Easy, festive, boozy rum balls — what’s not to love? The virtues of rum balls include:
short prep time: the batter takes all of about 5 minutes to whip up no-bake, which means short total time: start to finish these will take about 30 minutes to complete high-yield: this recipe will make at least 40 taste: they are delicious, boozy bites of goodness easy: can’t have too many easy recipes around the holidays festive: perfect for holiday entertaining pretty: a perfect gift they can be made ahead of time (and even frozen!) — score!
I can’t think of a more perfect treat to have on hand for the holiday season. And if you’re looking for another low-effort, high-yield cookie recipe to gift all season long, try these melt-in-your-mouth Lemon-Almond Snowball Cookies. PS: Chewy Chocolate Sugar Cookies PPS: Simple Classic Shortbread
How to Make Rum Balls, Step by Step
Gather your ingredients: Vanilla wafers, rum, cocoa powder, corn syrup, and confectioners’ sugar. Note: If you can’t find vanilla wafers, many people have had success with graham crackers, ginger snaps, shortbread cookies, and even creme-filled cookies. First: pulse the vanilla wafers in a food processor until they are finely ground: Next: add the confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, and corn syrup: Pulse until finely ground: Finely: Add the rum, and pulse until the ingredients form a cohesive mass: Transfer the “dough” to a separate vessel. Pour some confectioners sugar into a small, rimmed sheet pan: Portion the dough into balls using a #100 scoop or a teaspoon or by simply pinching off small pieces and rolling them in your hands. Roll the balls in confectioners’ sugar. Transfer the confectioners’ sugar-coated balls to a clean tray or storage vessel:
Can You Freeze Rum Balls?
Yes! Simply transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. I find these delicious straight from the freezer in fact, but if I am going to serve them, I let them thaw at room temperature overnight. Before serving, re-roll them in powdered sugar to freshen them up 🙂
How to Gift Rum Balls
To gift rum balls, simply find a festive gift box, load with small, paper liners, and load with your delicious, boozy, rum balls. I like these:
Mini Foil Wrappers — perfect rum balls or truffles or anything similarly sized. Punch Studio book boxes — I can’t find a source for these. My mother found them at Marshall’s a million years ago and passed them along to me. Marshall’s or craft stores such as Michael’s and Hobby Lobby and JoAnn Fabrics are all good spots to find decorative gift boxes.
Stationery boxes work well, too. I ordered a set of 50 many years ago, and I’m still using them around the holidays to gift rum balls, boozy chocolate truffles, and chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls. 5 from 50 reviews
Notes:
If you can’t find vanilla wafers, many people have had success with graham crackers, ginger snaps, shortbread cookies, and even creme-filled cookies. If you’d like to gift rum balls, you may want to pick up a set of Mini Foil Wrappers, which are perfect for rum balls or truffles or chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls or anything else similarly sized. A #100 scoop is also particularly helpful for shaping, though you absolutely can use a teaspoon or simply your hands to pinch of portions of the dough and roll into balls.
