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Home » Recipes » Desserts

By Kaleigh McMordie - December 11, 2020, Updated February 23, 2021

Cocodates (No Bake Coconut Date Cookies)

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Pinterest image with text for no bake coconut date cookies.

These no bake cocodates, or coconut date ball cookies, with pecans and rice cereal are a family tradition we make every year for the holidays, straight from my great grandmother's recipe book! They're easy to make and so delicious for Christmas!

overhead view of coconut date balls on a plate with a bite taken from one.

Every year, my family makes the same Christmas cookies and candies. Sometimes we may add a new recipe, but there are always staples that are must-haves because they are family traditions, and it wouldn't be Christmas without them! They absolute must-makes on our list are: Cutout Sugar Cookies, Scotcharoos, Pecan Puffs, and these Cocodates.

My grandma recently gifted my great grandmother's old recipe book to me, filled with all of these treasured recipes, and I knew the first one I'd make was the recipe for cocodates. I hope you'll love them as much as my family does!

Ingredients for no bake coconut date cookies on a white marble background with a handwritten recipe card.

Why You'll Love Cocodates

If these coconut date cookies are already a part of your family's holiday traditions, you already know what makes them great. If they're not, you don't know what you're missing. The sticky, buttery little balls filled with dates, crispy rice cereal, and crunchy pecans, and rolled in coconut flakes are the perfect little bite of sweetness. Plus there is no baking involved!

How To Make No Bake Coconut Date Cookies

  • melted butter in a white saucepan.
  • melted butter, sugar, and dates in a white saucepan.
  • eggs being poured into a saucepan with butter, sugar and dates.
  • cooked date mixture in a white saucepan.
  • cooked date mixture with rice krispies and pecans in a white saucepan.
  • cooled coocdate mixture in a white saucepan.
  • no bake coconut date ball being rolled in coconut.

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat.
  2. Stir in the sugar, chopped dates, and beaten eggs. Heat the mixture, stirring, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
  3. Turn off the heat and stir in the pecans, rice cereal and vanilla. Let the mixture cool.
  4. Roll the cooled date mixture into balls by the tablespoon, and roll each in coconut.

Tips For Making The Best Cocodates

  • Make sure eggs are beaten well before stirring into the butter.
  • Wet your hands (or oil them) before rolling the date mixture to reduce sticking.
  • I use whole pitted dates and chop them, but pre-chopped dates also work.
  • If you use unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt.
overhead view of cocodate cookies on a white plate with a handwritten recipe next to it.

More Christmas Cookies You'll Love

  • Cranberry Bliss Cookies
  • Pecan Puffs (Snowball Cookies)
  • No Corn Syrup Scotcheroos
  • Cutout Sugar Cookies With Icing
  • Peppermint Bark Icebox Cookies
  • Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the comments!

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Cocodates (No Bake Coconut Date Cookies)

coconut date balls on a plate.
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

These no bake cocodates, or coconut date ball cookies, with pecans and rice cereal are a family tradition we make every year for the holidays, straight from my great grandmother's recipe book! They're easy to make and so delicious for Christmas!

  • Author: Kaleigh
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 2 dozen 1x
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: no bake
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 stick (½ cup) butter (I use salted)
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 cup pitted dates, chopped
  • 2 eggs, well beaten
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped
  • 1 cup crispy rice cereal
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups shredded coconut (I use unsweetened)

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, heat the butter over low heat until just melted.
  2. Stir in the sugar, dates, and eggs. Continue cooking on low, stirring, until thickened, about 10-15 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in pecans, rice cereal, and vanilla. Let mixture cool.
  4. Scoop by tablespoonful and roll into balls. Roll each ball in coconut and place on parchment to cool completely.
  5. Store in an airtight container up to 5 days.

Notes

  • Make sure eggs are beaten well before stirring into the butter.
  • I use whole pitted dates and chop them, but pre-chopped dates also work.
  • If you use unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt.
  • Wet your hands (or oil them) before rolling the date mixture to reduce sticking.

Keywords: no bake coconut date cookies, cocodates, coconut date christmas candy, coconut date balls with pecans

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @livelytable on Instagram and hashtag it #livelytable

« Peppermint Bark Icebox Cookies
Maple Rosemary Roasted Acorn Squash »

About Kaleigh McMordie

Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD, is a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Dietitian in Abilene, Texas, as well as a member of the Baby Led Weaning Dietitians Network. Kaleigh can be found at kaleighmcmordie.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Digital-Marketing says

    November 26, 2024 at 7:36 pm

    Is it possible to create a cookie recipe that combines the flavors of all these different types of cookies into one ultimate holiday treat? What would be the best way to incorporate cranberries, pecans, corn syrup, icing, peppermint, and gingersnaps into a single cookie recipe that is both delicious and visually appealing?",
    "refusal

    Reply
  2. Pepper says

    May 03, 2022 at 5:46 am

    Thank you for this awesome recipe! I had a bag of dates sitting in my fridge for a long time and had no idea how to use them. These are easy to make and delicious plus, I made a second batch and modified it by adding pumpkin and sunflower seeds instead of nuts. Excited to see what else you have on your site.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Kaleigh says

      May 03, 2022 at 1:05 pm

      So glad you liked them!

      Reply

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