Cooking time: 4 minutes Cooling time: 5 minutes Chilling time: 2 hoursThese treats are wonderful to have on hand in your refrigerator when you need a little “sweet hit.”
Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 4 minutes Cooling time: 5 minutes Chilling time: 2 hours
1 bag (8 ounces) dried pitted dates
3 tablespoons water
1 egg white, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons Better Butter or trans-fat free spread
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1⁄3 cup walnuts, toasted and finely chopped
1. Coat a plate with vegetable oil spray. Set aside. Chop the dates into very small pieces.
2. In a small nonstick saucepan, combine the dates, water, egg white, and Better Butter or spread. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat for about 4 minutes, or until the mixture is thickened. Continually squash the dates with a heatproof spatula or the back of a wooden spoon. Stir in the vanilla. Dollop onto the reserved plate; spread into a thin layer. Let stand for about 5 minutes, or until cool to the touch.
3. Place the walnuts on a sheet of waxed paper. Coat your hands lightly with vegetable oil spray. With a butter knife, score the date mixture into 18 sections. Scoop up and roll each section into a ball. Dip the ball into the walnuts to lightly coat. Place in a rectangular plastic storage container. Repeat until all the mixture is shaped and coated with nuts. Put waxed paper between the layers in the container. Cover. Refrigerate for several hours to allow the flavors to mellow.
MAKES 18 SERVINGS (1 CLUSTER PER SERVING)
Per serving: 55 calories, 10 g carbohydrate, 1 g protein, 2 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 8 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
Carbohydrate Choices: 1
Dietary Exchanges: ½ fruit, ½ fat
NOTES: Start with whole pitted dates and chop them yourself. It takes a few more minutes, but the end result will be moister than if you started with prechopped dates.
Toasting brings out the flavor and crisps the texture of nuts. To toast walnuts, spread them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, or until sizzling. Let stand to cool.
Vary the flavorings by replacing the vanilla extract with 1 tablespoon finely chopped crystallized ginger or 1 teaspoon grated orange peel.