Arabian Dates Coconut Balls

ingredients
1/2 cup butter or margarine
6 ounces pitted whole dates, finely snipped (1 cup)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
3 cups crisp rice cereal
1 cup flaked coconut

In a medium saucepan heat butter or margarine over medium-low heat till melted.
Add snipped dates and sugar.Add egg; beat well.
Cook and stir over medium-low heat for 4 to 5 minutes or till mixture thickens and begins to bubble.In a mixing bowl place rice cereal.
Pour date mixture over cereal; toss to mix well.
Cool about 10 minutes (till mixture is easy to shape into balls).
With buttered hands, shape into 1-inch balls (about 1 tablespoon each).
Roll date balls in coconut.Cover and chill before serving.