Classic Date Ball Recipe in Celebration of the Season
December is filled with holiday merriment, parties, feasts and lots and lots of Christmas cookies! For those that are celebrating with a good old fashioned cookie exchange, or simply for those that love to bake and enjoy cookies over the season, Sphinx Date Co. shares a classic date ball recipe in celebration of the holidays!
Date balls are believed to have originated in the Middle East and they remain a time-honored tradition with many variations depending on the household. Some are dusted in powdered sugar while others are rolled with coconut flakes. Regardless of how they are made, puffed rice or crispy rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies, is a key component. The great part about any date ball recipe is that there is no baking involved — so it’s a great recipe to make, and a great tradition to start, with the kids this holiday! The basics of a classic date ball recipe are as follows:
Ingredients:
8 oz. fresh dates, pitted
½ c. butter
1 c. granulated sugar
3 c. crispy rice cereal (get creative with varieties such as cocoa, frosted or cinnamon sugar Rice Krispies)
1 c. chopped nuts of choice (such as pecans, walnuts or pistachios)
1 tsp. vanilla, almond or orange extract
½ c. confectioners’ sugar or coconut flakes for rolling
Directions:
- Add dates, sugar and butter to a medium saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar fully dissolves
- In a large bowl, add crispy rice cereal, nuts and vanilla or extract of choice
- Remove date mixture from heat and slowly fold into the crispy rice mixture
- Pour confectioners’ sugar or coconut flakes into a shallow bowl
- Roll date/rice mixture into golf-ball size, then roll into confectioners’ sugar or coconut flakes
- Place on wax paper to set until all mixture is used. Then store or enjoy!
This recipe makes about 24 date balls and they can be easily whipped together to give as a hostess gift or to add to a charcuterie board as a sweet treat.
For fresh and delicious dates to make these cookies, or to gift to friends and loved ones this season, stop into Sphinx Date Co. Palm & Pantry or shop online at sphinxdateranch.com.