Easy No-Bake Date Balls Recipe
This no-bake date balls recipe is easy to make and creates a treat full of buttery richness, gooey dates, and crunchy Rice Krispies.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound chopped dates
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg, slighlty beaten
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 3 cups crisp rice cereal
- shredded, unsweetened coconut
Instructions
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring to a boil the dates, butter, and sugar. Note: If using whole dates, make sure they are chopped finely so they will easily melt into the mixture.
- Beat the egg, milk, vanilla, and salt in a small bowl, then slowly add it to the saucepan while stirring constantly to avoid scrambling the egg. Boil for 2 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and let the mixture cool slightly (just enough to handle without burning).
- Gently fold in the crisp rice cereal until evenly coated with the date mixture. Work quickly because it gets more difficult to stir as it cools. Note: I always use Rice Krispies. I have tried store brand before and the date balls don’t turn out quite as crisp.
- Scoop out small portions of the mixture (about 1 teaspoon each) and roll them into balls using your hands.
- Roll the balls in unsweetened coconut. The sticky dough allows the shredded coconut to stick to the outside. For added flavor, use toasted coconut.
- Place the date balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let them cool completely. For a firmer texture, refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
- Store date balls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or in the refrigerator for longer freshness. Place a piece of parchment paper between each layer so they won’t stick together.