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Old Fashioned Date Balls

Old fashioned date balls combine a gently cooked date mixture with crisp rice cereal and chopped pecans for a chewy, crunchy bite. Roll each 1-inch ball in sweetened coconut for a classic no-bake treat.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Cooling time 15 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the date balls
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg large
  • 8 oz dates pitted, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups crisp rice cereal
  • 1 cup pecans chopped
For coating
  • 1 cup coconut sweetened, shredded

Method
 

Make the date mixture
  1. Combine the butter, sugar, egg, and dates in a medium saucepan.
  2. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 8 to 12 minutes, until the dates soften, the mixture thickens, and it reaches 160°F.
  3. Remove the pan from the heat.
  4. Stir in the vanilla, crisp rice cereal, and pecans until evenly combined.
  5. Let the mixture cool until comfortable to handle, about 15 minutes.
Shape and coat
  1. Put the coconut in a shallow bowl.
  2. Shape the date mixture into 1-inch balls.
  3. Roll each ball in the coconut to coat.

Notes

For easier shaping, let the mixture cool until comfortable to handle before rolling. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months. For a gluten-free option, use certified gluten-free crisp rice cereal.