Day 8 of the 12 Tastes of Christmas

Today's goodie was Festive Fruit & Nut Balls. They were rolled in coconut and are like all the best parts of fruit cake with out the cake!

Enjoy-

Day 8

Festive Fruit and Nut Balls

36 cookies

From: Eating Well Magazine

¾ cup sugar

½ cup dried cranberries

½ cut pitted and snipped dates

2 large eggs, beaten

1/3 cup chopped pistachios, preferably unsalted

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup chopped pecans

1 tsp. rum extract

¾ cut shredded coconut

1.    Combine sugar, cranberries, dates and eggs in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, is pale yellow in color, registers at least 170°F and when a spoon is pulled through it, it leaves a clear trail. This will take 6 – 14 minutes, depending on how hot your stove’s medium-hot setting is.

2.    Remove from the heat; stir in pistachios, walnuts, pecans and rum extract. Let stand until cool enough to handle, about 45 minutes.

3.    With damp hands, form mixture into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in coconut. Place the finished balls on a baking sheet lined with wax paper and store in the refrigerator.