There are two of Amma’s treats that always come to mind when I smell roasting coconut – Poli and Date Rolls. Date Rolls are date filled biscuits rolled in coconut. These finger shaped treats were usually made by Amma for Diwali or if we were expecting any visitors. My older sisters were at University in Durban, so often did not celebrate Diwali at home with us. Amma always stored a reused ice cream box full in the freezer for them. Date rolls freeze very well, simply take out the night before to thaw.
This post consists of two Date Rolls Recipes-the first with egg and the second Eggless Date Rolls.
You can skip to the Eggless Date Roll Recipe by clicking here
Date Rolls, much like Gulab Jamun are finger shaped, add variety and texture to any Diwali parcel.
How to Make Date Rolls without Dates
Date rolls without dates would not be date rolls but if you are craving these yummy coconut coated treats and have no dates at hand, you can use other dried fruit as a substitute. I have often used dried figs or apriots and prunes as a reasonable substitute for dates in this recipe. Mash up the dried fruit until a thick paste like texture forms. Roll into balls then shape into finger like shapes. Use this to coat with your biscuit dough.
How To Make Date Rolls (South African Recipe)
Like most biscuits or cookies date rolls are made by combining butter and sugar then flour. For full recipe scroll down the page. The dough should be kneaded until a soft play doh like texture forms.
Break off small pieces then roll into a ball. Shape soften dates into oblong finger like shapes. Press the dates into the ball, flattening it.
Once all dates have been wrapped in a blanket of dough. Dip in milk then coconut with coconut
Date Roll Recipe (With Coconut) Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 eggs
- vanilla essence
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
- 250g Pitted Dates
- ½ cup milk
Instructions:
- Make sure that the butter is at room temperature. Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the beaten eggs. Combine with the sifted flour and baking powder.
- Knead until you have a soft pliable cookie like texture. When you break the dough it should look like the image below… a soft cookie dough texture.
- To make the date rolls, roll small pieces of dates like the image below.
- Take a small piece of your biscuit dough then press piece of date into it rolling it into a ball then into a long finger like shape (similar to Gulab Jamun ).
- Once you have shaped all your dough start by dipping your date rolls into milk then into coconut and finally onto a lined baking sheet.
- Once all your date rolls have been covered in coconut, bake at 180 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes. Check to see that your date rolls don’t burn as some ovens may operate differently to mine. Once out of the oven, place on a rack and allow to cool.
Did you make this recipe?
To make date Rolls without eggs I use a similar recipe as above -with a few modifications. Firstly to omit the eggs-then increase the butter content and add milk .
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| Date Roll Recipe: © 2011 l www.foodlikeammausedtomakeit.blogspot.com |
Eggless Date Rolls Recipe
Ingredients:
- 240g flour
- 100g butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
- ½ cup Pitted Dates
- ½ cup milk
Instructions:
- Combine the butter and sugar then add the flour and baking powder to form a crumb like texture then add 2 tablespoons milk to bind the mixture.
- Knead until you have a soft pliable cookie like texture.
- Break off small pieces of dough then press piece of date into it rolling it into a ball then into a long finger like shape (similar to Gulab Jamun ).
- Once you have shaped all your dough dip the date rolls into milk then into coconut and finally onto a lined baking sheet.
- Once all your date rolls have been covered in coconut, bake at 180 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes. Check to see that your date rolls don’t burn as some ovens may operate differently to mine. Once out of the oven, place on a rack and allow to cool.
- Enjoy with a cup of tea.
Did you make this recipe?
Eggless Date Rolls 2 (view recipe)
If you would like to experiement with this recipe then take a look at my experimental Date Roll recipe .
