Nothing says Christmas like Mama Rosa’s Date Nut Balls. These crisp balls of juicy dates, tropical coconut, and chopped pecans are covered in powdered sugar. The perfect holiday bite-size dessert snack!
I did not lie when I said you would not find holiday baking here. I said I wasn’t baking, but I didn’t say anything about David not getting into the Christmas spirit.
Years ago, David’s mama moved to Ohio to live with his sister. He didn’t see her at Christmas for many years and missed her a lot.
It doesn’t feel like Christmas without her delicious Date Nut Balls. When David’s mama first moved, he called his mama to get her recipe so he could make date nut balls himself. Each year, he takes it upon himself to make them each Christmas so that he feels closer to his mama during the holiday season.
David’s mama passed away this past spring. So this Christmas is more difficult for him than in past years. These delicious holiday cookies will mean more than they ever have.
Ingredients Needed To Make Date Nut Balls
To be clear, this is not a healthy snack like those date energy balls with protein powder; they are more like cookie dough, loaded with fat, sugar, and extra carbs. The recipe card at the end of this post lists the full ingredient list with measurements.
Dates: whole dates pitted and chopped. We highly recommend Medjool dates because they have a softer and chewier texture than regular dates, which are sweet and have a caramel-like taste. Their flavor is hard to beat. Regular dates are harder and sometimes need to be soaked to reconstitute them.
Butter: use a stick of unsalted butter to control the salinity of the nut balls.
Crisp Rice Cereal: Rice Krispies cereal, the kind that goes “Snap! Crackle! Pop!”
Coconut: sweetened, shredded coconut.
Sugar: You’ll need about a cup of light brown and confectionery sugars. The brown sugar is for melting into the sticky balls, and the confectionery sugar is for coating the outside of the date balls.
Nuts: chopped pecans
How To Make Date Nut Balls
This recipe is fairly easy to make, but it does take a little patience so you won’t burn yourself when forming the balls. Here’s a basic overview of how to make date nut balls. The recipe card at the end of this post provides detailed instructions with times and temperatures.
Step One: Cook the Dates
Mix the chopped dates, butter, and brown sugar and cook in a saucepan until the dates are tender and mashed.
Step Two: Combine
Stir in the pecans and coconut and mix well, then remove the mixture from heat. Stir in the Rice Krispies.
Step Three: Form the Balls
Roll the mixture into balls quickly while the mixture is still warm. The balls should be about 1 ½ to 2 inches in diameter, about 20 date nut balls.
Step 4: Coat in Powdered Sugar
Allow the date nut balls to cool completely, then roll them in powdered sugar to coat.
Storage
Place the date nut balls into a zip-top bag or airtight container. They can be kept at room temperature, but we think they are best cold out of the fridge!
We do not recommend freezing the date nut balls because the rice crispies get too soft after they thaw.
Recipe Tips
- Allow the mixture to cool slightly before rolling into balls.
- Wet your hands to keep the mixture from sticking to them while forming the balls. Just make sure you fling the excess water off so it doesn’t affect the consistency of the date nut balls.
- Place the uncoated balls onto a platter or on parchment paper to keep them from sticking to each other. They will stick to each other until coated with the powdered sugar.
- Cooling the date nut balls completely before coating them with sugar is important. Dipping warm balls will melt the confectionery sugar.
- We find pouring the confectionery sugar into a small bowl with steep sides easier when trying to coat the balls. Drop two or three balls into the sugar bowl and roll around to coat. Coat the balls well so they won’t stick to each other.
- For best results, refrigerate overnight before serving.
- These holiday treats survive shipping very well. Send them to friends and family who can’t be with you this holiday!
Recipe FAQs
It is not recommended to use coconut flakes. The flakes of coconut are too large and will not mix well with the other ingredients.
No, even if you do not use Medjool dates, you do not need to soak the dates. The heat from the stove will help them to soften.
Dates are most often found in the produce section of your grocery store or on the snack aisle.
This is what makes Christmas special: keeping memories alive and sharing them with others. This is what Christmas means to David.
What treat makes Christmas CHRISTMAS to you? Comment below!
Mama Rosa’s Date Nut Balls
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole dates pitted and chopped
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 1 cup shredded coconut (sweetened)
- 1 cup light brown sugar not packed
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- ¼ cup powdered sugar to coat
Instructions
- Mix dates, butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook on low heat until dates are tender and mashed.
- Add pecans and coconut. Remove from heat.
- Gently stir in the Rice Krispies cereal. Stir well.
- Cool to touch, but make the balls as soon as possible while the mixture is still warm. (see notes)
- Cool the date nut balls completely, then roll the balls in powdered sugar. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate overnight.
Notes
- Allow the mixture to cool slightly before rolling into balls.
- Wet your hands to keep the mixture from sticking to them while forming the balls. Just make sure you fling the excess water off so it doesn’t affect the consistency of the date nut balls.
- Place the uncoated balls onto a platter or on parchment paper to keep them from sticking to each other. They will stick to each other until coated with the powdered sugar.
- Cooling the date nut balls completely before coating them with sugar is important. Dipping warm balls will melt the confectionery sugar.
- We find pouring the confectionery sugar into a small bowl with steep sides easier when trying to coat the balls. Drop two or three balls into the sugar bowl and roll around to coat. Coat the balls well so they won’t stick to each other.
- For best results, refrigerate overnight before serving.
Robin Heath says
Hi. I have a friend who’s late wife used to make these for him. This will be my first time making anything remotely like this! I want to surprise him with these as he’s been really incredible for me these past few years when I’ve needed a friend the most. He’s apparently addicted to this treat! 😆 I just wanted to clarify one thing….on the coconut, is that sweetened or unsweetened coconut? I really want to make sure these turn out perfectly! Thank you!
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Robin! You have a great question. We used sweetened coconut by Baker’s found in the baking aisle of the grocery store. I have updated the recipe to reflect the change. It is so nice of you to treat your friend. I hope he will enjoy the Date Nut Balls. Thanks so much for stopping by The Mountain Kitchen!
Lynne Craig says
I have made these b4 but rolling them in 10x sugar puts them over the top!
The Mountain Kitchen says
Just don’t inhale while eating them, Lynne…lol! Thanks for commenting and the 5-star rating! 🙂
Donna Powell says
This is the same recipe that I’ve used for years. Dromedary chopped dates was the brand name I have always used but they have stopped making this product. Could you tell me the brand name of dates that you use. I have had trouble in the past with dates not melting properly or has a off taste. Thanks so much.
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Donna! I usually purchase Bard Valley Natural Delights. They aren’t that cheap, but they are the best quality in my opinion. Enjoy the Date Nut Balls!
Sally Webber says
Awesome !!!!!
Valerie says
If I do not want to add the coconut, do I alter the other ingredients any?
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Valerie, I’m not sure because we have never made them without the coconut. I don’t think I would alter any other ingredients. Good luck!
John Hance says
Can you use margarine in place of butter?
The Mountain Kitchen says
Yes, John, you can use margarine if that’s what you prefer. Enjoy the date nut balls!