Melt the butter in a large skillet or very large saucepen over medium heat.

Add the dates, vanilla, sugar and eggs, stirring constantly. If the eggs start to cook, turn down the heat.

You want the eggs, dates, sugar and butter to melt together into a sticky goo that will hold your cookies together. Cook and stir for at least 10 minutes, or until the dates are mostly melted into the rest of the mixture.

Gently stir in the rice krispies, stirring carefully to avoid breaking the cereal.

Butter your hands generously, then take a scoop of cereal-date mixture and form it into small ball.

Roll the sticky miss into a bowl of coconut flakes.

Cool the cookies in the refrigerator to firm them up, or eat them as is and enjoy the krispie texture.