INGREDIENTS
Yields 12 balls
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped dates
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup crisp rice cereal
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter, sugar, and brown sugar together over medium heat. Stir in dates and bring to a boil. Cook mixture, stirring constantly, 3–4 minutes until dates begin to melt. Add egg and cook 1 minute longer, stirring constantly.
2. Add chocolate chips, remove pan from heat, cover, and let stand 4–5 minutes. Add vanilla and stir until chocolate melts and mixture is blended.
3. Add rice cereal to date mixture. Spread powdered sugar onto a shallow plate. Drop date mixture by the heaping tablespoonful into powdered sugar and form into balls. Place on cookie sheet; let stand until cool and firm.
ABOUT DATES
You can buy dates in the baking aisle of the supermarket, and sometimes in the produce department. When choosing dates for baking and cooking, do not use the dates that are precut and rolled in sugar. They are often too dry and do not blend well in cookie dough.