Go Back
stack of rum balls coated in powdered sugar and cocoa powder
Print Recipe
5 from 5

Classic Rum Balls

Rum balls are an easy classic no no-bake holiday treat. Made with just a few simple ingredients, they are rich, chocolatey, boozy, and festive! Great for gift giving, too!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
Prep Time20 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: rum balls, rum balls recipe
Servings: 50 rum balls

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pecans almonds, walnuts, and pistachios all work
  • 2 cups Nilla wafer cookies
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (plus ¼ cup for rolling)
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder (plus ¼ cup for rolling)
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ⅓ cup + 2 tbsp spiced dark rum
  • 2 tbsp honey

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place pecans on a baking sheet and toast for about 6-8 minutes until browned and fragrant, stirring the pecans halfway through. Set aside to cool.
  • In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the rum and honey until the honey is completely dissolved.
  • Add the cookies to the bowl of a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs; transfer to a large bowl.
  • Add the cooled, toasted pecans to bowl of the food processor and pulse into fine bits (don't over-process or you'll end up with paste!); transfer to the bowl with the cookie crumbs.
  • Sift the 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, and salt over the bowl with the cookies/pecans and whisk everything together.
  • Add the honey/rum mixture to the bowl with the cookies/pecans and mix until completely combined.
  • Squeeze a bit of the mixture and if it seems a bit dry, slowly add up to 1 tablespoon of water (or more rum) so that it holds together. (If you find the batter extremely sticky, you can chill it for about 20 minutes before forming the balls.)
  • Use a cookie scoop to form the mixture into 1-inch balls, rolling them in the palms of your hands.
  • Coat half the balls in the extra powdered sugar and the other half in the extra cocoa powder.
  • For ideal flavor, transfer to the fridge for 2-3 days before serving. Re-roll in the powdered sugar to freshen up.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 50kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg