No-bake cocodates, also known as coconut date ball cookies, are a classic holiday treat made with dates, pecans, and rice cereal. This recipe comes from a long-standing family tradition and has been passed down through generations.
They’re easy to prepare and well suited for Christmas baking without turning on the oven. Many holiday cookie spreads rely on familiar staples, and cocodates fit naturally alongside traditional favorites.
This version stays true to the original recipe, keeping the process simple and the ingredients straightforward. Cocodates combine soft dates, crisp rice cereal, and chopped pecans, all rolled in coconut flakes.
How To Make No Bake Coconut Date Cookies
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat.
- Stir in the sugar, chopped dates, and beaten eggs. Heat the mixture, stirring, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the pecans, rice cereal and vanilla. Let the mixture cool.
- 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.
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!
PrintCocodates (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!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 dozen 1x
- Category: dessert
- Method: no bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 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
- In a medium saucepan, heat the butter over low heat until just melted.
- Stir in the sugar, dates, and eggs. Continue cooking on low, stirring, until thickened, about 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in pecans, rice cereal, and vanilla. Let mixture cool.
- Scoop by tablespoonful and roll into balls. Roll each ball in coconut and place on parchment to cool completely.
- 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
AnneMarie George says
These sound like the snowballs my mom used to make! Can they be frozen?. I would think.not, but maybe someone tried ,and it worked!
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Digital-Marketing says
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?",
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Pepper says
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.
★★★★★
Kaleigh says
So glad you liked them!