Date and coconut balls

No Bake Date and Coconut Balls

 Date balls are simple to make and require no baking.  For those of you who haven’t eaten dates before, or are not mad about the idea of eating them, I can assure you that these delightfully sweet balls of boiled dates, butter, sugar, and biscuit encased in coconut, are little tastes of heaven.

 

 

I love the fact that the dates and the coconut come from the beautiful Palms grown in Africa. Coconut Palms are found growing throughout the tropics and are in abundance on the Mozambique coastline and the Bazaruto Archipelago, one of our favourite holiday destinations.

Dates are the fruit of the Desert Palm tree and are found growing in the desert and around oases in Morocco and Egypt, as well as the Middle East,  where they are described as “the tree of Life”.  Unlike other trees, a date palm yields more fruit as it gets older.

 

Melt the butter and sugar until all the sugar is dissolved and then cool slightly before adding the egg. Whisk in the egg quickly so that it doesnt start cooking in the mixture because then you will get a scrambled egg mixture . Add the dates and return the mixture to the stove.  Keep stirring until all the dates have cooked into the buttery mixture. Add vanilla.  Cool slightly and only then add the crushed biscuits.  Roll the mixture into balls with your hands and drop into a bowl of dessicated coconut.  These can be stored for weeks in a sealed container.

4.6 from 5 votes
Date and Coconut Balls
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 
Course: Dessert and Baking
Author: Ev
Ingredients
  • 3/4 packet of Marie biscuits , crushed (Graham Crackers is a good substitute if in the USA, or slightly sweet substitute)
  • 125 gms butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup of pitted dates
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
  1. Melt the butter and sugar at medium heat.
  2. Stir constantly so that the sugar doesnt burn.
  3. Move off the stove , cool slightly and add the beaten egg.
  4. Whisk quickly so that the egg doesnt cook .
  5. If the mixuture is too hot the egg will turn to scrambled egg consistency
  6. Add the chopped up dates and boil for 10 minutes, stirring all the time,
  7. until the dates cook down into the sugary mixture
  8. Add the vanilla
  9. Cool , then add the crushed biscutis.
  10. Roll into balls and coat with coconut.
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13 Comments

  • Reply Carol Gary September 11, 2012 at 10:15 PM

    Looks really yummy…I love the picture of the date palm. I don’t think I have seen one of those before…

  • Reply photecstasy September 15, 2012 at 2:08 AM

    Hey there! Just going through our blogroll for Behind the Scenes and adding everyone in the class to my bookmark folders. You are SO amazing with your photography as you capture your delicious creations! Wow, your food is so artistic, and then the capture of the imagery is equally artistic… just so impressive! I love your blog!

  • Reply Dee Harris April 28, 2014 at 10:04 PM

    Made a batch this evening, a birthday gift. I used rice crispies instead of biscuit in an attempt to keep it gluten free. Very tasty with a crunch.

    • Reply Ev April 29, 2014 at 10:47 AM

      That sounds such a good idea – thanks for sharing, and I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe

  • Reply Vanessa November 17, 2014 at 10:02 PM

    Made these a few times and the kids love them

  • Reply Eatingeasy November 17, 2014 at 10:04 PM

    These are really great. So easy to make and the children are unawRe of the dates in them. They lovely and sweet. Fantastic recipe

  • Reply Fiona November 17, 2014 at 10:06 PM

    I love these because they are no bake and so easy

  • Reply Sharyn Sassen June 23, 2016 at 3:48 PM

    Just made these. Yum!! My mom used to make these for us as kids and I’ve been looking online for the same recipe. Happy to find it here.
    Thanks Ev.
    So easy and the kids love them.

    • Reply Shades of Cinnamon June 23, 2016 at 9:32 PM

      Sharyn I am so glad you enjoyed them. Its so great finding a childhood recipe, and I am happy that mine is similar to your moms. xxx

  • Reply Lianne July 9, 2018 at 12:40 PM

    Hi there, cant wait to make these. How many balls does this recipe make?

    • Reply Shades of Cinnamon July 9, 2018 at 6:51 PM

      Hi Lianne, It makes about 15 balls, obviously depending on the size you make them. They are quite sweet so they are great as a two bite size.

  • Reply Nawaal May 8, 2019 at 11:01 AM

    I ommit the sugar or sometimes substitute with coconut blossom sugar , i also add coconut in the recipe as well , wonderful! Theres also gluten free marie biscuits on the market these days !

    • Reply Shades of Cinnamon May 9, 2019 at 7:57 AM

      Oh wow I did not know that. Fantastic I will be on the look out for them.

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