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!
Print
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.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 balls
- Category: dessert
- Method: no bake
- Cuisine: American
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.
Keywords: chocolate rum balls, how to make rum balls, rum ball cookies
On the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Fransic verso
Wow, these are so festive and fun. Definitely would be perfect for holiday nights as Christmas. They are so easy to make and everyone loves them!
★★★★★
pooja
Love the run balls recipe. My son and I love rum balls. Your recipe was easy to follow and delicious!
★★★★★
Renata
I wonder if you can make them without the alcohol in them, because I just don’t like the taste of alcohol in dishes or treats
Tammy
Oh I love rum truffles! These look so delicious and festive! I have to make them for this year…they’ll be a hit!
Edgar
These Rum balls are really yummy! I topped mine with toasted coconut and they were fabulous.
Healing Oils
I can practically taste these rum balls in my mouth. This is such a great desert idea for the holidays.
★★★★★
Glass Mosaic Tiles
I’ve never done rum balls before! I am so excited to try out your recipe, I can’t wait…
Melanie E
The rum balls are so Christmassy and colorful. They are the perfect treat to enjoy over Christmas. I’ve not made them with wafer cookies before.
★★★★★
Gervin Khan
Wow! These rum balls were absolutely delicious and yummy! A perfect treat for this coming Holiday season! The kids loved them!
★★★★★
Cinny
Those look so adorable and festive! I wish I was that talented at cooking.
Alita
This is the perfect Christmas gift for my friend! I’m saving this for the holidays for sure.
★★★★★
Stephanie
I always enjoy rum balls at the holidays, but have never made them myself before. This is so easy and I love being able to make them in all types of flavors and decorations.
★★★★★
Beth
Amazing! I can’t really think of anything better than booze-infused chocolate treats. Yummo!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
LOL! Thanks, Beth! Enjoy!
Nyxie
These are so festive! I’ve honestly never heard of rum balls before, but I’m sure these taste delicious. But I have to admit it would be a shame to eat them!
Whitney Stewart
To say I love sweets would be an understatement; especially holiday themed treats. These rum balls sounds absolutely fantastic too! Plus they don’t sound all the difficult to make either! I may have to try these out!
★★★★★
Manda
Can I substitute shortbread cookies for vanilla wafers?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can.
Leanne
This was a super easy recipe. Mine tasted awful though because I used a cheap, home brew rum lol. Invest in good rum if you want good rum balls.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
True! Next time use a good rum and you will love them.
Martha A. Johnson
Could you maybe use rum flavoring and water instead of rum for kids?
Beth Pierce
Sorry I have not tried. Maybe one of the readers has tried.
Karen Laliberte
What can I use instead of rum so I can make some separate for the kids or those that don’t like rum.
Beth Pierce
If you do a little research on the internet it says you can substitute apple or orange juice. However I have not tried them so I am unsure how they taste or the end result.
Jeni
I have used eggnog for the kids.
Suzy
Loved how these came out! So delicious!
★★★★★
Beti
These are SO yummy!! Such a fantastic treat!
★★★★★
katerina
The perfect little treat! I love rum balls!
★★★★★
Toni
It was a huge hit at my house!! Doing it again for the holidays!
★★★★★
Kerri
Rum Balls are always a holiday treat for us! We love making them and giving them as gifts! Can’t wait to try this version out!
Erin
These chocolate Rum Balls would disappear in our house!
★★★★★
Sandi
These will make the best gifts. They are absolutely adorable and who doesn’t love rum and chocolate flavors?
★★★★★
Jacque Hastert
These are perfect for the holidays! I will be adding these to my cookie platter menu for sure. Thanks for sharing and I will be back to let you know how they turned out.
★★★★★
Denay
I’m so excited about this delicious Christmas recipe! My family loves rum balls. They’re the perfect holiday gift.
★★★★★
Lisa
Mmmm rum balls! Saving this one for the holidays. Such a great gift idea and love how easy they are to make!
★★★★★
Toni
These are really perfect treats! So good and delish!
★★★★★
Jen
Rum balls are the easiest thing to make, which is good, since these always disappear fast around here. I’m loving all the add-in options. Gives them a fun twist!
★★★★★