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Candies made from dates and coconut flakes
Instructions
At the initial stage, carefully remove the pits from the dried fruits. Treat this action quite seriously, otherwise, someone will end up with a candy that has a "surprise" inside, and the blender might break too. Act individually regarding the quantity of the main and almost sole ingredient. From 25 dates, you get 15 finished candies.
Throw the pitted fruits into the chopper or food processor.
Roll the chopped mixture into small balls. It has been proven on 10 children that small balls are eaten faster and with greater pleasure than larger ones.
Coat the formed balls in coconut flakes, and to make it look more fun, it's better to choose colourful flakes. By the way, it can also simply be cocoa powder, sesame seeds, culinary sprinkles, or even poppy seeds.
Place them on a beautiful plate or insert a small wooden skewer for a cake-pop-style presentation.
Tips
- 1
Pit the dates carefully one by one rather than rushing through the step, since stray date pits in the finished candies are an unpleasant surprise that can chip teeth and damage the food processor blade. The brief patience for proper pitting genuinely matters for the most safely enjoyable finished treats every single time. Use Medjool or other large soft date varieties for the easiest pitting.
- 2
Use proper soft Medjool dates rather than hard dry dates, since the soft varieties blend smoothly into a properly cohesive paste while hard dry dates produce a noticeably crumbly finished mixture. To pair these beautifully simple homemade date candies with another properly nostalgic homemade dessert from the same culinary tradition, try our beautifully tender Ant Hill Cake classic Soviet recipe as a contrasting cake-style alternative.
- 3
Roll the candy mixture into small bite-sized balls rather than large oversized ones, since smaller balls are properly enjoyed in one bite without overwhelming the palate. The brief patience for forming uniform smaller balls genuinely matters for the most beautifully presented finished platter every single time. Use slightly damp hands for the easiest rolling without sticking.
- 4
Coat the formed candies in colourful coconut flakes, cocoa powder, sesame seeds, chopped nuts, or culinary sprinkles for properly varied finished presentations. For another properly classic homemade healthy treat recipe to add variety to your weekly menu, try our beautifully simple homemade dried fruit candies as a similar dried-fruit-based alternative.
FAQ
Can I add other ingredients to the candies? +
Absolutely. Try adding chopped walnuts, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, dried cranberries, raisins, dried apricots, a tablespoon of cocoa powder, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, or even a small spoonful of nut butter (almond, peanut, cashew) to the date base for properly varied finished flavour profiles. Each addition brings its own character to the bowl. Avoid adding too much liquid, since this can produce a wet finished mixture that doesn't roll properly into firm balls.
How long do these candies keep? +
Store the formed date candies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks for best results. The candies actually firm up slightly during refrigerator storage, which makes them easier to eat. For longer storage, freeze the candies in airtight containers separated by parchment paper for up to three months. Thaw briefly at room temperature for about 5 minutes before serving for the best finished texture without any loss of original quality.
Can I use a regular blender? +
Yes, a regular blender can work but tends to produce a less smooth finished paste than a proper food processor. The dates may also stick to the blender blades and need frequent scraping. For the absolute best results, use a high-powered food processor or a proper food chopper specifically designed for nuts and dried fruits. A Vitamix-style high-speed blender also works absolutely brilliantly. The mini-chopper attachments on stick blenders also produce decent finished results for small batches.
What other coatings work well? +
The classic coconut flakes can easily be substituted with toasted sesame seeds, cocoa powder, ground freeze-dried berries, chopped pistachios, ground almonds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, finely chopped dark chocolate, culinary sprinkles, or even crushed graham crackers for properly varied finished textures and flavours. Mix multiple coatings on different candies for a beautifully varied finished platter that pleases everyone with their individual preferences at the celebration table.
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