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The short answer: Rum balls are a no-bake Christmas candy made from cookie crumbs, nuts, cocoa and rum, rolled in sugar.
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Prep time: 10 minCook time: 0 minTotal time: 20 minServings: 40 rum ballsTotal includes 10 min of resting, chilling or rising.
Mix 2½ cups of finely crushed vanilla wafers, 1 cup of finely chopped pecans, 1 cup of powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of cocoa, stir in 3 tablespoons of light corn syrup and ⅓ cup of dark rum, roll into 1-inch balls and coat them in powdered sugar. Then let them rest for a day or two so the flavors blend. There's no oven and no candy thermometer. Below are the exact steps, how long to age them, a version without alcohol, fixes and storage.
I love making a few batches of treats to give away at Christmas, and these keep better than almost anything else on the tray.
Rum balls ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vanilla wafers, finely crushed | 2½ cups (about an 11-ounce box) | Crush them to fine crumbs in a food processor |
| Pecans or walnuts, finely chopped | 1 cup | Toast them for more flavor |
| Powdered sugar | 1 cup, plus ½ cup for rolling | |
| Unsweetened cocoa powder | 2 tablespoons | |
| Light corn syrup | 3 tablespoons | Or honey |
| Dark or spiced rum | ⅓ cup | Bourbon works too |
One batch makes about 40 rum balls.
How to make rum balls, step by step
- Crush the wafers. Pulse them into fine crumbs. Coarse crumbs make lumpy balls that crack.
- Mix the dry ingredients. Stir the crumbs, nuts, 1 cup powdered sugar and cocoa together in a large bowl.
- Add the wet ingredients. Stir the corn syrup into the rum, then pour it over the crumbs and mix well.
- Rest briefly. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes so the crumbs soak up the liquid.
- Roll. Scoop level tablespoons and roll them into 1-inch balls between your palms.
- Coat. Roll each ball in powdered sugar, cocoa, sanding sugar or finely chopped nuts.
- Age. Store them in an airtight container for 1 to 3 days before serving.
About the alcohol
The rum in these is never cooked, so the alcohol stays in. Keep them away from children and label them for adults. The CDC's page on alcohol use during pregnancy says there's no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy, so make a second batch without rum if you're sharing widely.
| Version | Swap for the ⅓ cup of rum | Shelf life |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | Dark or spiced rum | About 2 weeks at cool room temperature |
| Bourbon balls | Bourbon | About 2 weeks at cool room temperature |
| Non-alcoholic | Orange or apple juice plus 1 to 2 teaspoons rum extract | About 1 week in the fridge |
Rum ball variations
- Chocolate rum balls: use chocolate wafer cookies and add 2 ounces of melted dark chocolate.
- Coconut rum balls: roll them in toasted shredded coconut.
- Coffee rum balls: dissolve 1 teaspoon of instant espresso in the rum.
- Dipped rum balls: chill them, then dip them in melted chocolate and let them set.
- Nut-free rum balls: replace the nuts with more crumbs or crisp rice cereal. The FDA's food allergy overview lists tree nuts, wheat and milk among the major allergens, so note them on the tag.
Fixes for common rum ball problems
- Too wet to hold a shape: add crumbs a spoonful at a time, or chill the mixture for 20 minutes.
- Too dry and crumbly: add a teaspoon of rum or corn syrup and knead it in.
- Harsh alcohol taste: they need more time. Rest them at least a day.
- Sugar coat soaked in: roll them again in powdered sugar just before serving.
- Sticky hands: dust your palms with powdered sugar between balls.
Storing and gifting rum balls
| Where | How long |
|---|---|
| Airtight container, cool room temperature | About 2 weeks |
| Refrigerator | Up to 4 weeks |
| Freezer | Up to 3 months |
Set them in mini paper cups inside a tin, with parchment between layers. If you're mailing a box, FoodSafety.gov's holiday food gift tips suggest sending packages at the start of the week so they don't sit over a weekend.
Add rum balls to a tray with fudge, more ideas from our Christmas candy list and other homemade Christmas gifts.
Plan your homemade candy gifts
- Christmas Budget & Gift Planner, $4.99. List everyone getting a tin, set a total and track the cost of each batch.
- Family Recipe Binder, $6.99. Save this rum balls recipe and your alcohol-free version on printable recipe pages.
- Holiday Season Bundle, $15.99 (regularly $25.94 for the six items bought separately). The gift planner plus the Meal Planner & Grocery List and more holiday planners.
Browse the Holiday shop and all our Printables. The free Holiday Budget Starter Kit is 3 US Letter pages, emailed to you after you join the list.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you make rum balls? To make rum balls, mix 2½ cups of finely crushed vanilla wafers with 1 cup of finely chopped pecans, 1 cup of powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of cocoa. Stir in 3 tablespoons of light corn syrup and ⅓ cup of dark rum, roll 1-inch balls and coat them in powdered sugar.
Do rum balls have alcohol in them? Yes, rum balls contain alcohol, because the rum is never cooked. They aren't suitable for children, anyone who is pregnant or anyone avoiding alcohol, so label them clearly when you share them.
How long should rum balls sit before eating? Rum balls should sit in an airtight container for 1 to 3 days before eating, when they taste best. The rum softens the crumbs and the flavors blend, so the bite mellows and gets smoother.
How long do rum balls last? Rum balls last about 2 weeks in an airtight container at cool room temperature, and up to 4 weeks in the refrigerator. They freeze for up to 3 months.
Can I make rum balls without alcohol? Yes, replace the rum with the same amount of orange juice or apple juice plus 1 to 2 teaspoons of rum extract. Non-alcoholic rum balls keep for about 1 week in the refrigerator.
What can I use instead of vanilla wafers in rum balls? You can use crushed graham crackers, chocolate wafer cookies, shortbread or leftover pound cake instead of vanilla wafers. Keep the crumbs fine and use the same 2½ cups.
Why are my rum balls too wet or too dry? Rum balls get too wet from extra liquid and too dry from extra crumbs. Add crumbs a spoonful at a time to fix wet mixture, or a teaspoon of rum or corn syrup to fix a dry one.
How do I plan rum balls as Christmas gifts? The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner from HomeBase Paper Co. ($4.99) lets you list who gets a tin of rum balls and track the real cost per gift. Save the recipe in the Family Recipe Binder ($6.99) so the family version is easy to find next year.
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Sources
- CDC: About alcohol use during pregnancy cdc.gov
- FDA: Food allergies, what you need to know fda.gov
- FoodSafety.gov: Holiday tips for food gifts foodsafety.gov
