Rice Krispy Coconut Date Ball Cookies – No Bake Recipe
These rice Krispy coconut date ball cookies are the ultimate classic grandma recipe. They feature a timeless combo of crunchy rice Krispies and ooey-gooey delicious date center covered in flaked coconut. They are a no bake cookie, but don’t let that lower your expectations for this bite-sized treat, they will soon be a family favorite!
There is something so special about family recipes being passed on for generations. Since I was a young child helping my mom roll these coconut date balls, they have been my absolute favorite cookie. This recipe was originally my grandma’s who shared it with my mom, who in turn shared it with me. Now I make it for my own children! Whenever I make them for anyone, they fondly say their grandma used to make a cookie like this. Which is why I refer to it as the ultimate classic grandma recipe.
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Why You’ll Love These Rice Krispy Coconut Date Ball Cookies :
- No Bake – This is a no bake treat meaning you won’t have to heat up your oven, and in turn won’t warm up your house which is especially nice in warm summer months.
- Simple Ingredients – this recipe takes fairly simple ingredients that are easy to grab from your pantry!
- Gluten Free – These easy date balls are a great gluten free option. That’s right, this recipe only contains Rice Krispies which are generally gluten free!
- Quick to make – since this recipe requires no bake time, it is fairly quick to bake!
- Customizable – you can add mix-ins at the end of the recipe if you’d like. nuts, chocolate chips, or even dried fruit would be a great addition! If you are not a fan of coconut, you can coat these rice krispie date balls with chopped nuts in place of the shredded coconut.
- Make into bars – If you’re wanting to make this recipe extra fast, you can press the rice Krispy mixture into a pan and press the shredded coconut onto the top.
- Storage – they freeze really well. Just place in a Ziploc freezer bag and freeze up to one month.
- Dates – dates are a nutrient-dense food. These cookies are an excellent way to consume more dates.
Why You Should Be Eating Dates:
Nutrient Dense: This little powerhouse fruit is nutrient-dense. Some of the nutritional highlights of dates are: easily digestible sugars, packed full of fiber, micronutrients, and antioxidants. ( to name a few).
Vitamins & Minerals: Dates contain many vitamins and minerals including most b-group vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, and even 23 different amino acids.
Dates During Pregnancy: Dates are suggested to be eaten daily during late pregnancy to help soften woman’s cervix for labor and reduce the length of time in labor. Not everyone loves consuming dates, so these cookies are an excellent way to hide the dates while receiving the benefits.
How To Use LEss Sugar:
If you’re wanting to munch on these frequently, serve them for breakfast, or use as a pregnancy snack there are a few ways to use less sugar in this recipe and make them more blood sugar friendly.
- You can coat them in sugar-free flaked coconut
- You can cut the sugar in the recipe in half, this recipe still works if you do that.
- You can use coconut sugar or honey. I prefer coconut sugar because it doesn’t have as strong of a flavor as honey.
How To Make Rice Krispy Coconut Date Ball Cookies
Traditionally, we make these little bites during the winter holiday season, but they are fabulous cookies to make year-round! Make for everyday eating, holiday parties, picnics, potlucks, they store and freeze so well they are a great cookie for any occasion!
Ingredients:
Rice Krispy Cereal
Sugar: white sugar or cane sugar will work
Butter
Eggs
Whole Dates – we use Deglet Noor dates but other dates like Medjool will work. (store-bought prechopped dates aren’t recommended as they are more dry.)
Sweetened Flaked Coconut: for a little less sugar, use unsweetened coconut
Salt
Vanilla extract – store bought or homemade
Milk – 1%, 2% or whole.
Tools You May Need:
Food Processor (if desired in place of knife and cutting board)
Large saucepan
How To Make Rice Krispy Coconut Date Ball Cookies
Finely chop dates either using a knife or a food processor
Crack egg into small bowl and beat well with a whisk.
Combine butter, sugar, milk, and salt into the saucepan and cook on low heat until the butter is melted
When butter is melted but not too hot, beat in egg quickly ( this is to avoid cooking the egg solid)
Raise temperature to medium heat and stir constantly until mixture is hot, bubbly, and non-grainy.
Remove from heat
Stir in vanilla, pre-chopped dates, and rice Krispy cereal, mix well
Cool slightly, until able to handle comfortably
Pour flaked coconut into a separate bowl or shallow dish
Butter hands or use a pair of gloves and roll by hand into 1-inch balls
Drop cookies into the coconut flakes and roll or shake around to thoroughly coat
Set aside onto plate or parchment paper lined sheet pan until ready to store or eat
Make into bars: If you’re wanting to make this recipe extra fast, you can press the rice Krispy mixture into a pan and press the shredded coconut onto the top.
Mix-ins: you can add mix-ins at the end of the recipe if you’d like. nuts, chocolate chips, or even dried fruit would be a great addition!
If you are not a fan of coconut, you can coat these rice krispie date balls with chopped nuts in place of the shredded coconut.
Storage:
Store dates balls covered in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to eat, up to one week. To freeze, just place in a Ziploc freezer bag and freeze up to one month. OR flash freeze on parchment or wax paper lined cookie sheet in freezer for 1 hour (or until solid) then vacuum seal and store in freezer up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before eating.
Rice Krispy Coconut Date Ball Cookies - No Bake Recipe
These rice Krispy coconut date ball cookies are the ultimate classic grandma recipe. They feature a timeless combo of crunchy rice Krispies and ooey-gooey delicious date center covered in flaked coconut. They are a no bake cookies, but don’t let that lower your expectations for this bite-sized treat, they are a family favorite!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- 1/2 cup Butter
- 1 tbsp Milk – 1%, 2% or whole.
- 1 Egg - well beaten
- 1 cup Whole Dates –Deglet Noor or Medjool will work. (store-bought prechopped dates aren't recommended as they are more dry.)
- 2 cups Sweetened Flaked Coconut
- 1/ 8 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 2 cups Rice Krispy Cereal
Instructions
- Finely chop dates either using a knife or a food processor
- Crack egg into small bowl and beat well with a whisk
- Combine butter, sugar, milk, and salt into the saucepan and cook on low heat until the butter is melted
- When butter is melted but not too hot, beat in egg quickly ( this is to avoid cooking the egg solid.
- Raise temperature to medium heat and stir constantly until mixture is hot, bubbly, and non-grainy.
- Remove from heat
- Stir in vanilla, pre-chopped dates, and rice Krispy cereal, mix well
- Cool slightly, until able to handle comfortably
- Pour flaked coconut into a separate bowl or shallow dish
- Butter hands or use a pair of gloves and roll by hand into 1-inch balls
- Drop cookies into the coconut flakes and roll or shake around to thoroughly coat
- Set aside onto plate or parchment paper lined sheet pan until ready to store or eat
Notes
Coconut: for a little less sugar, use unsweetened coconut
Dates: Deglet Noor or Medjool will work for this recipe.
Store-bought prechopped dates aren't recommended as they are more dry.
Make into bars: If you’re wanting to make this recipe extra fast, you can press the rice Krispy mixture into a pan and press the shredded coconut onto the top.
Mix-ins: you can add mix-ins at the end of the recipe if you’d like. nuts, chocolate chips, or even dried fruit would be a great addition!
If you are not a fan of coconut, you can coat these rice krispie date balls with chopped nuts in place of the shredded coconut.
Storage:
Store dates balls covered in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to eat, up to one week. To freeze, just place in a Ziploc freezer bag and freeze up to one month. OR flash freeze on parchment or wax paper lined cookie sheet in freezer for 1 hour (or until solid) then vacuum seal and store in freezer up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before eating.
References:
Nutritional Content of Dates (Including Medjool Dates)
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This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy here.
