Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (2024)

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by Todd + Diane

The classic chocolate rum balls can be made with bourbon as well, so treat yourself to all the delicious flavors of the holidays.

Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (1)

Diane was initially going to write this post, but after 1 bourbon ball she quietly passed out on the couch. Although I think she may be faking. I’ve always loved good chocolate rum balls. Actually, the love for chocolate rum balls extends to just about any dessert with a little hit of alcohol. I’ll macerate just about any dried fruit going into a dessert just to give it a little punch. If someone is serving trifle, tiramisu… “Seconds Please.”

Video: Chocolate rum balls or Chocolate bourbon balls Recipe:

Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (2)

So often these little chocolate rum ball delights have rum to booze them up, and for good reason. Smooth, a touch of sweetness. We are un-biased drinkers, but recently we’ve dived into exploring more of the wonders of rum. A little seasonal changeup from our usual go-to’s of gin and whiskey. But a little bourbon or rye whiskey sounded pretty good too, so we took a favorite winter treat and swapped out the rum with another favorited spirit (curious about whisk(e)y – check out our whisk(e)y guide). Both the rye whiskey and bourbons worked perfect for these balls, and since “bourbon ball” sounds more appealing than “rye ball”, we’ll stick with that.

It took a whole 10 minutes to throw together and was beautiful. And after seeing all the dark chocolate love, we added a bit more cocoa powder. Roll ’em in the pecan/cookie crumbs, confectioners’ sugar, crushed candy canes, or more cocoa powder and they were perfect.

The holidays just got a little happier.

-Todd

Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (3)

Chocolate Bourbon Balls

Yield: 24 1″ Balls (about)

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Chill Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

These have a good hit of bourbon or rum in them, so they are best reserved for the adults. Unless you need a little quiet time out of the kids. Just kidding. Kind of.

For the finely ground wafers and pecans, they are best to grind separately in the food processor. The wafers need a good solid grinding to get them nice and fine, however for the pecans it is best to just pulse them until they are finely ground but not pasty. You don't want to create a paste out of them.

Insprired by Dessert for Two's pumpkin bourbon balls.

4.18 from 35 votes

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup (140 g) finely ground Vanilla Wafers (about 40 regular Nilla wafers) or Graham Cracker Crumbs
  • 1 cup (110 g) finely ground Nuts , we prefer pecans
  • 1 cup (120 g) Powdered Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) ground Cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground Ginger (or freshly grated Ginger)
  • fresh grated Nutmeg , to taste
  • 1/4 cup (22 g) Cocoa Powder
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) Bourbon or Rum
  • 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) Agave Nectar or light Corn Syrup

Topping Ideas

  • ground Vanilla Wafers (Nilla Wafers)
  • finely chopped Pecans
  • Pecans and ground wafers together
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Cocoa Powder
  • crushed Candy Canes

Equipment

Instructions

  • In a bowl, whisk together ground vanilla wafers, ground nuts, confectioners' sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger, grated nutmeg, and cocoa powder until well combined.

  • Stir in bourbon (or rum) and agave nectar (or corn syrup) until evenly mixed.

  • Form into even balls (about 1 Tablespoon worth – this small cookie scoop works great for making even sized balls).

  • Roll the balls in topping of choice to coat the outside (we like to put the toppings in small bowls, then swirl the balls one at a time in the coating).

  • Chill for an hour. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 90kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 21mg, Potassium: 54mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 7mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 90

How to Make Chocolate Bourbon Balls or Rum Balls

Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (9)
Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (10)
Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (11)

This original chocolate rum balls 2012 recipe post is being re-shared in 2023 with a new video for you to see the step-by-step process!

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Chocolate Cookies | Bars Desserts Food Holiday Recipes

54 Comments / Leave a Comment »

Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (12)

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54 comments on “Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Balls- Three Ways”

  1. Manny December 15, 2023 @ 12:23 am Reply

    I can never say “no” to boozy chocolate. This was exceptional. It was soooo good.Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (15)

  2. Malissa December 23, 2021 @ 6:13 pm Reply

    My daughter must say that it’s so so delicious! I am not really a kichen-holic but sometimes I am no need to have much effort to make something that my little girl’s very excited. Thank you for sharing!Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (16)

  3. Ann December 19, 2021 @ 1:14 pm Reply

    Wowza! These were awesome. I tried your recipe because I was intrigued by your use of the spices. Absolutely delicious! I used bourbon because it goes nicely with the cocoa and pecans. Next time I may add a tad more liquid for a creamier texture.

    • Todd + Diane December 21, 2021 @ 9:31 am Reply

      Thanks Ann! The spices gives a nice layer of flavor. 🙂

  4. Helen December 6, 2021 @ 11:49 pm Reply

    I can’t wait to make these as holiday treats for my girlfriends. They’re gonna love these.Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (17)

  5. Carol December 17, 2020 @ 8:35 pm Reply

    YUM! I wasn’t a fan of rum balls before, but I tried this recipe with bourbon and now I think I’m addicted! This is definitely going into my cookie gift box this holiday.Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (18)

    • December 18, 2020 @ 9:17 am Reply

      Hi Carol. So glad you love them. We were in the same boat before having a good rum ball. Then always elicited a “meh” but after having and making good ones, we were hooked! Happy holidays!

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Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe or Easy Chocolate Bourbon Balls | White On (2024)

FAQs

Can you get buzzed from bourbon balls? ›

Can I get drunk from eating your bourbon balls? Highly unlikely. The balls are bite-sized, maybe two bite-sized, so you would have to eat a lot of them. You are more likely to experience a sugar high, than a buzz, so we feel it is a safe indulgence.

What can I substitute for vanilla wafers in rum balls? ›

While vanilla wafers are my favorite for their subtle sweetness and vanilla notes, graham crackers, butter cookies, digestive biscuits, or shortbread cookies are all excellent substitutes. For a gluten-free version, opt for gluten-free cookies.

Can you get tipsy from rum balls? ›

Can rum balls make you drunk? This is a no bake recipe, which means any alcohol we use in the process won't be cooked away or made less effective. However, we're not using that much of it, so getting drunk isn't something to worry about! After all, there's only ¼ cup of rum divided among 24 individual bites.

Why do my rum balls go flat? ›

Mixture should be very thick. At this stage it may be a little too soft or sticky because of our summer heat; so just pop in the fridge for a bit to prevent totally flat bottomed balls. Then take spoonfuls of the mixture and make your balls by rolling between your palms then roll in coconut.

Does rum chocolate have alcohol? ›

Spanish Rum Flavoured Chocolate Bar (Contains no Alcohol)

How much alcohol is in chocolate liquor? ›

Chocolate liquor is one of the key ingredients in any bar of chocolate. It's made from the nibs of cocoa beans, and contrary to what the name suggests, it doesn't contain any alcohol. Despite the misnomer, chocolate liquor helps give chocolate its distinctive taste and texture.

What can I use instead of chocolate wafers? ›

Other grocery store staples like chocolate sandwich cookies (with the filling scraped off) or chocolate graham crackers may also work as a viable sub for Nabisco's Famous Chocolate Wafers in some recipes. A pre-made chocolate pie crust could also do the trick in a pinch.

How long will rum balls keep in the fridge? ›

Store rum balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Alternatively, freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months and allow to come to room temperature before eating.

Are rum balls safe for kids? ›

small, soft, delicious bite-size chocolate rum balls

feel free to use coconut oil or butter in this recipe. you can easily substitute the rum with water or milk and make them appropriate for kids, pregnant ladies, or those who don't drink alcohol in general.

Does rum hit harder than vodka? ›

Rum does not get you more drunk than vodka. It's the amount of alcohol you consume in a given period of time, not the spirit per se that determines how drunk you get. For example a shot of vodka or rum (1.5 oz) will obviously enter the bloodstream faster than a co*cktail sipped slowly.

Does rum chocolate make you drunk? ›

Companies generally state that if you eat just one chocolate, you won't be at any kind of risk of serious intoxication, and the likelihood of your BAC being above . 01% is low.

How long can you store rum balls? ›

Yes! In fact, rum balls are better when made a day or two ahead. They'll last for a few weeks when stored in an airtight container in the fridge. If you like rum balls, you're sure to like other rum-flavored desserts such as Spiced Rum and Pear Cake, Spiced Eggnog Rum Cookies and Spiced Nut Rum Brittle.

Can rum balls go bad? ›

They're called a rum ball because they're made with a healthy dose of rum. Depending on the recipe used, they can be pretty stable but if you're not going to eat them within a few days they freeze quite well in a sealed freezer bag.

What is another name for rum balls? ›

Rum balls are a popular Christmas treat in England, Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the United States, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Greece and the Czech Republic. In Denmark they are enjoyed year round and known as either romkugle, trøffel or sputnik, depending on the specific region.

How do you thicken rum ball mixture? ›

Add more cocoa powder or ground almonds if the mixture needs thickening. Roll and coat: Bakery rum balls tend to be monstrously huge; I prefer to make them bite-sized at home. Roll tablespoon-sized pieces into balls, then roll in chocolate sprinkles to coat.

How many fireballs does it take to get buzzed? ›

For most people, 3-4 shots will be enough for you to at least feel tipsy.

How much bourbon does it take to get buzzed? ›

On an empty stomach, I'd say you could get drunk off 2–4 shots if you are a medium-weight drinker. On a full stomach I'd say it will take 4–6 shots. (1 shot = 1.5 ounces). For me, going over 6 shots is where I start to get sick (everything spins so I can't close my eyes if I try to sit down).

Can one Buzzballz get you drunk? ›

Buzzballz have a 15% ABV which is slightly more than a regular glass of wine. Before you can move on to the drunk phase, you will need to consume 3-4 Buzzballz.

Can whiskey candy get you drunk? ›

Maybe to no one's surprise at all, there's no good way to get a buzz on liqueur-filled candy. The fat and sugar just messes you up too much—and not the way SoCo can mess you up. It's like eating a bunch of cake icing and then doing a few shots.

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