I have a great clutch of Christmas recipes hiding in my box that I pull out every year and they are like home to me. The touch of the weathered cards, the loved ones hand writing that reminds me of years gone by and my own childhood. Baking Christmas cookies with and for my children is one of my favorite things to do. This delicious date nut balls recipe isn’t technically a cookie, nor do you have to turn on your oven, but it is delicious. This is one that my husband and I do together most of the time since the mixture is VERY hot and it not safe for little hands!
Delicious Date Nut Balls
Ingredients:
1 Package of Chopped Dates (a 10 or 8 oz size is fine)
1 Stick of Butter
1 C Sugar
1 Egg
1 T Vanilla
1 C Chopped Pecans
2 C Rice Krispies Cereal
Directions:
In a pot, mix the dates, butter (I slice mine up in to smaller pieces), sugar, and egg. Start cooking the mixture over medium-low heat and allow to come to a low boil for about 10 minutes. Stir in the vanilla. You will want it to become soft and the dates to be broken down slightly. YOU MUST STIR CONTINUALLY WHILE IT IS COOKING! Otherwise you will have a burned batch and will have to start all over again, trust me I speak from experience on this subject. In a large bowl mix the the chopped pecans and cereal together and pour the date mixture over top and combine. Be warned, you will not be able to just start making balls immediately since the mix will be VERY hot. When it is cool enough to handle, roll into small balls and roll and coat in powdered sugar.
I hope that you enjoy all of our Christmas recipes that Lake Country Family Fun has been posting!
I have been making this recipe for many years, at Christmas time as well, although I use walnuts instead of pecans and roll the balls in coconut instead of confectionery sugar. I will try your recipe, I believe I would like it as well.
Same here. They are called Ding Batts. My family made them every Christmas for over sixty years, and my grandmother long before that.
Yes is a favourite in our house and I colour half coconut red and the other half green! Very Christmassy
What’s the trick in getting them to form a ball? I did per directions and there is no way they are staying together! It’s more like a granola. Any advice? TIA
Try adding more dates.
Make sure you’re cooking it long enough in the low boil. If you shorten the time it doesn’t seem to hold in my experience.
I used to make these each year at Christmas time! This was during the years 1973until 1985. After my first husband divorced me, I never cooked the same again. My second husband was a diabetic so I could not cook many sweets because he didn’t control his eating!
Could I use oatmeal instead of rice crispies?
We haven’t tried that, but we always love to experiment! Give it a try!
I have been making these for years, however for the past several years I can’t get them to stick together. They fall apart!!! What am I doing wrong??? Please help we love these.
Hi Barbara –
I’m not sure why they’d be falling apart recently. Double check the ingredients and the measurements, because the ratios matter for them sticking together.
I’m having issues getting mine to stick together also. I did per directions with correct measurements. 🤷🏻♀️
I read on another recipe blog that if you are trying to use already chopped dates, because they are coated with something that prevents them from getting tacky and sticking together in the packaging, it will also cause them to not stick once cooked in this recipe. You have to buy whole dates and chop the yourself. I use a food processor to chop mine.
Thank you! I will chop them myself next round. Now what to do with this that won’t stick together? Lol
I just made them and there is no way they will stick together. It’s like a granola texture. Not sure what to do.
I’ve made this at Christmas since the 70’s, but in the last 4 years I can’t get them to stick together either. It is very frustrating. I think it must have to do with the dates. Something has changed in their texture or processing. I know the packaging has changed. So, I have given up making them. They are the favorites of my grown children, but they have tried making them with the same poor results. My daughter added marshmallow cream to the mixture that wouldn’t stick this Christmas. It worked! They were delicious and very close to the same taste. Carol
Try buying whole dates and chipping then yourself.
I let the mixture cool too much I’m assuming and had a very difficult time getting them to form
a ball. They taste good but are hard. What do I need to do next time I make this recipe?