Bold Baking Basics

Boozy Holiday Rum Balls

4.80 from 20 votes
What's no-bake, super simple, and perfect for the season? My Boozy Holiday Rum Balls recipe! Plus, they're even better if you like rum.
Top-down view of a bunch of rum balls.

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Hi Bold Bakers!

My homemade Boozy Holiday Rum Balls have everything you could want in a holiday dessert! First, they’re super delicious. Second, they are so easy to make (you can even make them ahead and freeze them to avoid spreading yourself too thin around the holidays when it comes to cooking and baking!), and third? The third is my favorite part — they’re so warming because they’re a little bit boozy! 

[ Try my other 3 No-Bake Christmas Cookie Balls! ]

Definitely not one for the kids! (Although you can make these non-alcoholic — check out my tips down below!)

My simple rum balls are so soft when you bite into them, and the flavor is just packed with chocolate, walnuts, and dark rum! 

This is a no-bake recipe with just a few steps, so you have no excuse not to give them a go!

What Are Rum Balls?

Rum balls are a pretty popular holiday treat because they’re a crowd-pleaser, so easy to make, and have a pretty great shelf-life for something homemade (up to 2 weeks!).

They’re made using vanilla cookie crumbs, toasted chopped walnuts, cocoa, and spiced rum. All you have to do is throw everything into a bowl, mix it up, and roll it into balls! 

They are boozy, though, so if spiced rum isn’t your thing, you might want to skip it. (Or try bourbon!)

Boozy Holiday Rum Balls in a tin, ready for gifting.

What You Need To Make Holiday Rum Balls

How To Make Holiday Rum Balls

Ready for one of the easiest holiday recipes you could ever ask for (with amazing results!)? Try these rum balls! (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below):

  1. Combine vanilla wafers, walnuts, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a large bowl.
  2. Stir in the rum and honey until it is all combined.
  3. Scoop out about 25 heaping tablespoons of dough and roll them into balls. Then, roll the balls in either powdered sugar or more cocoa powder! 
  4. That’s it. Can you believe it? 

A close-up of my Holiday Rum Balls recipe.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Holiday Rum Balls

  • No vanilla wafers? Use graham crackers, digestive biscuits, or even crushed Parle-G biscuits!
  • Or, make them extra special by making them with homemade vanilla wafershomemade graham crackers, or homemade digestive biscuits! 
  • Walnuts not your thing? Replace them with pecans or hazelnuts. 
  • If you prefer bourbon or whiskey, you can use either one in place of the spiced rum.
  • You can make these non-alcoholic by replacing the rum with 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract or imitation rum extract and 6 tablespoons of water.

How Do I Store Rum Balls?

Leftover rum balls can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature or the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze them; just be sure to bring them to room temperature before serving! 

The inside of my Holiday Rum Balls recipe!

Make More Holiday Recipes!

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!

Full (and printable) recipe below!

Boozy Holiday Rum Balls Recipe

4.80 from 20 votes
What's no-bake, super simple, and perfect for the season? My Boozy Holiday Rum Balls recipe! Plus, they're even better if you like rum.
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 25 Rum Balls
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chill 45 minutes
What's no-bake, super simple, and perfect for the season? My Boozy Holiday Rum Balls recipe! Plus, they're even better if you like rum.
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 25 Rum Balls

Ingredients

  • 3 ¼ cups (12oz/340g) vanilla wafers, crushed
  • 1 ½ cups (7½oz/213g) walnuts, toasted and finely chopped
  • ¾ cup (3oz/85g) powdered sugar plus more for rolling
  • ¼ cup (1oz/28g) cocoa powder plus more for rolling
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (4floz/115ml) dark rum
  • 3 tablespoons honey warmed slightly

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine vanilla wafers, walnuts, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt.
  • Stir in the rum and honey until thoroughly combined.
  • Scoop out about 25 heaping tablespoons of dough and roll into balls, then roll in either powdered sugar or cocoa powder.
  • Store in an airtight container either at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
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Mindy
Mindy
3 years ago

Real vanilla extract has alcohol in it, too, so if you’re going to replace it for that reason, use the fake stuff (and make sure that choice doesn’t have alcohol, either, as some of the imitation ones have it as well) 😀

Divya Raj
Divya Raj
3 years ago

Tried this for my sister’s birthday and everyone just loved it .. thanks for this simple but awesome recipe ♥️

Linda
Linda
3 years ago

Hi Gemma,
I really like the recipes in your cookbook, especially how you can make up eg cake & pastry flour, buttermilk, etc.
I am allergic to certain nuts eg, walnut, pecan, hazelnut, and peanuts I can tolerate a little better. Any ideas on what substitute(s) I good use for making the rum balls.

Ayushi Singhal
Ayushi Singhal
3 years ago

I love your recipes and am excited to try this one. I don’t have any rum handy, but do have Kahlua and Malibu. Do you think either of those would work? I have all the other ingredients so want to give this a try. Thanks Gemma!

annie
annie
3 years ago

What a wonderful beautiful easy recipe. Will definitely try this one. Just a question. Can I dip the balls in melted chocolate

Cyndi
Cyndi
3 years ago

Just made these. Didn’t have nilla wafers super I used graham crackers. Dough was too dry and hard to work with and tasted like graham crackers. So I added another 1/4 c rum and that worked and improved the taste a great deal. Balls are rather gooey so I’m chilling them before I coat with cacao. Might increase the cocoa next time as well.

Betty Ann Spink
Betty Ann Spink
3 years ago

could i use oreo crumbs instead of vanilla ?

Kim
Kim
3 years ago

My son is allergic to nuts. Any suggestions, Gemma?

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About Us

Meet Gemma

About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

 

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