This time of year my kitchen is like a sweat shop.  Me, being the primary one sweating, churning out cookie batch after cookie batch {using all  six racks in my double ovens} getting ready to make deliveries to friends, family, teachers, children's Christmas programs and, well, who am I kidding, my own belly!

I know a lot of folks are big on tradition and always making the exact same cookies every year and while there are two recipes I religiously keep in the mix {here and here}, I'm always looking for something new and different to try too!

This date ball recipe has been quietly sitting below our family's most treasured recipe for my great-grandmother's Pecan Macaroons for the last 13 years that I've been making the macaroons and never once, until a week ago, have I noticed it.  Perhaps it was its positioning on the page or perhaps it was that I was turned off by either "no-bake" or "date" or "balls".  Its hard to say.

Nevertheless, I decided to give these babies a go...after all, my great grandmother has yet to disappoint when it comes to her recipes!   Boy, am I glad I did.  These nuggets are fantastic!  Similar to a rice krispie treat, but all grown-up and sophisticated with the addition of nuts, dates and coconut, these bites are pure heaven.  And the best part is, there's no baking..... which means I can bust out one more batch while my oven is diligently working on the rest of my holiday treats!

A couple of things to note:  Do not be turned off by the dates--they just look like ugly, sticky giant turtle droppings.  In reality, they are decadent and delicious and when they cook in with the butter and sugar, watch out!  {Yes, I know anything cooked with butter and sugar is delicious....thanks}.   Also, the recipe says to cream the mixture before cooking it.  Don't try to skip this step....mixing is key for the consistency!  Did I try to skip it?  Maybe.

Ok.  Ready.  Set.  No-Bake.