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Rum Balls Recipe
You’ll love this easy, festive rum balls recipe! Share them at holiday gatherings or give them as beautiful homemade gifts.
Prep Time
20 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 50 balls
Calories: 69 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 3½ cups vanilla wafer cookies (250g)
- 1¼ cup pecans (135g)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (120g)
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup dark rum (80mL)
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor, add the nilla wafer cookies. Process for about 10 to 15 seconds, breaking up any large pieces until fine crumbs form. Transfer them to a large bowl.
- Place the pecans in the bowl of the food processor. Pulse 8 to 10 times until the pecans are finely chopped. Transfer to the large bowl with the nilla wafer crumbs.
- To the cookie mixture, sift the sugar, cocoa powder, and salt over top.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the rum and corn syrup until combined. Add the rum mixture to the dry ingredients and mix together with a spatula until the mixture is moistened evenly and holds together when squeezed. If there's any dry pocket, just pour a splash of rum in and mix.
- Use a tablespoon to scoop out enough of the mixture to make a ball that's just over an inch in diameter. Roll in the palms of your clean hands to make a smooth ball. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
- Roll the rum balls in more powdered sugar, cocoa powder, wafer crumbs, or finely chopped pecans to coat. Rum balls can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks or frozen for up to 3 months. They taste better after aging for a few days.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- If you don't have a food processor: You can crush the wafers in a zip-top plastic bag using a rolling pin. The pecans can be finely chopped by hand.
- If the dough has dry pockets: Add an additional splash of rum and continue mixing until the dough holds together when squeezed.
- Use a cookie scoop. To quickly form equal-sized balls, use a small cookie scoop to portion the dough. A #60 scoop (about 1 tablespoon volume) works well.
- Roll the balls in a coating immediately: The coating adds flavor and visual interest and prevents the balls from sticking together when stored. It's also important to coat them immediately so the coating actually sticks to the balls.
Nutrition Information
Calories
69kcal
(3%)
Carbohydrates
9g
(3%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
3g
(5%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Trans Fat
0.02g
Cholesterol
0.1mg
(0%)
Sodium
55mg
(2%)
Potassium
20mg
(1%)
Fiber
0.4g
(2%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Vitamin A
1IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
0.03mg
(0%)
Calcium
2mg
(0%)
Iron
0.1mg
(1%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 50balls
Amount Per Serving
Calories 69
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 69kcal | 3% |
| Carbohydrates | 9g | 3% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.02g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 0.1mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 55mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 20mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 0.4g | 2% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 1IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0.03mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 2mg | 0% |
| Iron | 0.1mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.