About This Rum Balls Recipe

When the holidays roll around, one of my favorite treats to make is rum balls. Boozy and rich, everyone always loves them! Plus, they can be made ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about them on the big day.

Rum balls are a classic holiday treat that is easy to make and super scrumptious! Made with vanilla wafers, nuts, rum, and other rich ingredients, rum balls are delicious little bites that pack a big flavor punch.

Although they are simple to make, rum balls require a bit of time and patience to get a perfect consistency. The key is to make sure the nuts and wafers are finely ground and well combined with the other ingredients. Once you get the mixture right, roll them into small balls and refrigerate until firm.

Whether you use a classic recipe or experiment with different flavorings, rum balls are sure to be a hit at your gatherings. You can also store them in the refrigerator for a number of days to allow the flavors to get more intense — perfect to enjoy as a holiday dessert or snack.

Make them for a party, just for yourself to munch on, or make these little balls of sweetness to give as a delightful edible gift!

So if you’re looking for a tasty new recipe to add to your baking repertoire, be sure to try these rum balls! Don’t wait to get these rum balls rolling!

What You Need for This Rum Balls Recipe

Ingredient Notes

• Vanilla Wafers: I like to use vanilla wafers in this recipe because they have a rich buttery flavor.
• Sugar: I have used white caster sugar.
• Almonds: They give a lovely nutty flavor to these rum balls.
• Butter: I like to use unsalted butter.
• Rum: I have used spiced rum, which is infused with lots of spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom, making these rum balls super flavorful.
• Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract enhances all the flavors.
• Almond Extract: It adds a strong, pure, and sweet flavor.
• Toppings for coating: I like to use different toppings such as powdered sugar, cocoa powder, shredded coconut, and sprinkles to coat these little balls.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Vanilla Wafers: They are perfect for this recipe, but if you cannot find them, you can replace them with other kinds of cookies such as butter cookies, graham crackers, or any other vanilla-flavored cookies that you can crush.
• Rum: I like to use spiced rum because it adds a lot of flavors but can be substituted with coconut rum, white rum, or bourbon.
• Almonds: Any kind of nuts such as pecans, walnuts, or hazelnuts will work in this recipe.
• Toppings for coating: I like to use different toppings such as powdered sugar, cocoa powder, shredded coconut, and sprinkles to coat these little balls, but you can also use other toppings you like.

FAQs

How can I store these rum balls?

Once they’re chilled, you can store these rum balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. If you want to keep them for longer, you can even freeze them for up to 2 months. When you are ready to enjoy them, just thaw them in the refrigerator until they are soft enough to bite.

Can I get drunk eating these rum balls?

You don’t need to worry about getting drunk eating these rum balls because there is only 60 ml / ¼ cup of rum in the entire batch.

Print Recipe

Rum Balls

Author: Ribana Hategan

Cooking Method: By Hand (no cooking)

Cuisine: American, Global

Courses: Desserts, Snacks

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 20 min Rest Time 2 hour Total Time 2 hrs 20 mins

Description

If you’re looking for a festive treat that will please a crowd, rum balls are the way to go!

Yield: 20 balls

Ingredients

Servings

• 160 g / 5.6 oz. / 2 cups vanilla wafers
• 100 g / 3.5 oz. / ½ cup sugar
• 70 g / 2.5 oz. / ½ cup almonds
• 75 g / 2.6 oz. / ⅓ cup butter, melted
• 60 ml / 2.0 oz. / ¼ cup rum
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

Toppings for coating:

• Powdered sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Shredded coconut
• Sprinkles

How To Make Rum Balls Step By Step

1. Place the vanilla wafers, almonds, and sugar into the food processor and pulse until you get a fine texture.

   

2. Transfer the mixture into a bowl, then add the melted butter, rum, vanilla extract, and almond extract, and mix well.

   

3. Scoop out some of the mixture and roll it with your hands into about 1 cm / 1/2 inch balls or larger.

   

4. Cover with wax paper and place them in the fridge for a few hours, or better, overnight.

   

5. Roll them in your favorite topping and enjoy.

   

   

Note

• The yield may differ based on the size of the balls.
• Add more crushed wafers or rum as needed to get the perfect texture.
• To check if the mix is wet enough, take some mixture in your hand and press it into a ball. If it retains the shape, you can get started with rolling out the rum balls.
• If using powdered sugar or cocoa powder to coat your rum balls, I recommend coating them just before serving.