Rum Balls

by Sabrina Snyder

Last Update:

18 Comments

5 from 6 votes
24 balls
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
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Rum Balls are a decadent, quick, no-bake chocolate treat that are rich, festive, and perfect for the holidays! Try making today!

Bite-sized desserts like my Buckeye Balls or my Cake Balls make perfect holiday treats both for your parties and as gifts for friends and family. This year, give the gift of sugar and spice with a basket of Homemade Candy.

alcoholic chocolate flavored balls in a gift box
chocolate mixture in a glass bowl
rolled up alcoholic chocolate treats on a baking sheet

Sabrina’s Rum Balls Recipe

Of all the Christmas candies and treats growing up, Rum Balls stand out as special since they were for the grown-ups only. It’s that hint of rum in them that makes them a treat. They are so easy to make, and since they are no-bake, they are perfect for last-minute party or potluck treats. You’ll have to check with the boss to see if they are safe for work, though.

Recipe Card

Dinner, then Dessert

Rum Balls Recipe

Rum Balls are a decadent, quick, no-bake chocolate treat that are rich, festive, and perfect for the holidays! Try making today!
Yield 24 balls
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Author Sabrina Snyder
alcoholic chocolate flavored balls in a gift box
PrintRate

Ingredients
 

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 package vanilla wafers , finely crushed (12 ounces)
  • 1 cup walnuts , finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup rum

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix powdered sugar and cocoa until blended.
  • Add crushed wafers and walnuts; toss to combine.
  • In another bowl, mix corn syrup and rum.
  • Stir into wafer mixture.
  • Shape into 1-inch balls.
  • Roll in additional confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, or other coatings.
  • Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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Sabrina’s Tip

I like to make my Rum Balls a few days ahead of time. Letting them sit for 2-3 days gives the flavors time to develop and creates a richer, stronger rum flavor!

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About this Recipe

Each family that makes Rum Balls probably has a slightly different version. Some use bourbon instead of rum, or hazelnuts instead of walnuts. These truffles are so versatile but as long as they are sweet, nutty, and slightly boozy, you’ve got a classic candy.

How to Store

  • Serve: These desserts can be kept at room temperature, in a cool, dry place, and sealed in an airtight container.
  • Store: Keep your Rum Balls in a sealed container in a cool place or the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
  • Freeze: You can freeze this dessert for up to 2 months. Freeze on a baking sheet in a single layer before transferring to a container so they don’t stick together.

Ideas to Serve

When I am gifting truffle balls, such as these Rum Balls (or my Oreo Truffles or Chocolate Truffles,), I make an assortment of toppings, like melted chocolate, cocoa powder, crushed vanilla wafers, and chocolate sprinkles. You can also make a handwritten personalized copy of this recipe for the gift tag.

Frequent Questions

What is the difference between light and dark corn syrup?

Light corn syrup has a lighter flavor and is made with vanilla. Dark corn syrup has a stronger flavor and is made from a type of molasses.

What is the best rum to use for rum balls?

You want to use a dark rum for this dessert. Dark rums are distilled from molasses and have a rich spice to them that gives this treat that classic flavor.

Can you get drunk off of rum balls?

While Rum Balls do contain ¼ cup of rum, it is combined with other ingredients that divide into many balls. So, the likelihood of getting drunk is very low

Can you make non-alcoholic rum balls?

Yes, it’s easy! Mix 2 teaspoons of rum flavoring or vanilla extract, 2 ounces of water, and 1 extra tablespoon of light corn syrup.

Variations

  • Chocolate: Add dark chocolate chips to your Rum Ball dough. You can also dip them Chocolate Ganache or melted white chocolate for a delicious and beautiful topping.
  • Butter Pecan: To make a butter pecan version of this Rum Ball Recipe, add a teaspoon of butterscotch flavoring and roll in crushed pecans.
  • Bourbon Balls: Substitute your favorite spiced bourbon for the rum in this recipe.
  • Cookie Crumbs: You can use any cookie crumbs instead of vanilla wafers. Try Oreos (with or without the frosting), shortbreads, or graham crackers.
  • Cinnamon: Add ground cinnamon to your dough. You can also roll them in a cinnamon sugar. Mix ½ tsp cinnamon to ¼ cup granulated sugar, and keep leftovers for cinnamon toast.
  • Coatings: Roll your balls in leftover vanilla wafer crumbs, sprinkles, shredded coconut, or mini chocolate chips.

More Delicious Holiday Candies

Collage of homemade truffle balls

These photos were in a previous version of this post:

alcoholic truffle balls in a gift box with a bite taken
alcoholic treats on cookie sheet with assorted coatings
alcoholic treats rolled in cocoa powder and powdered sugar
Pre-decorated alcoholic treats
chocolate and alcoholic mixture pre-rolled

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

See more posts by Sabrina

Dinner, then Dessert, Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this site unless authorization is given. Read my disclosure and copyright policy. This post may contain affiliate links.

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Comments

  1. If made a couple days ahead, should I wait to roll them in the cocoa or 10x? I don’t expect an answer as I never get one even when I email. I think these emails come from the Netherworld and no one is actually monitoring the comments. Very frustrating. So if anyone who is actually made this recipe can answer me, I would greatly appreciate it.

    Reply

    1. Hi Cat! Busy Summer over here. Hope your Summer is going well and yes, make the recipe “as is”, including rolled in cocoa and make a couple of days ahead in an air tight container. Enjoy!

      Reply

  2. What ratio would you use to convert this recipe to a non-alcoholic one, i.e. Rum flavoring to replace the 1/4 cup Rum?

    Reply

  4. YUM! I love all of the different delicious variations you include for these rum balls. One of my favorite food gifts to give!

    Reply

  5. Rum balls are the easiest thing to make, which is good, since these always disappear fast around here. I’m loving all the add-in options and your decorations are all so pretty. 🙂

    Reply

  6. Now, I am REALLY craving rum balls! Those recipe variations sound AMAZING and I think I might be tempted to try more than one!

    Reply