespoons) and portion out balls. Roll in coconut or powdered sugar, your preference. Place on parchment lined baking sheets and allow to set.

Notes

If you don’t use a cookie scoop and use your hands instead, keep your hands lightly moist while rolling so the mixture doesn’t stick to your hands. Keep a small water bowl nearby to keep your hands moistened. Take care not to drop excess liquid into the coconut or else it might have trouble sticking to the date balls.
Nutritional info does not include coconut or powdered sugar for rolling as amounts will vary.

Nutrition

Calories: 107kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 20mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 299IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg
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Recipe from Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen.

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11 Comments

  1. My Aunt Elsie…. Made these for family get-togethers and for the Cafe Motel there at Aladdin Wyoming 1960 at Christmas…

    1. I love recipes that we remember our relatives making, especially for the holiday season. Thank you for sharing. 🙂

  2. Oh my gosh!!! I’m so disappointed because they didn’t set up. I stirred them over low heat until they looked thicker, and stirred everything else into them. They never set. 😭😭😭 It’s a humid day, so maybe that’s why.

    1. Sorry to hear that Katy. That is so interesting because when I made them, they leaned more towards the other way, where they set up firmly, but where I live it is not humid so your guess is as good as mine. 🙁

  3. 5 stars
    My maternal Grandmother made these every Christmas since before I was born (1957). I had these every year and when I moved out of State and got married she would ship me a huge canister of Christmas cookies, and there were always twice as many of these as any other type. She has been gone these 20 years, but all it takes are these to bring her back to me.

    1. Hi Richard – Ty for sharing that memory. Food has a way to bring back those nice memories and I’m glad you have that for your Grandmother.

    1. I can’t say for sure as I haven’t tried to, but other date ball recipes recommend placing them on a tray and freezing (so they don’t stick together). Then once fully frozen, transfer to your freezer container.