Preheat oven to 400º.
Grease 14-regular muffin tins or 28-miniature muffin tins; set aside.
Stir baking soda into sour cream; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt.
Whisk or stir well to combine.
Add dates, orange peel and coconut and stir again; set aside.
In a separate mixing bowl, beat eggs, half-and-half and butter.
Add sour cream mixture to liquid ingredients and whisk to combine well.
(The sour cream will activate and become fluffier in texture after the baking soda has been added.)
Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients in mixing bowl.
Stir until mixed.
Spoon mixture into prepared muffin tins until about ¾ full.
Bake regular muffin tins at 400º for about 17-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Bake miniature muffin tins at 400º for about 7-8 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool in pan about 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack.