Gluten freeLebanese date and coconut balls
No-bake date sweets with a whole almond inside, rolled in coconut. Makes about 40
Soft dates cooked briefly in butter with cardamom, shaped around a fried almond and rolled in desiccated coconut. A simple no-bake sweet that is rich, chewy and naturally sweet, perfect for festive trays and with coffee. Makes about 40.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Serves
- 10
- Per serving
- 690 kcal
Ingredients
- 6 ½ oz butter1 cup
- 1 ⅔ lb soft datespitted
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 14 oz blanched almondsfried in a little butter or oil until golden
- 2 cups desiccated coconutfor coating
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Melt 6 ½ oz butter in a heavy pan over a low heat. Stir in 1 ⅔ lb soft dates and 1 tsp ground cardamom.
2 minStep 2: Cook, stirring and mashing all the time so the dates do not stick to the sides and bottom, until they form a soft paste, 5–8 minutes. Take off the heat and leave until cool enough to handle.
7 minStep 3: With wet palms, roll the date mixture into small balls. Press one of 14 oz blanched almonds into the centre of each and reshape into an oval or almond shape.
Step 4: Roll each one in 2 cups desiccated coconut and arrange on a serving tray. Store in an airtight box.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 690 kcal
- Protein
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 75 g
- Fat
- 42 g
- Fibre
- 12 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does lebanese date and coconut balls take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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