Easy 6 ingredient Rum Balls

Rum Balls are boozy no-bake treats that pack a punch! Chocolate, pecans, and rum-are a decadent combination. Great for holiday cookie trays and gifting. These are an adult-only treat!

Years ago, a friend brought Rum Balls to a cookie exchange, and I fell in love with them. She shared the recipe with me, and without fail, I make them every year for Christmas. They are the perfect addition to a cookie tray and make delicious gifts. Believe me, your friends will LOVE these boozy treats!

Why you should make Rum Balls

• You only need 6 simple ingredients
• No baking required
• Easy to make
• Made in 20 minutes or less
• They are decadent!
• Can be made ahead of time

What are the ingredients?

• Vanilla wafers-The vanilla wafers provide the body for these treats. You can use low-fat or regular vanilla wafers.
• Pecans-add bulk and flavor. Take them to the next level by toasting them in the oven. Most rum balls recipes are made with pecans. Experiment with your favorite nut. I think that Hazelnuts or walnuts would be delicious in this recipe.
• Confectioners sugar-offsets the bitterness of the cocoa powder.
• Dark rum-provides flavoring and acts as a binder. Myer's Dark Rum is my favorite rum to use in this recipe. However, use what you have on hand or your favorite brand. If you are not a fan of rum, substitute bourbon.
• Cocoa-provides rich chocolate flavor and color.
• Light corn syrup-helps bind the ingredients. Honey or maple syrup can be substituted for light corn syrup.

Instructions

Make wet ingredient mixture

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Combine cocoa, confectioners sugar, rum, and light corn syrup in a bowl. Whisk until most of the confectioners sugar dissolves.

Prepare pecans and vanilla wafers

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1. Finely grind pecans by pulsing them in a food processor and set aside.
2. Crush vanilla wafers in a food processor.
3. Add ground pecans to the vanilla wafers.
4. In the food processor, pulse several times until the pecans and vanilla wafers are combined.

Combine wet and dry ingredients

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Pour wet ingredients into the vanilla wafer-pecan mixture. Pulse until the mixture is combined.

Finish Rum Balls

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1. Make balls using a #40 scoop, which is about 1-½ tablespoons. It is 1-½ inches in diameter, slightly smaller than a ping pong ball. If you prefer smaller rum balls, pinch off as much dough as you like and roll it into a ball.
2. Roll the balls in confectioners sugar.
3. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Pro Tips

• The rum balls get better with age. It is best to let them rest at least 2 days before you eat them.
• Store them in the refrigerator, or they will get stale and lose flavor.
• Be sure that your pecans are fresh and not rancid.
• Use good quality cocoa.
• If the dough becomes too soft to roll into balls, place it in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

Coating options

While I like to coat my rum balls in confectioners sugar, other options include cocoa or chopped pecans. For a festive look, roll them in holiday sprinkles.

How long do they stay fresh?

To keep them fresh, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They hold up to a month in the refrigerator. However, they can also be frozen for up to 2 months. After refrigeration or freezing them, you may need to re-roll the rum balls in confectioners sugar.

Gifting Ideas

These easy rum balls make the perfect gift. The following are two great options when gifting them.

1. Candy gift bags are a great inexpensive option.
2. Alternatively, put them in candy cups and place the cups in holiday candy boxes.

I hope you try this recipe! Please rate it and comment below. I love hearing from you!

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