These rum balls are a blend of liquor, chocolate, pecans and cookie crumbs, all rolled together and coated with sprinkles. The perfect dessert or gift option for the holidays that’s sure to be a hit with family and friends.
There’s nothing better than homemade treats, especially around the holidays. I like to offer peanut brittle, chocolate covered Oreos, elegant eggnog cake, or these delightful little rum balls to my guests.
When the holidays roll around, I spend plenty of time in the kitchen making festive treats. These no-bake rum balls take just minutes to put together, and they’re the perfect blend of nuts and chocolate.
These rum balls are one of my favorite Christmas desserts along with peppermint bark, Christmas crack, peanut butter blossoms, cake truffles and reindeer chow.
Table of Contents
Rum Balls Ingredients
This rum balls recipe is made with vanilla wafer cookies (such as Nilla brand), pecans, chocolate chips, rum, powdered sugar, light corn syrup, vanilla extract, salt and sprinkles.
How Do You Make Rum Balls?
Making rum balls is all about mixing the flavorful ingredients into a pool of melted chocolate. First melt some chocolate in the microwave in a large bowl. Stir sifted powered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) into the chocolate. Mix in dark rum, vanilla and corn syrup. In a separate bowl, take some crushed vanilla wafers, pecans and salt, and stir them together. The wafers and pecans go into the chocolate mixture and your “dough” is complete. After the dough chills a bit in the fridge, roll up the dough into balls. Dip those balls into sprinkles, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Candy
- Keep the dough chilled to make it easier to roll it into balls. If the dough warms up too much to roll, put it back in the refrigerator for a few minutes. You can coat your hands with a little cooking spray if you find the dough sticking to your hands.
- I use a food processor to easily crush my cookies and nuts into fine pieces.
- Chill your rum balls on a baking sheet or sheet pan.
- Use a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon measuring spoon to gather the dough for the 1 inch balls.
- Feel free to make these a couple of days ahead of when you want to serve them. The extra time helps the crushed cookies in the balls absorb the rum flavor. Store the balls in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve them.
Quick Tip
The measurements in the recipe are for the whole cookies and pecans. Measure them out first, then crush them second.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, these balls do contain alcohol. Since the rum is never cooked, the alcohol remains in the balls. Rum balls have a bit of a kick and are not for anyone under the age of 21
If you store these treats in an airtight container in a cool area, they do not need to be refrigerated. However, these balls hold together better, last longer and taste better if refrigerated. I highly recommend refrigerating these treats in an airtight container.
These treats stay fresh in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Serve them chilled out of the refrigerator or let them thaw on the counter. Don’t store these candies in a warm area. The balls will soften and become harder to eat if they become warm. Storing the balls at a warm temperature will decrease the time that they stay fresh.
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Flavor Variations
While these treats are delicious as-is, you can switch up the ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
- Coatings: While I like the festive look of the sprinkles, you can also coat your balls in more chopped nuts, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, finely shredded coconut, or simply leave them plain. Another great option would be to dip them in dark or white chocolate.
- Nuts: You can easily swap out the pecans for almonds or walnuts.
- Cookies: Instead of vanilla wafers, try graham crackers or Oreo cookies for a different flavor.
- Alcohol: No rum on hand? You can also use brandy or cognac. You could also use bourbon to make bourbon balls.
- Non-Alcoholic: If you want a booze free version, you can substitute the rum with apple juice or orange juice, or a mixture of the two. The flavor will change depending on what juice you use.
These rum balls are a festive and fun holiday treat. They are full of complex flavors and have just the right amount of kick to liven up any party or gathering. You can even make a cookie tray with these rum balls and some of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes like Christmas wreath cookies, thumbprint cookies and snowball cookies!
More Festive Treats You’ll Enjoy
Rum Balls Video
Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Rum Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips do not use Nestle brand as they do not melt well
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dark rum
- 3 cups vanilla wafers crushed (such as Nilla wafers)
- 1 cup pecans crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup sprinkles
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Start by microwaving the chocolate for 35 seconds. Stir the chocolate and microwave it for an additional 20 seconds. Repeat until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
- Pour the powdered sugar into the melted chocolate through a sifter or a strainer. Stir the powdered sugar into the melted chocolate.
- Pour the dark rum, corn syrup and vanilla into the chocolate mixture. Mix everything
together until it is smooth. - In a separate bowl, mix together crushed vanilla wafers, crushed pecans and salt.
- Stir the vanilla wafer mixture into the chocolate mixture until everything is evenly
distributed. - Cover the mixture and chill it for 20-30 minutes.
- Remove the mixture from the refrigerator and roll 1 inch balls.
- Dip each of the balls in sprinkles, chill them in the refrigerator until firm and serve.
Notes
- Feel free to make these a couple of days ahead of when you want to serve them. The extra time helps the crushed cookies in the balls absorb the rum flavor. Store the balls in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve them.
- I use a food processor to easily crush my cookies and nuts into fine pieces.
- The measurements in the recipe are for the whole cookies and pecans. Measure them out first, then crush them second.
Instead of the vanella wafers I used oreos and that way I didn’t have to use the chocolate either your recipe is fantastic
Hi, can I use graham cracker crumbs instead of vanilla crumbs. Where I live seems they are a rarity. Thanks
Yes that should work fine!
For the 3 cups vanilla wafers, do you measure out 3 cups of whole cookies and then crush those? Or do you crush a bunch of vanilla wafers and then measure out 3 cups of already crushed cookies? Same question for the 1 cup of pecans. Thank you so much for your help!
Measure then crush for both!
Thank you for the wonderful and yummy recipe!
What do you recommend instead if the nestle ?
Guittard or Ghirardelli!
The 1 cup of crushed pecans-are you measuring 1 cup before or after the crushing?
I would like to make a nut-free version. Any recommendations for a peanut/treenut free substitution?
You could try using more vanilla wafers but I haven’t tested it this way! Or finely shredded coconut could possibly work.
Can you use rum extract?
You could but you’d still need to add 1/2 cup of liquid such as apple juice or something similar.
New family favorite! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Does it have to be dark rum? I been gifted a huge bottle of rum and this would be a good use.
What type of rum is it?
I’ve made rum balls with spiced rum, coconut rum, and Bacardi 151.
wonderful! Suggest not leaving this basket of goodies on neighbor’s doorstep(she wasn’t home): The squirrel gang loved the nuts!
Rum Balls have always been a favorite! These ones are so festive!
Someone gave me rum balls last year but they were sub-par (shhhh….don’t tell)! These are amazing – perfectly pretty and so festive. Love!
My kids had so much fun making these…anything that involves playing with their hands….
This is a family favorite, thanks for the easy recipe!
Love the subtle rum kick, these balls are a delicious snack!
This reminds me so much of my grandmother! She used to make rum balls. I can’t wait to add these to my Christmas treats.
These look so tasty and I bet they are a blast to make!
I’m curious if I could substitute graham crackers crumbs for the nilla wafers. Any idea on that one?
Yes that should be fine!
I skip melting the chocolate chips and just use 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. I also add 2 teaspoons of espresso powder to my rum balls because coffee enhances the taste of chocolate. I also omit the corn syrup and up the powdered sugar to 1 cup. This makes them easier to make and they are super delicious!!
Thanks for the powered sugar idea!
Made these first time today… look pretty very nice subtle rum taste… won’t be the last time!
These are incredible ! I dipped half in sprinkles and half in powdered sugar. I added this recipe to my Xmas cookie baking tradition