Date, Coconut & Walnut Truffles
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This is yet another Christmas recipe from my childhood. My mom used to make these all the time back when I was growing up and she would bust out batches of cookies for the holidays. This is another oldie that I decided needed to be resurrected this year. The name on my mom’s recipe card for these is “No-Bake Meatball Cookies” but they’re not really cookies at all, so I took the liberty of renaming them ;-) I actually Googled “meatball cookies” and they are something very different than these babies, so I’m not sure where the name comes from. Even though my mom has this on one of her many “favorite” index cards, I also found it in the old ladies auxiliary cookbook that the Pecan Tassies came from. So many wonderful old treasures of recipes in that book! And these are no exception.
These truffles (I’ve decided that’s probably the best description for them) are packed with dates, walnuts, coconut and miniature marshmallows, are held together with sweetened condensed milk, and then rolled in a mixture of ground nuts and coconut. They are sweet, rich, and amazingly delicious. I absolutely love dates (probably even more than I love figs, which is a LOT), so these are right up my alley. They are different and a great treat to keep around during the holidays. Plus, they’re nostalgic, so big-time bonus!
Three years ago: Chocolate Chip Tea Cookies and Basic Biscotti[/donotprint]
Date, Coconut, Walnut & Marshmallow Truffles
Ingredients
- 3 cups (351 g) chopped walnuts
- 2 cups (168 g) graham cracker crumbs
- 2 cups (160 g) shredded coconut
- 1 pound (453.59 g) miniature marshmallows
- 1 pound (453.59 g) chopped dried dates
- 28 ounces (793.79 ml) sweetened condensed milk
- Extra coconut & ground nuts for rolling
Instructions
- Combine the walnuts, graham cracker crumbs, coconut, marshmallows, dried dates and sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl with a wooden spoon until mixture is evenly moistened. In a shallow plate, mix together the extra coconut and ground nuts. Roll heaping teaspoons into balls and roll them in the coconut/ground nut mixture. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets to dry, at least 4 to 6 hours. Store in an airtight container.
Did you make this recipe?
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So glad to find this recipe! My mom used to make these when I was a kid and I loved them. She hasn’t been able to find the recipe so this is great!
The only differences I recall are that her recipe had grated fresh orange peel and she called them ‘Porcupine Balls’.
I have a very similar vintage recipe from my grandma’s recipe box. The main difference is that the graham cracker crumbs are not in the mixture. Everything else is mixed together, made into balls and then rolled in the graham cracker crumbs. This is what makes them look like meatballs and why they have the name meatball cookies.Â
Glad to find this recipe. In Hawaii they call this “Arabian rolls” my grand daughter makes this each Christmas. She rolls them in logs and slices, wraps them in waxed paper It’s fun to see each culture with the same recipe. Thank you
My mom also used to make these over the holidays. She would used colored marshmallows and only roll them in coconut.  She called them fuzzies!  I’ve been trying to find the recipe for several years. I’m glad to find it!  Thanks!
These look great and I love how simple they seem to make! Â How long will they last in container on the counter?
Hi Lora, I would say 2 weeks, in the fridge or freezer for up to 1 month. Enjoy!
This made a huge batch of treats. I would half the recipe next time.
For my whole life, my family has made these every Christmas. Our recipe card labels them “Louise Hatch” candies. :) Thank you for posting this wonderful recipe!!!
Can you freeze these after you make them?Â
Hi Jennifer, Yes these freeze well!
I did a web search for what my mom called “Holiday Crunchies” and didn’t come up with anything. So, I searched for the ingredients and found your recipe. The mechanics are slightly different but it’s essentially the same thing. My mother told me that my grandmother had found the recipe on the back of a funeral brochure! I believe this is the only food containing coconut that I like! Thanks!
why are you all waiting these are sooo good and sooooo easygo make em
These look great! I saw a recipe from eatingwell.com that is similar to this but I like the idea of using marshmallows! I love your blog!
Great Post. These look wonderful! Thanks.
These have all of my favorite things! Yum! One question though, Can I use sweetened coconut in this and omit the marshmallows?
Sana, sure! I love things like this because you can totally customize it to suit your tastes :)
I love no-bake cookies of all sorts, just as much as I like the baked versions. Happy Holidays to you & your family :) XO
another wonderful recipe… :)
Happy Holidays… :)
I just made these. They’re incredibly sticky! I got tired of trying to clump them together and rolling them in nuts/coconut, so I dumped the rest in a pan to hopefully cut into bars. I don’t blame the recipe- I think it’s just me. They may have been more manageable for me without the marshmallows. LOL, I don’t even like dates! I had some in the pantry that needed used and my mom likes those coconut date rolls from Trader Joe’s, so I thought I’d give this a shot.
Now I’m off to make your Apple Hand Pies!
I am already making notes for next year! These are going to be on my tray next year for sure.Thank you for the gift of recipes, Merry Christmas!
As I’m reading the recipe, I started laughing because I am so sugared-out just looking at recipes this week on various blogs, and I haven’t had anything sweet! It is good for my waistline – yes?
Merry Merry Christmas to you and yours. I want you to know how very much I enjoy reading your web site and using the wonderful recipes you post.
This week, I made Cowboy Cookies for a friend to take to her office party – they turned out beautifully and she was so proud. Next project is the beautiful Russian cake with walnuts and cherries. I dream of that cake!
ohh, these were my favorite when I was a kid. they last forever in the fridge, at least until I eat them all.
I wished I liked coconut, because these look delicious!
YUM! I am a huge fan of coconut and dates. Great combination. I think this must be on my list to do. Happy Holidays!
I have the same recipe in a Junior League cookbook that must be over 20 years old. Many years ago I started collecting Jr League cookbooks from all over the country; they all seem to have the BEST recipes and this is an oldie but a goodie for sure!
I love making truffles during the holidays. Love this version!
I have the chorus “these are a few of my favorite things” running through my head as I read the recipe. Coconut, dates, walnuts, marshmallows, oh my goodness… My problem would be eating them straight out of the bowl with a spoon, these would never make it to ‘truffle’ form with me!
These look awesome, I love dates and coconuts. I think I’ll have to half the recipe so I don’t end up eating around 5 dozen myself. These actually remind me a bit of dorset muesli’s only in different form – I think you’d like them if you’re a big date fan.
Wow, they sound REALLY sweet. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!
Very cool truffle recipe! I can’t wait to try these!
Whoa these look so good! I love dates and coconut in anything so this is right up my alley! Happy holidays!
another great recipe!
michelle…is a cookbook in your future…hope so!!!
Anything that uses sweetened condensed milk as a binder is A-OK with me! The combo of the coconut, walnut, marshmallow, AND dates sounds delicious. I’ll find to scrounge up some dates pretty soon…