The Best Rum Balls
Rum Balls are sweet, no-bake adult cookies that are perfect for holidays and parties. These easy, chewy cookies are a combination of crushed vanilla wafers, nuts, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, honey, dark rum, and cinnamon. Roll them in some more crushed nuts, cocoa powder, or powdered sugar.
Table of Contents
Rum Ball are the best dessert for adults! These cookies are also so easy to make by simply mixing ingredients together, there is no baking required. And of course, it’s loaded with rum. They are soft, chewy, and rich in flavor.
You can adjust the recipe a little bit to make it fit your own taste pallet by choosing different nuts, rum, and you can even make them gluten free.
If you have extra time and want to add a little more flavor to these cookies, it’s best to roast nuts first. Spread the nuts out on a baking sheet, in one even layer, and bake at 350°F for 6-8 minutes. (Be careful not to burn them.) Let them cool and then pulse in a food processor until small crumbles appear.
How To Make Rum Balls
To toast nuts first (optional step): Preheat oven to 350°F and spread pecans (or other nuts) on a baking sheet in one layer. (Don’t overcrowd them.) Bake them for 6-8 minutes, until browned and fragrant. Cool them down before adding to the food processor.
Pulse vanilla wafers in a food processor until all crumbled and transfer crumbs into a large mixing bowl. Pulse nuts in the food processor next, until all crushed and crumbled, and add them to the mixing bowl. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and whisk it all together until evenly combined.
Whisk rum and honey together until smooth and add it to the cookie mixture. Use a spatula to mix the dough together. If the dough it a little warm, pop it in the fridge for about 30 minutes before rolling out. It will make it easier to roll it into the balls.
Scoop cookie dough with a cookie scoop and roll it into balls. (I use either #40 r #50 cookie scoop but you can use even smaller one to make more.)
Roll each ball in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, or crushed nuts. You can choose to roll all cookies in one kind of coating or make some of each.
(You can also dip rum balls in chocolate coating.)
Storing Instructions
Store rum balls in an air-tight container. It’s best to store them in the refrigerator to prevent rum from evaporating and they will last longer too. For the best results, make rum balls ahead of time and let them sit for a day to give the ingredients time to come together.
You can also freeze rum balls. Place rum balls on a baking sheet and freeze for about 2 hours. Once frozen, transfer them into a freezer bag, get as much air out as you can, and freeze for up to 2 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Make Rum Balls Gluten Free?
Yes, you can make gluten free rum balls! Instead of vanilla wafers, use gluten free graham crackers, gluten free shortbread cookies, or gluten free sugar cookies instead. Just make sure to use hard cookies without any filling, not soft cookies.
Double check the rum out are using and make sure it’s gluten free as well.
Can I Use Different Nuts?
Choose between pecans, walnuts, almost and hazelnuts for the rum balls. I love using hazelnuts but it can run a little pricey. It’s probably the most expensive nut option and pecans are the second most expensive. Good news is that stores always have pecans on sale around the holidays.
What Other Rum Can I use?
Wondering what rum to use? It’s actually a very common question about making rum balls. It’s best to use a more flavorful rum like spiced rum or dark rum. You can even use 151 rum for a higher alcohol content.
More No Bake Holiday Dessert Recipes To Try
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The Best Rum Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 11 oz vanilla wafers
- 1 cup crushed pecans (can also use walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup dark rum (can also use 151 rum or gold rum)
- 3 tbsp honey
Toppings:
- powdered sugar
- cocoa powder
- crushed pecans
Instructions
- (Optional) To toast nuts: Preheat oven to 350° and spread pecans (or other nuts) on a baking sheet in one layer. (Don’t overcrowd them.) Bake them for 6-8 minutes, until browned and fragrant. Cool them down before adding to the food processor.
- Pulse vanilla wafers in a food processor until all crumbled and transfer crumbs into a large mixing bowl.
- Pulse nuts in the food processor next, until all crushed and crumbled, and add them to the mixing bowl.
- Add the remaining dry ingredients and whisk it all together until evenly combined.
- Whisk rum and honey together until smooth and add it to the cookie mixture.
- Use a spatula to mix the dough together. (If the dough it a little warm, pop it in the fridge for about 30 minutes before rolling out. It will make it easier to roll it into the balls.)
- Scoop cookie dough with a cookie scoop and roll it into balls. (I use either #40 or #50 cookie scoop but you can use even smaller one to make more.)
- Roll each ball in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, or crushed nuts. (You can choose to roll all cookies in one kind of coating or make some of each.)
Notes
- Gluten Free Notes: Instead of vanilla wafers, use gluten free graham crackers, gluten free shortbread cookies, or gluten free sugar cookies instead. Just make sure to use hard cookies without any filling, not soft cookies. (Double check the rum.)
- Nut Options: Choose between pecans, walnuts, almost and hazelnuts for the rum balls.
- Rum Options: It’s best to use a more flavorful rum like spiced rum or dark rum. You can even use 151 rum for a higher alcohol content.
Nutrition
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles in December 2019.
All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
The best rum balls I have ever made!! 😋
I did add 1/2 tsp. of Allspice since I used
Gold Rum .
Thank you for sharing your recipe! 🎄
Thank you so much, Carol! I’m thrilled to hear these are the best rum balls you’ve ever made—that means so much! Adding a touch of allspice sounds like a fantastic idea, especially with gold rum. I love how you made the recipe your own! 🎄 Wishing you a joyful and delicious holiday season!
What cookie dough? Can I use any? Which is the best ?
I didn’t use cookie dough it’s premade in-the-box vanilla wafer cookies.
I had to use more rum in my batch. It was a little too dry. . . But I’m sure my friends wouldn’t mind the extra alcohol!!
haha well I am glad it worked for you!
Can I use brandy I stead?
Sure, if you prefer the taste of brandy you can use that. Let me know how it goes!