Description
These Easy, Festive (and Boozy!) Rum Balls are a delightful no-bake treat perfect for holiday gifting and enjoying. Made with vanilla wafers, confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, corn syrup, and rum, these bite-sized delights are quick to make, deliciously rich, and can be stored at room temperature or frozen for later enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
Main 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
- Process the Vanilla Wafers: Place vanilla wafers in a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Some larger pieces may remain but they’ll be pulverized eventually. Alternatively, crush wafers inside a Ziploc bag with a rolling pin until fine.
- Combine Ingredients: Add confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, and corn syrup to the food processor and pulse until combined. Then add 1/3 cup rum and pulse to integrate the mixture.
- Adjust Consistency: Gradually add more rum if necessary, pulsing until the mixture forms a mass around the blade or holds together when pinched.
- Scoop and Shape: Using a teaspoon or #100 scoop, portion out balls from the mixture. Roll gently between your palms to form smooth balls.
- Coat with Sugar: Place the rum balls onto a plate or shallow container with a thin layer of powdered sugar. Shake gently to coat all sides evenly.
- Store: Transfer the coated rum balls to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to one week or freeze for up to three months. Bring to room temperature before serving for best taste.
Notes
- These rum balls require no baking and can be prepared ahead of time for convenient gifting or holiday entertaining.
- If vanilla wafers are unavailable, graham crackers, ginger snaps, shortbread cookies, or creme-filled cookies can be used as substitutes.
- Mini foil wrappers are great for gifting these treats, adding a festive touch.
- A #100 scoop helps with consistent sizing and shaping, but a teaspoon or your hands work fine as well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 rum ball (approximate)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 35 mg
- Fat: 3.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
