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Hi Bold Bakers!
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE:This Easy Rum Balls Recipe is Christmas in a bite! With a touch of booze, a hint of nuts, warm spices, and effortless prep, they’re the perfect holiday treat.
- No Bake: These treats come together in only 25 minutes and you don’t need to wait for a turn in the oven!
- 6 Pantry Ingredients: No time to go to the store? No problem! I’m sure you have everything you need in your pantry.
- Perfect gift idea: Easy to make, easy to pack, easy to ship! Here is how.
These might just be my favorite holiday treat! My recipe is inspired by the classic version from the 1950s, but I’ve elevated it with high-quality ingredients and a few extra tips to enhance that rich, nutty flavor. After years of perfecting this recipe, my top chef tip is to blend the cookies finely to make shaping them into balls much easier and to ensure they hold together beautifully. I recommend storing them in the fridge, but be sure to let them sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before enjoying. Just like with macarons, allowing them to warm slightly enhances both the flavor and texture!
Bold Bakers Loved This!
“I tried this recipe and was delicious and I really enjoyed with my friends . The best recipe ever.” – Roshni
“I just made these Rum Balls, and they were very well-liked by everybody!” – Yin
IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was improved and updated on 11/20/2024, to include explanations and substitutions of key ingredients, answers to the most frequently asked questions, and Pro Chef Tips.
Table Of Contents:
- What are Easy Rum Balls
- Tools You Need
- Key Ingredients and Substitute
- How to Make Rum Balls
- Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
- Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
- FAQs
- More No-Bake Cookie Recipes
What are Easy Rum Balls?
Rum Balls are a sweet bite-sized treat made of cookie crumbs soaked in rum and nuts.
- Holiday treat: These sweets are traditionally eaten at Christmas time in many countries in Europe and the recipe varies slightly from country to country.
- No bake: The proportion of wet and dry ingredients in this recipe makes these rum balls set without needing to go in the oven.
- Fudgy with a crunch: The best part of rum balls is that they become fudgy and you can play around with textures with your add-ins.
Tools You Need:
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Silicone spatula
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Food processor (or large ziploc bag and rolling pin)
Key Ingredients:
-
Vanilla Wafers
- Used traditionally because they are not overly sweet and have a subtile vanilla flavor that won’t overpower the other ingredients.
- Substitutes:
- My Homemade Vanilla Wafers: These work great here as the texture is almost identical.
- Graham Crackers: Their mild flavor is perfect here. Try making them yourself using my Homemade Graham Crackers Recipe
-
Pecans
- Provide texture and a delicious fragrance when toasted. Please ALWAYS TOAST YOUR NUTS!
- Substitutes:
- Nuts of your choice: Any nut will work here (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts or even peanuts).
-
Powdered Sugar
- It’s also known as “confectioner’s sugar” or “icing sugar”.
- This type of sugar is essential here as it is not a recipe where the sugar gets a chance to dissolve.
-
Cocoa Powder
- Perfect addition for a chocolatey flavor without the extra sweetness.
-
Maple Syrup
- Acts as a binder but also compliments the rum flavor for a holiday feel.
- Substitutes:
- Golden syrup: Great 1:1 swap but might not be as readily available.
- Honey: Also a 1:1 substitution but it will alter the flavor slightly.
-
Rum
- Iconic flavor in this Christmas recipe. If you can, go for dark rum
- Substitutes:
- Bourbon: This liquor will give you a very similar flavor profile.
- Brandy: Great substitution that will also add a little bit of frutiness.
How to Make Rum Balls
Prep
- Crush Vanilla Wafers: In a food processor, place your cookies and pulse until you obtain fine crumbs.
- Toast the pecans: Spread your pecans on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10 minutes in a 350° (180°C) oven.
- Chop pecans: Once cooled, roughly chop the pecans using a food processor or a sharp knife.
Make the “dough”
- In a large bowl add the vanilla cookie crumbs, 1 cup (5 oz/142 g) chopped pecans, powdered sugar, cocoa, maple syrup, and rum.
- Stir until a sticky dough forms.
- At this point chill the cookie mixture in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
Shape
- Using a tablespoon measure, scoop a level tablespoon of the mix then roll into a ball. Repeat the process until all of the balls are rolled.
- Once all of the balls have been rolled, coat each one in the remaining ½ cup (2½ oz/71 g) pecans.
- Cover and store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips:
- Make a batch of these rum ball cookies at the beginning of December and freeze them so you always have homemade treats for unexpected guests during the holiday season.
- Keep this recipe handy to repurpose your leftover Christmas cookies!
- To make these no bake rum balls even fancier, dip them in melted chocolate and add your favorite sprinkles on top.
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions:
Make Ahead:
- Prepare your cookie crumbs: Make crumbs out of different kinds of cookies and keep them in your pantry until you are ready to turn them into balls.
- Toast and chop your nuts: This will make an easy recipe even easier! Toast and chop the nuts of your choice and keep them handy in the fridge.
- Make now, use later: These rum balls don’t need to be consumed fresh. So get ahead of your holiday baking by making them in advance.
Storage:
- Room Temperature: You can leave these rum ball cookies out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
- Refrigeration: Rum balls keep really well in an airtight container in the fridge, up to 4 days!
- Freezer: The best way to freeze is by placing the balls in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen solid, transfer into a ziploc bag and keep in the freezer for up to 1 month. When ready to eat just let them thaw in the counter for 10 minutes.
FAQS
The beauty of this recipe is that you can use it as a guide and make it your own!
Can I make these gluten free?
- Absolutely! Substitute Vanilla Wafers for any gluten free cookie of your choice.
Can I make these rum balls vegan?
- Yes. The only non-vegan ingredient here is the cookies. You can substitute them with Golden Oreos and you are set!
Can I make this recipe without alcohol?
- Definitely! Make these treats kid-friendly by substituting the rum with apple juice or orange juice.
- If you want the rum flavor without the alcohol you can use 1/4 teaspoon of rum extract.
Can I omit the pecans?
- Yes. Use the nuts of your choice here!
- You can also make them nut-free for an allergy-friendly dessert. If you leave the nuts out, I would recommend adding some chopped chocolate or shredded coconut for texture.
Get More Cookie Recipes!
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IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was improved and updated on 11/20/2024, to include explanations and substitutions of key ingredients, answers to the most frequently asked questions, and Pro Chef Tips.
Try These Recipes!
Watch The Recipe Video!
No-Bake Classic Rum Ball Cookies Recipe
Made with ground pecan, cookie crumbs, and of course rum, the flavor of these No-Bake Classic Rum Ball Cookies are classic for a reason!
Servings: 20 Cookie Balls
Made with ground pecan, cookie crumbs, and of course rum, the flavor of these No-Bake Classic Rum Ball Cookies are classic for a reason!
Servings: 20 Cookie Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup (3 oz/85 g) ground vanilla wafers
- 1 ½ cups (7 ½ oz/213 g) toasted, chopped pecans, divided
- 1 cup (4 oz/115 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons rum
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the vanilla cookie crumbs, 1 cup (5oz/142g) pecans, powdered sugar, cocoa, maple syrup, and rum.
- Mix until a sticky dough forms. At this point chill the cookie mixture for about 2 hours.
- Using a tablespoon measure, scoop a level tablespoon of the mix then roll into a ball. Repeat the process until all of the balls are rolled.
- Once all of the balls have been rolled, coat each one in the remaining ½ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) pecans.
- Cover and store in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
Recipe Notes
- Vanilla wafers: Feel free to use any plain cookie or biscuit (e.g./ rich tea, NICE biscuits etc)
- Make a batch of these rum ball cookies at the beginning of December and freeze them so you always have homemade treats for unexpected guests during the holiday season.
- Keep this recipe handy to repurpose your leftover Christmas cookies!
- To make these no bake rum balls even fancier, dip them in melted chocolate and add your favorite sprinkles on top.
Hi. I loved all these recipes and really want to try them this holiday. I have a question about the Rum balls. Can I use spiced rum to replace the plain rum in the recipe? Will it go with the cocoa?
This has been a family tradition forever, but now I’m faced with a niece who eats gluten free. Any suggestions to adapt?
Hi Gemma,
I tried them today and I didn’t get a dough form! They fall apart if I hold it in my hand! I added more maple and put them in the fridge but nothing has changed, I can’t roll them and don’t want to add more maple because it’s getting too sweet for me. Where did I go wrong? And how can I fix them?
I followed the exact recipe.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Gemma, thinking of making this recipe for the holidays. Can you make them before hand? How can I store them to make sure they remain fresh?
I just made these Rum Balls, and they were very well-liked by everybody!
Hi, wanting to make these at the weekend but we really don’t like nuts, what could u substitute, would coconut be okay?
Do share the Rumballs recipe – the one where they are baked..
Do you have a recipe for boozy brownies
Just going to make these, but I’m always confused in recipes that involve cookie crumbs. Is it one cup of cookies, or one cup of crumbs. There is a difference. Thanks!
Yes, a bit crumbly, I had to add extra maple syrup and rum to get the right consistency. I remember my Mother making these for our Christmas Eve parties. Loved them and hope these turn out as I remember them.
Hi, would love to make these, but would imitation rum extract work? Really want the rum flavor but not the alcohol.