Rum Balls

These fun and festive no-bake chocolate Rum Balls are made easily with six ingredients in your food processor. They can be decorated to suit any occasion. I love to fix these for my friends and family for the holidays. Nothing says I love you, and I appreciate you like a big plate of these tasty goodies. They look gorgeous on my Christmas cookie platter every year.

The festive time of the year is approaching fast. I just love to make special goodies for my family and friends, but sometimes time constraints come into play. These gorgeous tasty treats come together in about thirty minutes, leaving plenty of time for all of life’s other chores and obligations. Do you do any baking and treat-making over the holidays? If so, you might like to try my Peanut Butter Fudge, Snowball Cookies, or Eggnog Truffles. Or simply put cookies in my search bar, and you will have dozens of choices for the holidays.

How to make Chocolate Rum Balls

First, grab your food processor and crumble up the vanilla wafers and almonds into fine cookie crumbs. If you don’t have a food processor, use a zipper freezer bag and a rolling pin. Then dump that mixture into a bowl and stir in the confectioners’ sugar and the cocoa. Once combined, add the rum and the corn syrup a little at a time alternating between the two. You want just enough for everything to pull into a dough that you can roll into balls. Roll into 1-inch balls and then roll the mixture through sprinkles or powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Helpful tips for making the best Rum Balls

• For the best flavor, use good quality unsweetened cocoa. I am a huge fan of Ghirardelli Cocoa.
• You can substitute other cookies like graham crackers or butter cookies for the vanilla wafers.
• A small cookie scoop comes in handy for uniform-size rum balls, but finish rolling them in your hands. 
• These tasty treats will last about two weeks if stored properly in an airtight container in the fridge. Or freeze for up to two months.
• You will definitely taste the alcohol in these treats but isn’t that the plan?
• These balls taste best after a couple of days in the fridge, where the ingredients can co-mingle, and the rum can mellow.
• Just roll these goodies in sprinkles, powdered sugar, cocoa, or coconut to suit any and all occasions.
• For a more complex flavor, substitute coconut rum, dark rum, or even spiced rum for light rum. They are all so darn delicious.
• Not a huge fan of corn syrup? No problem, use real maple syrup. Costco sells delectable organic maple syrup that gives them a wonderful unique flavor.
• You can substitute walnuts or pecans for the almonds. 
• Swap bourbon for the rum and make bourbon balls. 

What to decorate Rum Balls with:

• powdered sugar
• cocoa powder
• shredded coconut
• sprinkles
• crystal sugar
• toasted coconut
• finely chopped chocolate
• melted chocolate

Other candies you will love!

Buckeye Balls

Peanut Clusters

Cream Cheese Mints

Chocolate Turtles

Eggnog Truffles

Peanut Butter Fudge

Rum Balls Recipe

These fun and festive Chocolate Rum Balls are quick to come together, taste delicious, and are perfect for any special occasion.  These delicious homemade treats make a great hostess gift for holiday parties. 

5 from 21 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 balls

Calories: 162kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• 1 box 12 ounce vanilla wafer cookies
• 1 1/2 cups almonds
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 cup rum I use light rum but see notes
• 2 1/2 -3 tablespoons corn syrup

Instructions

• Using a food processor crush cookies and nuts until finely ground.  Move the contents to a large bowl. Stir in the powdered sugar and cocoa with a wooden spoon until well mixed.
• Add the rum and the corn syrup a little at a time alternating between the two.  You want just enough for everything to pull into a dough that you can roll into balls.
• Roll into one inch balls and then roll the mixture through sprinkles, powdered sugar, or cocoa.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Notes

• Use a good quality unsweetened cocoa.  I am a huge fan of Ghirardelli Cocoa.
• A small cookie scoop comes in handy for uniform size rum balls but finish rolling them in your hands. 
• These tasty treats will last about two weeks if stored properly in an airtight container in the fridge.  Or freeze for up to two months.
• You will definitely taste the alcohol in these treats but isn't that the plan.
• These balls taste best after a couple of days in the fridge where the ingredients can co-mingle and the rum can mellow.
• Just roll these goodies in sprinkles, powdered sugar, cocoa or coconut to suit any and all occasions.
• For a change of pace substitute coconut rum, dark rum, or even spiced rum for the light rum.  They are all so darn delicious.
• Not a huge fan of corn syrup?  No problem use real maple syrup.  Costco sells a delectable organic maple syrup that gives them a wonderful unique flavor.
• You can substitute walnuts or pecans for the almonds. 
• Swap bourbon for the rum and make bourbon balls. 

Nutrition

Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 158mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 0.1IU | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 1mg

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