Date Bran Jingle Balls

From EatingWell: November/December 2007

Trisha Kruse, an administrative assistant, created quick, easy, no-bake date-nut balls to fill that special niche in your holiday repertoire.

READER'S COMMENT:

"These are simple and so tasty! I recommend chopping up the dates before adding them to the food processor. "

16 cookies

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Diabetes appropriate | Low carbohydrate |

View Our Nutrition Guidelines »

Ingredients

2 cups bran flakes cereal
3/4 cup whole pitted dates
1/2 cup pecans, toasted
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons brandy, orange liqueur or orange juice
1/2 cup finely chopped nuts, date sugar, coconut or toasted wheat germ

Preparation

Place cereal, dates and pecans in a food processor and process until finely chopped. Add honey, cream cheese and brandy (or orange liqueur or orange juice) and pulse until a stiff dough forms.
Scoop tablespoon-size portions and shape with greased hands into balls. Roll each ball in chopped nuts (or date sugar or coconut or wheat germ). Place on wax paper. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving or storing.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Store in an airtight container, separating balls with layers of wax paper, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Per cookie: 104 calories; 6 g fat ( 1 g sat , 3 g mono ); 2 mg cholesterol; 14 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 2 g fiber; 42 mg sodium; 111 mg potassium.

Carbohydrate Servings: 1

Exchanges: 1 other carbohydrate, 1 fat

More From EatingWell

10-Minute Breakfast Recipes

If you’re in a rush and thinking about skipping breakfast,...

Low-Calorie Slow Cooker Recipes

If you’re trying to lose weight, consider your slow-cooker...

Spring Chicken Recipes

Chicken is a versatile and cheap option for a healthy dinner...

Spring Cake Recipes

Who said you can’t have your cake and eat it too? These...
Healthy Meatball Recipes

Spaghetti and Meatballs is a classic, comforting Italian...

Low-Calorie Chicken Recipes for a Crock Pot

Chicken is a lean and versatile option for dinner, especially...

Summer Fruit Pies and Fruit Tarts

Berries and fresh summer fruit star in our healthy homemade...

100-Calorie Fruit Desserts

There's no need to forgo a sweet ending to a meal—even if you...
Healthy Winter Fruit Recipes & Winter Vegetable Recipes

Our healthy winter recipes featuring the winter’s best fruits...

High-Blood-Pressure-Diet Recipes

There’s no “magic bullet” for preventing high blood pressure...

Low-Sodium Dinner Recipes

These recipes fit into a lower sodium diet with no more than...

Heart-Healthy Recipes for Chicken

Preventing heart disease through diet is made easier with our...
Quick Heart-Healthy Recipes for Dinner

If you’re concerned about heart health and eating for a...

Heart-Healthy Recipes for Breakfast

Breakfast is good for your heart, says recent research in the...

Heart Healthy Recipes for Two

Preventing heart disease through diet is made easier with our...

Heart-Healthy Apple Recipes

The sweet, juicy crunch of a bright, fresh apple is a sure...