Almost toffee like in taste, these caramel date and biscuit balls are a delightful little sweet treat for anytime of the year.
And just like that, RAMADAAN 2019, is already a week into this blessed Month of Fasting. WHERE OH WHERE DOES TIME GO!!! Seems like just yesterday, oh ok, a couple posts back, that I mentioned Ramadaan coming along, and here we are with a week down, into Ramadaan. RAMADAAN KAREEM / RAMADAAN MUBARAK TO ALL MY LOVELY READERS. I pray that this blessed month, brings you and your loved ones, immense joy, peace and light, AMEEN.
Now this year, I have not done a stitch of foodie based preparations in advance, reason being that we were away on our long awaited holiday to India. I hope you caught up on some of my holiday travel diaries on my other social media platforms. So, As I settled into doing small and easy preps as Ramadaan began, I knew that DATES, will feature predominately on my table, in some form.
Well, that goes not just for me, but majority of Muslims as well, who relish in these rich, natural goodness that Dates have to offer. It is a Sunnah practise to End your day long Fast, with a date, or 2, and water to quench your thirst. Yoghurt and cucumbers are also great options to add to your iftaar table. If you have not seen this on my social media platforms, here is what I have been enjoying on my Iftaar Board, to end my fast.
The above Canapés are brought together with a sprinkling of Dukkah and a scatter of Pomegranate Arils. Perfect served alongside fresh fruit or even dried fruit.
And then there are some days, when we all need a little sweet treat. That is where my date and biscuit balls come in. It is common to find many muslim homes, incorporate Dates into recipes, especially this time of the year. This particular sweet treat, is very common in South Africa. It makes for a perfect little Gift to pack, and great to take along to a tea. This date and biscuit recipes, entails simple steps, from cooking the dates in butter, to adding in the crushed biscuits, cooling the mixture before rolling it into balls, with a final rolling about in desiccated coconut.
So I played a bit with this old school South African Classic, and this version of date and biscuit balls, is deliciously caramel toffee like. Now if you are a sweet tooth, this one is definitely for you. Go on, give this version a try, and I look forward to all your feedbacks.
HAPPY ‘SWEET MAKING’ LOVELIES
LOVE MARRIAM
Caramel Date and Biscuit Balls
AUTHOR: FOODEVA MARSAY (@foodeva_marsay)
INGREDIENTS
250 grams Dates, Deseeded and Chopped
125 grams Butter
1 Egg (Large/Extra Large)
4 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
3-4 Drops of Caramel Essence
2 Drops of Vanilla Essence
100 grams Caramel Marie Biscuits (approximately 20 biscuits)
Desiccated Coconut, for rolling
INSTRUCTIONS
~ Melt Butter in a large enough saucepan, and add in the chopped dates.
~ Cook over low heat for 5 minutes, or until dates are softened.
~ Whisk together the egg, sugar and essences
~ Add this egg mixture to the softened dates mixture, and stir well until well blended.
~ Allow this mixture to gently simmer for 2 minutes, stirring well a few times.
~ Remove the Saucepan from the heat, and let cool for 2-3 minutes
~ Crush Biscuits, or Blitz them until Fine
~ Now add the biscuits to the Saucepan, and mix through well.
~ Allow this to cool further, to make for easy handling.
~ Place the desiccated coconut into a shallow plate (to roll the date balls in)
~ Lightly grease palms with butter, and scoop out about 1 Tablespoon, or less, of the Date and Biscuit mixture, and roll the mixture into balls using your palms.
~ Now roll the date and biscuit balls in the coconut, and firmly roll again between palms to ensure the coconut adheres.
~ Allow to set for a few hours before serving.
NOTES BY FOODEVA MARSAY
~ Whilst the Dates are softening, you can prepare the whisked eggs mixture. Also Have the biscuits weighed out prior to starting, so you can crush/blitz them whilst the date mixture is cooling.
~ You may opt to use just vanilla essence, and regular Marie Biscuit.
~ Crush extra Biscuits, and you can roll them in the biscuits, if you don’t like coconut.
~ Rolling the date and biscuits balls in finely chopped nuts, is also a good option.
~ This recipe can also be Flattened into a medium sized casserole, allowed to set before slicing and serving.
~ You may use white sugar, instead of brown sugar.
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Looking for other SIMPLE SWEET TREATS TO SERVE AT TEA??? TRY OUT THESE YUMMIES…
KHAJOORA (INDIAN FRIED COOKIES)
Based on 1 Review(s)
I looove dates! 😋
Then you have to try this Gail😉