Every Christmas, my mom made this old fashioned date roll and set the slices out on a plate for everyone to enjoy. It's a no-bake holiday candy made with dates, mini marshmallows, and graham crackers. You roll it into a log, chill it overnight, and dust it with powdered sugar right before slicing. Some families call it a date log or date loaf candy. It only takes about 20 minutes to mix and shape, and you can make it weeks ahead and keep it in the freezer.
Why We Love This Old Fashioned Date Roll
- No baking. Mix, shape, chill, and slice. Your oven stays free for everything else on the holiday menu.
- Just six ingredients. Dates, mini marshmallows, graham crackers, cream, hot water, and powdered sugar.
- Made for making ahead. Keep it in the fridge for a few weeks, or freeze the logs for a couple of months and pull one out when company's coming.
- One batch goes a long way. A single batch makes about 32 slices, so there's plenty for a holiday dessert table.
Old Fashioned Date Roll Ingredients
- Medjool dates - These are the dates I use. Chop them into small pieces about the size of a mini marshmallow, so every slice has bits of both. Soaking them in hot water softens them, which helps the mixture hold together when you shape the log.
- Mini marshmallows - If you only have large marshmallows, snip them into small pieces with kitchen scissors. One reader said her grandmother's recipe card told her to do exactly that, back before mini marshmallows were around.
- Graham cracker crumbs - You'll need about 16 to 18 graham crackers. Most of the crumbs go into the mixture, where they give the date roll its structure. Save ¼ cup for coating the outside of the log.
- Cream or half-and-half - Stirring it into the marshmallows softens them so they blend in with the dates instead of staying separate.
- Powdered sugar - Add a light dusting right before slicing. The log should be well chilled first.
How to Make Old Fashioned Date Roll
Step 1 - Put the chopped dates in a bowl (or measuring cup as shown), add the hot water, and stir. In a separate bowl, stir the cream into the mini marshmallows. Let both sit for about 5 minutes. Most of the liquid will soak in.
Step 2 - In a large bowl, combine the dates, the marshmallows, and 1 ½ cups of the graham cracker crumbs. Save the remaining ¼ cup of crumbs. Mixing with your hands works best, the same way you'd mix meatloaf.
Step 3 - Lay out a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper and sprinkle the reserved ¼ cup of crumbs over it.
Step 4 - Form the mixture into one long log, about 14 to 16 inches, or two shorter logs. Roll the logs in the crumbs until the outside is coated.
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Step 5 - Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap. You can keep shaping the logs through the plastic. Refrigerate them overnight so the date roll firms up enough to slice cleanly.
Step 6 - Unwrap the logs, dust them lightly with powdered sugar, and cut slices about ½ inch thick. My mom always arranged the slices on a plate and set it out for everyone to enjoy.
Mom Tip
This is a great recipe to make with the kids. I loved helping my mom make date roll when I was young. She would put all the ingredients in a big bowl and let my brother and me squish everything together with our hands.
Dates are sticky, so this recipe can get a little messy. But that's half the fun.
Old Fashioned Date Roll FAQs
Yes. My mom used Deglet Noor dates, and I think that's why her recipe has you soak the dates in hot water first. I use Medjool, and I still soak them because that's the way I learned.
Letting the rolls set overnight is how my mom wrote the recipe, and it's how I've always made it. If you slice it right away, the roll is harder to handle and won't cut as neatly.
Make sure the log is well chilled, and use a sharp knife. Wipe the blade clean between slices. You can also dip the knife in warm water and wipe it dry before each cut.
Yes. This recipe is easy to cut in half.
Readers tell me that pecans, walnuts, red and green candied cherries, and candied pineapple all work well mixed in, and some roll the logs in fine coconut instead of graham crumbs. I make it plain, the way my mom did.
Storing and Freezing Date Roll
Refrigerator: Wrap the date roll well in plastic wrap. It will keep in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks.
Freezer: My mom used to cut each log in half. She kept one piece in the fridge to snack on and wrapped the rest well for the freezer. Frozen date roll keeps for 2 to 3 months. When you're ready for it, move a roll from the freezer to the fridge to thaw.
Make ahead for the holidays: You can make the rolls weeks before the holidays, freeze them, and thaw them in the fridge as you need them.
More Holiday Treats
- Rich no-bake date bark with peanut butter and chocolate
- Sweet-and-salty bacon wrapped stuffed dates for holiday parties
- Festive Kiss crinkle cookies for Christmas cookie trays
- Cozy hot cocoa cookies with marshmallow bits
- A holiday breakfast favorite: cranberry cream cheese bread
- Light, creamy lemon marshmallow pie
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating on the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Complete Recipe
Old Fashioned Date Roll
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup Graham Cracker Crumbs about 16 to 18 graham crackers
- 1 lb. Medjool Dates pitted and chopped into small pieces
- 3 cups Marshmallows mini
- 3 tablespoons Cream or half-and-half
- 3 tablespoons Hot Water
- ¼ cup Powdered Sugar
Instructions
- Remove the pits from the dates if needed. Chop the dates into small pieces, about the size of a mini marshmallow.
- Put the chopped dates in a bowl, add the hot water, and stir well.
- Put the marshmallows in a separate bowl, add the cream, and stir well. Let the dates and marshmallows sit for about 5 minutes, until most of the liquid soaks in.
- Crush the graham crackers in a food processor, or put them in a Ziploc bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Set aside ¼ cup of the crumbs for coating.
- Put the remaining 1 ½ cups of crumbs in a large bowl. Add the dates and marshmallows and mix well. Using your hands works best.
- Sprinkle the reserved crumbs over a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper.
- Shape the mixture into one log about 14 to 16 inches long, or two smaller logs. Roll the logs in the crumbs to coat the outside.
- Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap, shaping as needed. Refrigerate overnight.
- Unwrap the logs, dust them lightly with powdered sugar, and slice about ½ inch thick.
Notes
- This recipe is easy to cut in half.
- For clean slices, use a sharp knife on a well-chilled log, and wipe the blade between cuts.
- Storage: Wrapped in plastic wrap, date roll keeps 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge.
- Freezing: Wrap the logs well and freeze them for 2 to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge.
Susan Brown says
Thanks for posting this recipe! It has been in my family for decades. In fact, my first copy, given to me by my grandmother instructs us to cut up the large marshmallows with scissors. That was before miniature marshmallows! The only change is that ours also included pecans. My mom used a tub of Cool Whip rather than cream. I live in Thailand now and couldn't find my recipe. I remembered it all, but didn't know how many graham crackers to include since they are not available here and I have to substitute.. Thanks for answering that question. The kids at the children's home where I live now LOVE this treat and ask for it instead of birthday cake during our monthly birthday celebration.
Jean says
My mother added red and green cherries and walnuts, and rolled the logs in fine coconut.
How long can these be stored in the fridge?
Keri Hix says
I have kept date roll in the refrigerator and snacked on it for a couple of weeks. Of course, if it appears to show signs of spoilage, discard it.
Gayla says
Just finished making this! So excited to find this recipe. My grandmother used to make something very similar--she called it "ice box cake." Looking forward to sharing it with my kids and grandkids.
Don T says
Except for the powdered sugar this is almost exactly my family recipe from over 100 years ago. I lie adding the powdered sugar coat. That would stop the messy outside. We always served with a dollop of whipped cream on top of a slice. make it your own with holiday candied fruits and you can even make it into a quick no bake fruit cake roll.
Cook This Again Mom says
Thank you for the comment. I love old family recipes. My mom made this date roll since way before I was born!
Dan Overcash says
This is a family favorite. It came from my sisters mother’s family. Dad had my mom make it. Since they have all passed, my Sis makes it to share. Our recipe is a little different as we add candied Ted and green cherries, candied pineapple. It’s wonderful and very colorful just like Christmas.
Cook This Again says
Thank you!