Goofballs

Although I don’t have children yet, I was a child myself once not too long ago and for that reason, I feel like I can speak to what children like when it comes to food. If you give it a cute name or somehow make it exciting to eat, they’ll almost certainly be more interested.

While these goofballs do have a terrific name, they need no help in being appealing to children (or adults). On top of that, they’re enjoyable to make–you get to put your hands in there and get a little dirty, all in the name of fun.

Most people will never guess that the secret to the chewy, caramel-like sweetness comes from a surprise but essential ingredient–dates! Goofballs just aren’t the same without the dates, and believe me, I’ve tried every alternative.

If rolling the sticky mess into balls (and the cleaning up that follows) doesn’t sound like a good time to you, another option is simply pressing the mixture into a greased or lined 8×8-inch pan and sprinkling the coconut on top. It’s a little more tame, but just as delicious.