Description
These Easy, Festive (and Boozy!) Rum Balls are a delightful no-bake holiday treat combining vanilla wafers, rich cocoa, and a hint of rum for a perfectly indulgent bite-sized dessert. Quick to prepare and great for parties, these rum balls are rolled in confectioners’ sugar for a festive finish and store well at room temperature or in the freezer.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 3+ cups (311 g) vanilla wafers (a whole box of Nilla wafers)
- 1 cup (120 g) confectioners’ sugar (plus more for rolling)
- 2 tablespoons (10 g) cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons (44 g) white corn syrup
- 1/3 cup (74 g) rum, plus more as needed
Instructions
- Crush the Vanilla Wafers. Place vanilla wafers in a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Some larger pieces may remain initially but will be pulverized with further processing. Alternatively, place wafers in a Ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin until finely crushed.
- Mix the Ingredients. Add confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, and corn syrup to the food processor with the wafer crumbs and pulse till combined. Next, add 1/3 cup rum and pulse again to form a cohesive mixture. If needed, add extra rum gradually until the mixture sticks together and forms a mass around the blade or holds together when pinched.
- Shape the Rum Balls. Using a teaspoon or a #100 cookie scoop, portion out the dough and gently roll into balls with your hands. Drop each ball onto a plate or shallow container lined with a thin layer of powdered sugar and shake gently to coat the balls evenly.
- Store Properly. Transfer the coated rum balls to an airtight container. They can be stored at room temperature for up to one week, or frozen for up to three months. If frozen, allow to come to room temperature briefly before serving to enjoy optimal texture and flavor.
Notes
- The recipe is no-bake and requires no oven or stovetop cooking, making it quick and easy to prepare.
- Adjust rum quantity to taste; adding too much might make the mixture too wet.
- For a different flavor twist, try spiced rum or flavored liqueurs.
- Rolling in finely chopped nuts or desiccated coconut can add texture and flavor variety.
- Storage in an airtight container prevents drying out and helps maintain freshness.
