Rice Krispie Date Balls

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These Rice Krispie Date Balls are an old fashioned holiday cookie with only seven ingredients! These no-bake cookies are made with dates, nuts, rice krispies, and coconut for a chewy and crunchy bite. They've been a family favorite treat for so many years.

These tasty treats have just 7 ingredients and are simple to make! Measure, stir, scoop, and roll, that's all there is to it! Sweetened with dried dates and coconut with the crispy crunch of Rice Krispies and pecans, my mom's recipe is one of those vintage treats that brings back the best memories.

Also called a Date Cookie, Date Rice Krispie Balls, Date Nut Balls, Coconut Krispie Date Balls, and Coconut Date Balls, they're perfect served at holiday parties or added to a goodie box of treats. If you're looking for more quick and easy treats to add to your holiday goodie boxes, be sure to check out my Best Graham Cracker Toffee and Caramel Chex Mix!

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Table of Contents

Why You'll Love this Recipe

Easy and Quick: With only 7 simple ingredients, this delicious treat is a basic recipe that can be whipped up in 15 minutes.
No Bake Holiday Treats: You don't have to heat the house up for this sweet treat or you can make them while you're baking other goodies.
Make Ahead Ease: These can be made stored at room temperature and remain fresh for weeks! They also freeze well.
Crispy, Chewy & Sweet: The sweetness of the dates, sugar, and coconut with the rich butter and crispy cereal makes for a delicious combination!

Ingredients

Scroll down for specific ingredient amounts in the recipe card.

Chopped Dates: Serves as the primary sweetener in the recipe. They contribute natural sweetness and a chewy texture.
Pecans: Adds a nutty flavor and a crunchy texture to the date balls. They complement the sweetness of the dates.
Granulated Sugar: Provides additional sweetness to the date balls.
Egg: Acts as a binding agent, helping to hold the ingredients together.
Salted Butter: Helps to hold the ingredients together and gives the date balls a rich and buttery flavor.
Rice Krispies: Crispy rice cereal provides the crunchy texture to the date nut balls.
Sweetened Shredded Coconut: Adds a chewy texture and a subtle sweetness to the date balls.

Ingredients to make Rice Krispie date balls.

Tools You'll Need

How to make Rice Krispie Date Balls

In a skillet, melt butter on medium heat.
Once the butter has melted, stir in sugar, dates, pecans, and the egg. Once the mixture is cohesive, turn the heat to medium-high.

Mixing together ingredients in a pan for date balls.

Stirring constantly, cook until the mixture starts bubbling. Turn off the heat and cool 5 minutes.
In a large bowl, fold the mixture into the cereal.

Mixing together Rice Krispies and a melted pecan date mixture.

Shape into 1 or 2 tablespoon balls with a small cookie scoop and roll in a bowl of coconut. Place on parchment paper or cooling racks to cool and set.

Rolling date nut balls in coconut flakes.

Pro Tips and Variations

Dates: I use a package of dried prechopped dates that have a light sugar coating to keep them from sticking together. If you can't find these at your grocery store, you can also use dried pitted whole dates or dried dates with the pit that you'll need to remove. Simply chop the pitted whole date into small pieces.
Egg Warning: The butter is melted on warm heat. When you add the sugar, dates, and pecans, it will be slightly warm. Immediately add the egg and stir constantly to prevent the egg from cooking into a solid. Once incorporated, turn the heat to medium-high.
Coconut: You can use sweetened shredded coconut or coconut flakes. If you're not a fan of coconut, you can omit it or replace it with crushed graham crackers or chopped nuts.
Nuts: You can substitute pecans with other nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or cashews.
Uniform Size: To achieve uniformity, use a cookie scoop or your hands to shape the mixture into consistent-sized little balls.
Kitchen gloves: The date mixture is sticky. Either use a pair of gloves or lightly butter your hands when rolling the cereal date mixture into balls.
Shape Option: The date rice Krispy mixture can also be rolled in miniature logs before rolling them in coconut. It can also be pressed in a plastic wrap-lined 9"x9" baking dish and sprinkled with coconut on top. After you freeze the dish for 10-15 minutes, transfer to a cutting board and cut into squares.

Storage and Freezing

Once set and cooled, store date balls in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper between the layers in a cool, dry place up to 2-3 weeks. They can also be stored in the freezer up to 2-3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there another type of cereal I can substitute for rice krispie date balls?

This recipe is centered around Rice Krispie cereal. However, if needed, you could substitute with crushed Chex or Kix.

Can I prepare the mixture ahead of time and form the balls later?

For best results, these easy date balls are best to prepare from start to finish. This will give them their best cohesive shape and stickiness for the coconut to adhere to.

Can the rice krispie date balls recipe be made without eggs?

Date ball with nuts can be prepared without an egg if needed. The dates and butter should provide enough binding. Alternatively, consider using a flaxseed or chia seed egg as a binder.

How can I make Rice Krispies date balls recipe gluten-free?

Kellogg's Rice Krispies are a gluten-free rice cereal. The remaining ingredient brands I used for these nut date balls were gluten-free as well. Check the labels of the brands you're using to ensure your end result is gluten-free too.

What size scoop do I use to roll date balls with Rice Krispies?

You can use either a 1 or 2 tablespoon scoop to roll these small balls.

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