Angels' Balls

These delicious little balls* won the Grand Prize in Eating Well Magazine’s 2008 cookie contest. (They’re officially known as “Angel Delights,” but Pete calls them Angels’ Balls.)

¼ cup unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

1 ½ cup (8 ounces) pitted dates, chopped [You’ll find these sold in slab form. Don’t buy bite-size dried dates—they’ve already got sugar added and, even if you mess with the sugar ratio in this recipe, the mixture will never get sticky enough to stay in a ball.]

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups Rice Krispies (or the generic equivalent)

1 cup shredded coconut

1. Combine butter, sugar and dates in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until the butter is melted and the mixture resembles a paste. Remove from heat.

2. Add vanilla, Rice Krispies and coconut. Combine.

3. Let it cool.

4. When the mixture is cool enough to handle, roll it into balls. Place the balls on a wax paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until chilled.

*This makes us think of a certain Saturday Night Live skit. Just in case you also find yourself in need of a Schweddy Ball fix, here ya go: NPRs Delicious Dish Schweddy Balls