In search of a simple, no-bake deal with that’s full of daring, boozy taste? These rum balls are a vacation must-have, excellent for gifting, gatherings, or including to your festive cookie tray!
Deal with your vacation friends to those wealthy, chocolatey rum balls! Made with vanilla wafer crumbles soaked in rum, chocolate, powdered sugar, and a smattering of sprinkles, this simple no-bake recipe delivers a daring, boozy taste that intensifies over time. Like my Baileys Irish Cream Cookie Balls, they’re the perfect make-ahead dessert in your festive gatherings.
They arrive collectively tremendous rapidly and simply. Plus, they’re tremendous simple to make your personal by utilizing completely different cookie crumbs, experimenting with numerous sweets, and/or swapping the rum for bourbon or brandy. Add them to your vacation traditions right this moment!
These Rum Balls Belong on Each Cookie Tray
Positive, cut-out sugar cookies are nice, however generally, you’ve gotta toss something new at your vacation cookie tray. These rum balls are an excellent answer. Right here’s why:
- Wealthy, boozy taste. These no-bake treats are full of a daring rum taste that deepens over time, making them a super vacation indulgence.
- Simply customizable. Swap out components to fit your style—use completely different cookies for the bottom, experiment with numerous sweets, or substitute rum with bourbon or brandy. Take a look at the “Variation Concepts” part for inspiration.
- Make-ahead magic. This easy no-bake recipe is a vacation lifesaver! Rum balls could be ready prematurely and saved at room temperature for as much as 2 weeks (they really style finest a day or two after making them). Make a giant batch and take them to each vacation gathering in your calendar.
Recipe Elements
Prepared to go to the shop? Right here’s a purchasing record for you. Please see the recipe card under for actual measurements.
- Crumbled vanilla wafers – I like to recommend Nabisco’s Nilla wafer cookies, however graham crackers work effectively too. Shortbread cookies are an alternative choice, although they could make softer balls, so that you’ll wish to add further crumbs for a firmer texture.
- Finely chopped toasted pecans – The pecans are non-compulsory, however I like the additional crunch. Walnuts would additionally work.
- Powdered sugar – Don’t attempt to use a unique type of sugar right here. The powdered sugar yields a pleasant, clean texture. One thing like granulated sugar or brown sugar will land you with gritty rum balls.
- Corn syrup – Gentle or darkish. Gentle corn syrup is good with a touch of vanilla, whereas darkish corn syrup has a extra sturdy, molasses-like taste. Choose your favourite!
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips – I solely examined semi-sweet chocolate, however different kinds ought to work high-quality. You could possibly use milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or darkish chocolate chips as an alternative. Darkish chocolate might dry the balls out a bit extra although.
- Darkish rum – Myers Authentic Darkish Rum has my vote, however any darkish rum will do. Brandy, cognac, bourbon, or whisky may even work.
- Ornamental additions – Powdered sugar and sprinkles. When you’re utilizing sprinkles, you’ll have to brush the balls with corn syrup to assist them adhere.
The best way to Make Rum Balls
Time to get rollin’! Right here’s a fast take a look at make this simple no-bake dessert. You’ll discover extra detailed directions within the recipe card under.
In a meals processor, pulse collectively the vanilla wafer crumbs, pecans, and powdered sugar till you see high-quality crumbs. Switch to a big bowl.
In a microwave-safe bowl, warmth the corn syrup, chocolate chips, and rum in 15-20 second increments, stirring between every, till clean.
Combine the chocolate combination into the crumbs to make a “dough”.
Kind the dough into 1-tablespoon-sized balls. Roll the balls in powdered sugar and/or sprinkles*.
Suggestions for Success
These rum balls are tremendous fast and simple to make. That mentioned, you’ll wish to preserve the next suggestions and tips in thoughts for the most effective outcomes:
- Combine moist and dry components individually. For a clean, even combination, mix the dry components in a single bowl and the moist components in one other earlier than mixing them collectively. This helps stop clumping.
- Soften the chocolate gently. When melting the chocolate chips with the corn syrup and rum, microwave briefly 15-20 second bursts, stirring between every. This prevents the chocolate from burning and helps guarantee a clean consistency.
- Work rapidly. The chocolate within the combination will begin to agency up because it cools. So, roll the dough into balls proper after combining the components to make sure they stick collectively and are simple to form.
- Allow them to relaxation. Whilst you can eat these rum balls straight away, the flavour and texture will enhance considerably in the event you allow them to sit in an hermetic container for a day or two. The best way the rum taste melds with the opposite components is to die for.
- Present them. Seize a set of festive mini sweet liners and pop every rum ball in a mini-liner, type of like a chocolate truffle. They make fantastic presents!
How Do I Get The Sprinkles To Stick?
These rum balls aren’t tremendous sticky or moist, so getting sprinkles to stay takes an additional step. Pour a bit of corn syrup right into a bowl and use a brush (like this silicone brush) to calmly cowl the ball, then roll within the sprinkles. It takes a bit of further work, however they do look nice that method.
Variation Concepts
Feeling inventive? Nice! These rum balls are extremely customizable. Listed here are just a few concepts for you:
- White chocolate twist. Swap semi-sweet chocolate chips for white chocolate chips, and use white rum or a flavored liqueur like amaretto for a sweeter profile.
- Coconutty vibe. Exchange darkish rum with coconut rum for a tropical twist, and roll the balls in shredded coconut as an alternative of powdered sugar/sprinkles.
- Espresso rum balls. Add 1-2 teaspoons of immediate espresso powder to the chocolate combination for a coffee-infused taste that pairs completely with the rum.
- Spice issues up. Use spiced rum as an alternative of darkish rum, and add a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to the crumb combination for further warming vacation taste.
Storing Rum Balls
- Countertop. Retailer the rum balls in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as two weeks. The flavour truly deepens and improves after a day or two!
- Freezer. You possibly can freeze rum balls in a freezer-safe hermetic container for as much as three months. Allow them to thaw at room temperature, then re-roll them in powdered sugar earlier than serving for the most effective outcomes.
Extra Christmas Cookie Recipes
No-Bake Vacation Rum Balls
In search of a simple, no-bake deal with that’s full of daring, boozy taste? These customizable rum balls are a vacation must-have, excellent for gifting, gatherings, or including to your festive cookie tray!
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Stop your display from going darkish
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Add the vanilla wafer crumbs, pecans (if utilizing), and powdered sugar to a meals processor and pulse till you’ve gotten high-quality crumbs. Pour into a big bowl and put aside.
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Add the corn syrup, chocolate chips, and rum to a different microwave-safe medium-sized bowl and warmth in 15-20 second increments till melted and clean.
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Pour the chocolate combination into the crumbs and stir till the crumbs are effectively coated and all the pieces is evenly mixed.
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Make 1-tablespoon-sized balls from the combination. Roll them proper after making the combination, so the chocolate doesn’t agency up and make them more durable to roll.
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Roll the balls in powdered sugar and/or sprinkles. For powdered sugar, you’ll be able to roll them by hand or place them in a shallow container or bag and gently shake them. For a thicker coating, roll them a few instances. If utilizing sprinkles, brush the balls with a bit of corn syrup, then roll them within the sprinkles.
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Retailer the rum balls in an hermetic container for as much as two weeks. These get higher as they sit—after a day or two, they’re at their finest. It’s also possible to freeze them for as much as 3 months. If freezing, re-roll them in powdered sugar earlier than serving.
- Vanilla Wafers: I like to make use of Nabisco’s Nilla wafer cookies. When you can’t discover these or one thing related, graham crackers work effectively. Shortbread cookies is also an choice, however they could end in softer balls (or add further crumbs for firmer texture).
- Rum: I like to recommend utilizing Meyers Authentic Darkish Rum.
- Gifting: For gifting, think about using festive mini sweet liners.
The diet information supplied are calculated utilizing a third-party software and are estimates solely. Precise dietary content material might differ based mostly on the components and types you employ, in addition to portion sizes. For correct outcomes, please seek the advice of a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
