Christmas Rum Balls(Or Bourbon Balls) Recipe - Food.com (2024)

106

Community Pick

Submitted by Bergy

"These balls are so quick and easy to make. They make a nice addition to the baked goodies that you give as gifts. Make these about a week before you want to serve them as they mellow and the sharp strong alcohol taste blends in more with the other ingredients. Store in a tin with a tight lid. This year I couldn't find the Vanilla wafers so I used chocolate and I like them even more. To form the balls I use two teaspoons as the dough is quite moist. I store them in the freezer - they don't go hard and they are so good ice cold"

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Ready In:
20mins

Ingredients:
6
Yields:

2 dozen

Serves:
24

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ingredients

  • 2 12 cups vanilla wafers, crushed (a 250g box of Christies vanilla wafers equals 2 1/2 cups)
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa
  • 1 14 cups icing sugar
  • 12 cup spiced rum (the rum is called Spiced Rum) or 1/2 cup Bourbon
  • 2 tablespoons white corn syrup (one brand is Karo)
  • 1 cup pecans or 1 cup walnuts, broken

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directions

  • Sift the cocoa with 1 cup sugar.
  • Stir in the spiced rum mixed with the syrup.
  • Add crushed vanilla wafers and nuts.
  • Mix thoroughly.
  • Shape mixture into walnut sizes balls and dredge with remaining sugar or leave them plain.
  • Store in a tin.

Questions & Replies

Christmas Rum Balls(Or Bourbon Balls) Recipe - Food.com (13)

  1. why wont my mixture stick together to make balls, what can I do?

    Beatrix S.

  2. Can you use dark rum instead of spiced rum?

    kfinegan72

  3. Do we store these in the fridge if just made and will take to a party in 2 days? Thanks!

    Jill G.

  4. Can you make this without the nuts?

    m8kithapn

see 4 more questions

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Reviews

  1. Fantastic! Not only are these both fast and easy to make, but the taste is terrific. Two comments: 1) I used a one-inch scoop and my yield was 40 rum balls; and 2) I'd recommend chilling the mixture for 15-30 mins before forming balls as it makes the process easier. Bergy, I'll be making these EVERY Xmas.

    Lennie

  2. I just finished a double batch and they are wonderful. I'm sure after they set a couple days they will be even better. The refridgeration for 30 min. made forming the balls much easier. I used brandy, only because that is what I prefer. This recipe was fast, easy, and I definitely plan on making them again. I will be putting them out for X-mas before dinner.

    Linda6

  3. I made one substitute for the rum I used cocoa liquer....yum!

    paulamatt

  4. These were VERY tasty and very easy to make! Pay attention to the "let them mellow for about a week"-it could not be more true! Most people forget or don't know that and are disappointed because the rum flavor is too strong. These rum balls need to "season" for at least a week, so plan ahead! I let mine sit in the fridge in a container for at least a week (and have made these weeks ahead of time and put them in the freezer - they don't harden!) and they come out lovely! I made two different versions of these this year: I used Nabisco Chocolate Wafer cookies and Malibu Rum (coconut rum); I also used vanilla wafers with Bailey's Irish Creme. They both were HUGE hits! Thanks for posting!! :)

    xpnsve

  5. I have been using this same recipe for years. Everyone loves them. I also add a little extra rum just for the reaction.

    bobchile

see 100 more reviews

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Tweaks

  1. I use molasses...fantastic flavor with the rum

    Terri C.

  2. Tasty! These are great, and let me preface that with the fact that I messed up all over the place. See, I started out making this one recipe--and I ground up 4oz dark chocolate with 1cup powdered sugar, then I realized that I actually was supposed to use granulated sugar, so I used that ground up chocolate and powdered sugar for these and just didn't add the cocoa. Then, I used amaretto and almonds instead of rum and pecans--delicious! I used Lennie's suggestion of refrigerating the dough before shaping and it was a breeze! Dredged them in powdered sugar to finish, and they just look great. Did I mention that this is my first time making these? Great recipe, fool proof. Love it!

    Dulcet Kitchen

  3. We made Rum Balls just like this in Germany for many years. Typically stale cake or sweet breads are used instead of the wafers. I used stale German Stolen (a kind of fruit bread) and substituted almonds for the nuts. This recipe is superb and can take on so many variations according to which "wafer" you use. Thank you for posting it for us.

    Jack King

  4. Delicious. We made these Gluten-free by using Mi-Del arrowroot cookies instead of vanilla wafers. We used 2 whole 8oz bags. We ended up with 81 balls, not 2 dozen. So yummy.

    Andrew Mollmann

  5. These were great! I made these as a last minute thought for a party- Since I didn't have time to let the rum mellow, I used Kahlua instead of rum and boy were they good! No mellowing time needed! The Kahlua was not too strong and the flavor mixed so well with the cocoa....I'm thinking to try Irish cream next. Thanks Bergy!

    Rushncook

see 3 more tweaks

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Bergy

Small town in the Okanagan, B.C.

  • 303 Followers
  • 1523 Recipes
  • 155 Tweaks

On January 10 2010 I will celebrate 9 years of Life with Zaar. I can't imagine being without it! It has become part of my daily routine. I feel very privileged to be one of the hosts on the Photo Forum. Taking photos of my culinary efforts is a full time hobby and I love it. My friends all know what to expect when they come to dinner "Are you finished taking pictures?" or "Did you get a photo of so & so?" I never let them wait too long and the food is NEVER cold! I now have over 6000 photos on Zaar - some fairly good and some definitely not so good. I am happy to say that practice does help. My roots are in Vancouver BC Canada - a very beautiful city that holds many wonderful memories for me. In 1990, I decided that for my retirement years I may want to settle in a smaller community and found a slice of heaven in the North Okanagan B.C. I love living here but every once in a while I miss the bright city lights, the Broadway shows and some of the small wonderful ethnic restaurants that Vancouver abounds in. That is easily resolved. I just take a trip to the coast, visit with friends for a weekend see a show and feast on Dim Sum or other specialty foods. I am getting a bit long in the tooth but was a very adventurous person. I have river rafted Hell's Gate on the Fraser river, been up in a glider over Hawaii (no not a Hang Glider!), gone hot air ballooning in the Napa Valley & the Fraser Valley, driven dune buggies on the dunes in Oregon, Para sailing in Mexico and tried many other adventurous, challenging, fun things. I have yet to try bungee jumping or sky diving. I may do them yet. I love to travel and experience other cultures. Mexco has been a favorite haunt. I have visited that lovely country many many times. Australia is another favorite as is England! In the past 16 months I have taken off 61 pounds and feel wonderful. I am off all medications and all systems are GO! In years I may be 79 but in spirit I am still in my forties. We are only as old as we allow ourselves to feel. Always think positive. Do something a bit challenging every day & always do something silly every day. Be a kid again! Laugh every day - it is internal jogging. Here are a few of my photos <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" allowNetworking="all" allowFullscreen="true" src="http://w615.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w615.photobucket.com/albums/tt233/Bergylicious/ABM slideshow/d95d7a18.pbw" height="360" width="480">

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Christmas Rum Balls(Or Bourbon Balls) Recipe  - Food.com (2024)

FAQs

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.

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.

What can I substitute for Nilla 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.

Is the alcohol cooked out of bourbon balls? ›

Since the balls aren't baked, the alcohol from the bourbon isn't cooked off, as it is in many other candies and desserts. "After eating one, you can smell the bourbon on you for a little while," says Chavez-Graziano.

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.

Does rum go bad if not refrigerated? ›

Thanks to their high alcohol content, most distilled spirits — including whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, and tequila — do not require refrigeration. However, if the temperature gets too high , the alcohol will expand and evaporate.

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.

Why is my rum cake bitter? ›

One of the most common misfortunes among bakers is that they are using too much baking soda or baking powder. Know that too much baking soda or baking powder in cakes will not just lead to a metallic and bitter taste, but it can also make a big mess in the oven as it will rise beyond expectations.

Do rum balls contain egg? ›

In bowl mix together walnuts, sweet chocolate, sugar and half the egg whites. Add enough rum to moisten mixture so it holds together to form dough. Shape mixture into 1" balls. Roll balls in remaining egg white, then in chocolate sprinkles.

Why do Nilla wafers taste different? ›

Originally flavored with real vanilla, Nilla wafers have been primarily flavored with synthetic vanillin since at least 1994, a change which prompted some criticism. Presently, Nilla wafers are described as having "natural and artificial flavor", according to the ingredients list on the box.

Can I substitute graham crackers for vanilla wafers? ›

2 Answers. Graham crackers should work well for you. I have used graham crackers and vanilla wafers interchangeably for several recipes. There are rum ball recipes that list several different crushed cookie options (using the same volume of each.)

Are vanilla wafers discontinued? ›

The bags on shelves right now are the last of the vanilla wafers. I spoke with a representative for Ferrero Roche, which owns Murray Foods, on Friday and another today to confirm the discontinuation.

Can kids have food cooked with bourbon? ›

In general, when parents allow it, foods containing alcohol are fine in small amounts and when not swimming in a drunken sauce. Kids who don't ordinary consume alcohol may find the taste disturbing as well.

Can kids eat food cooked with bourbon? ›

The choice is up to you. You may choose to use cooking methods that help to reduce the alcohol content and use less alcohol in a dish to make it safer for your child. Otherwise the safer option is to choose to leave out alcoholic drinks when preparing food for babies and children.

Can kids eat pie with bourbon in it? ›

Not enough to taste (you do taste the bourbon), and certainly not enough to harm a child, who will most likely be eating a smaller serving. It's my understanding that baking anything with alcohol in it safely evaporates (or “cooks out”) any alcoholic content.

How long can you keep rum balls for? ›

Step 2 -Spread coconut out on a shallow plate. Shape the mixture into walnut sized balls. Roll in the coconut and place on a plate and serve with tea or coffee. These can also keep in the fridge in an airtight container or in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.

How long can you store rum cake? ›

Storage: The rum cake can be stored, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, at room temperature for up to 5 days. Freezing: Rum cake can be frozen, wrapped twice in plastic wrap then aluminum foil and placed in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

How long does opened rum last in fridge? ›

Unopened rum can last for decades upon decades. But once the bottle is opened, rum goes pretty fast. Seaspirits Distillery, master rum distillers, recommend drinking a bottle of rum within 6 months of opening.

How long can you keep rum cream in the fridge? ›

Made up cream liqueurs can keep for 6 months if refrigerated, or 1 month at room temperature.

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