Almond Date Confections
For our first Christmas together, I made these fast candies for my then-boyfriend. He has begged me for them every holiday since...and we've been married for more than 10 years! —Katherine Job, Carmel, Indiana18 ServingsPrep: 25 min. + chilling
Ingredients
- 1 tube (7 ounces) almond paste
- 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 to 1 teaspoon water, optional
- 18 pitted dates, halved
- 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- Flaked coconut or finely chopped almonds, toasted
Directions
- In a bowl, combine the almond paste, confectioners' sugar and
- extract. Knead until mixture forms a ball, adding water if mixture
- is too crumbly. Cut dates in half widthwise. Wrap about 1-1/2
- teaspoons of almond mixture around each date half and roll into a
- ball.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth.
- Dip balls in chocolate, then roll in coconut or almonds. Place on a
- waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate is set,
- about 30 minutes. Store in a covered container at room temperature.
- Yield: 3 dozen.
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (2 each) equals 161 calories, 7 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 3 mg sodium, 25 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 2 g protein.