Hello, Good News! Welcome to another article where we share with you some of the best recipes for your taste buds. Today, we are going to talk about humdingers, a sweet and crunchy snack that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you need a quick bite in the morning, a treat for your kids, or a party favor for your guests, humdingers are the way to go. They are simple to make, require only a few ingredients, and taste amazing. In this article, we will show you how to make humdingers, what variations you can try, and some tips and tricks to make them even better. So, let’s get started!
Humdingers are basically balls of cereal, dates, nuts, and coconut, coated with a buttery and sugary mixture. They are also known as date balls or date nut balls, but we like to call them humdingers because they are so good that they will make you hum with delight. Humdingers are a traditional Southern dessert that has been around for decades. They are often served during the holidays, especially Christmas, but you can enjoy them anytime you want. Humdingers are easy to make and store well in the freezer, so you can always have some on hand when you crave something sweet.
How to Make Humdingers
Ingredients
To make humdingers, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter
- 2/3 cup of granulated sugar
- 8 ounces of chopped dates
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups of Rice Krispies or any crisp rice cereal
- 1 cup of chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, etc.)
- 1 14-ounce package of shredded coconut
You will also need a large skillet, a small bowl, a wooden spoon, a baking sheet, parchment paper or wax paper, and a cookie scoop or a tablespoon.
Directions
To make humdingers, follow these steps:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and sugar together, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes.
- Add the chopped dates and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture will be thick and bubbly.
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs lightly. Slowly add a small amount of the hot date mixture to the eggs, whisking constantly. This will temper the eggs and prevent them from scrambling.
- Pour the egg mixture back into the skillet and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture will be smooth and glossy.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract, the cereal, and the nuts. Mix well until everything is well coated.
- Let the mixture cool slightly until it is easy to handle.
- Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, scoop out portions of the mixture and roll them into balls with your hands. Be careful not to burn yourself as the mixture will still be hot.
- Place the coconut in a shallow bowl or plate and roll each ball in it until well coated.
- Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper and let them set until firm.
- Enjoy your humdingers or store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer for later.
Variations of Humdingers
Chocolate Humdingers
If you love chocolate, you can make chocolate humdingers by adding 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to the butter and sugar mixture before adding the dates. You can also use chocolate rice cereal instead of plain rice cereal for extra chocolate flavor. For an even more decadent treat, you can dip the balls in melted chocolate after rolling them in coconut.
Peanut Butter Humdingers
If you love peanut butter, you can make peanut butter humdingers by adding 1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter to the butter and sugar mixture before adding the dates. You can also use peanut butter rice cereal instead of plain rice cereal for extra peanut butter flavor. For an even more nutty treat, you can roll the balls in chopped peanuts instead of coconut.
Cranberry Humdingers
If you love cranberries, you can make cranberry humdingers by adding 1/4 cup of dried cranberries to the date mixture after adding the eggs. You can also use cranberry rice cereal instead of plain rice cereal for extra cranberry flavor. For an even more festive treat, you can roll the balls in white chocolate chips instead of coconut.
Table Breakdown of Humdingers
To help you understand the nutritional value of humdingers, we have prepared a table breakdown of the ingredients and their amounts per serving. One serving is one ball, and this recipe makes about 36 balls. The table also shows the calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber per serving. Note that these values are approximate and may vary depending on the brands and types of ingredients you use.
Ingredient | Amount per Serving | Calories | Fat | Carbohydrates | Protein | Fiber |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Butter | 3.9 g | 28.1 kcal | 3.2 g | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g |
Sugar | 4.2 g | 16.3 kcal | 0 g | 4.2 g | 0 g | 0 g |
Dates | 6.4 g | 17.9 kcal | 0 g | 4.8 g | 0.2 g | 0.5 g |
Eggs | 3.1 g | 4.7 kcal | 0.3 g | 0.1 g | 0.4 g | 0 g |
Vanilla Extract |
0.1 g |
0.3 kcal |
0 g |
0.1 g |
0 g |
0 g |
Rice Cereal |
11.9 g |
44 kcal |
0.1 g |
10.2 g |
0.8 g |
0.1 g |
Nuts |
7.1 g |
41 kcal |
3.8 g |
1.5 g |
1.5 g |
1 g |
Coconut |
11.1 g |
39 kcal |
3.6 g |
1.5 g |
0.4 g |