Date & Nut Treat

This is a vintage no-bake confection that shows up on holiday cookie trays across the American Midwest and Canada. Sweet dates and candied cherries get simmered with butter, sugar and a beaten egg into a fudgy paste, then crisp rice cereal and chopped walnuts get folded in for texture.

The boil is what tempers the egg. Bringing the date mixture to a steady boil for 3 to 5 minutes cooks the beaten egg into the syrup safely while the dates break down into a soft, jam-like consistency. Skip the boil and the eggs stay raw. Boil too long and the sugar caramelizes and the dates burn.

Roll each tablespoon into a ball while the mixture is still warm. Once it cools, the crisp rice cereal stiffens and the balls become difficult to shape. The coconut coating sticks best while the surface is just barely warm and tacky.

Pro Tips

• Use sticky soft Medjool dates if you can. They break down into a smoother paste than drier Deglet Noor.
• Butter your hands lightly before rolling. The mixture is sticky and will glue to bare skin.
• Store the finished balls in a single layer between parchment in the fridge. Stacked balls flatten and stick together.

Variations

• Use chopped pecans or almonds instead of walnuts.
• Roll in toasted coconut, finely chopped nuts, or powdered sugar for different finishes.
• Add a teaspoon of orange zest or almond extract to the date mixture for an aromatic lift.