A must-make every year making several batches in different alcohol flavors and I also make another kind that is child-friendly or for no-alcohol lovers.
Whether you like flavored rums, bourbon, nut liquor, or creams-style alcohol, you can transform this basic recipe into whatever kind you like.
We love Amaretto, Frangelico, Bourbon, and Coconut Rum and of course an Irish cream liqueur, and yes, I have tried them all in this recipe.
If your making a batch for the kids substitute orange juice and some orange zest, works like a charm, or apple juice with cinnamon! Easiest cookie recipe on the web!
We really love no-bake cookie recipes like my son's favorite White Chocolate Peanut Butter Krispies, no-bake oreo bars, or a favorite no-bake Amaretto White Pistachio Fudge Recipe, these are all perfect around the Holidays.
I love how easy they are to make in no time at all and they taste better with age!
Scroll down to print off this recipe.
Step By Step No Bake Rum Balls
- Place all the ingredients in a food processor except the nuts
- Add the nuts last and pulse till coarsely chopped ( note use pumpkin seeds if you have nut allergies).
- Roll into balls and add powdered sugar into a large ziplock bag and shake gently until well coated.
- Store in refrigerator or freeze until ready to use the longer they sit and ferment the stronger they get!
- Roll in powdered sugar just before serving if you froze them as needed to stay covered.
Flavoring Suggestions:
- Amaretto
- Frangelico
- Irish Cream
- Bourbon
- Vodka
- Gin
- Brandy
- Light Rum
- Spiced Rum
- Dark Rum
- Kid-Friendly and non-alcoholic:
- Orange Juice with orange zest
- Apple Juice with cinnamon
- Lemonade and with lemon zest
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Pumpkin Seeds for Allergies
- Pistachios
- Almonds
Ideas for Gift Giving
- Festive Tins
- Large Glass Cups
- Mason Jars
- Pretty candy paper cups
- Sprinkles
- Colored Sugars
- Coconut
- Warmed jam
- Drizzled White Chocolate
- Drizzled Dark Chocolate
- Nuts to match the flavoring of the Liqueur IE hazelnuts and Frangelico, Almonds and Amaretto, etc.
- Christmas cello see-through bags to wrap them in
- Candy labels, gift tags, an index card with the recipe on it
Tips
- Since there is very little liquid, don't let these dry out, roll them in sugar immediately after mixing, the sugar will adhere better.
- If you do make them ahead of time, remember they get stronger in the strength of the alcohol flavors.
- Freezing them works great but leave off the sugar.
- I usually thaw them and then roll them in sugar.
- The wetness from the freezer may cause them to look more like lumpy frosting on them.
- If you would be using jams like the original rum cake balls as mentioned, lightly brush with a warmed flavored jam then roll in sprinkles or coconut.
Original Recipe For Rum Balls
Rum balls were originally invented by the Danish bakers who had leftover rum cakes in their bakeries
They would mix the cake crumbs with ingredients to make what they call rum cake balls and coated them with jam and coconut.
You can also do the same if you would like the original style recipes you would find in local baked shops in Denmark.
These truffle-like balls are also a very popular cookie at Christmas and well known for these treats Worldwide just about everywhere.
You will find them all over England, Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, here in the United States, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic always around the Christmas holiday.
Again, you could enjoy them in Denmark year-round and known as either romkugle, trøffel or sputnik, depending on the region you're visiting.
Tools Needed
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cup
- Measuring Spoon
- Mixing Spoon
- Parchment paper or wax paper
- Pie Plate
- Food Processor
- Nut Chopper
Making Different Rum Ball Flavors
Also, use separated dough and bowls to avoid them all tasting alike.
Store the flavored rum balls in separate containers and cover with plastic wrap and use wax paper in between or pretty candy paper liners.
Mixing the Dough
The cookie dough is simple to work with.
Just use a spoon or spatula to combine all the ingredients by hand after you've crushed the vanilla wafers or you can add everything to the food processor to blend together.
I usually add the wafers to a bowl and blend the ingredients in by hand, either way, works out fine.
If you find the dough too sticky to roll, let it sit a few minutes to absorb the cookie crumbs, it will get easier to roll.
Let it sit no longer than 10 minutes or it will start to dry out and harder for the powdered sugar to stick to the dough balls.
Ingredients You Will Need to Make No-Bake Rum Balls
- rum, bourbon, Irish cream or Amaretto or other nut-flavored liquor or (whatever kind of booze you like these are Frangelico)
- apple juice or orange juice for kid-friendly cookies
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- vanilla wafers
- corn syrup
- walnuts (if using Frangelico use hazelnuts, for Amaretto use almonds)
- powdered sugar and more for rolling in
Pin No Bake Rum Balls for Later
Try Some Other Recipes We Love
Homemade Irish CreamWhite Peach Sangria
Mimosa
Cake Vodka Coconut Cream Martini
Watermelon Limoncello Cocktail
Pumpkin Frappe
Spiked Apple Cider
No-Bake Rum Balls
Yield: 30
prep time: 10 Mcook time: total time: 10 M
These are no-bake booze laced cookie that is easy to make and perfect for wedding and Christmas cookie trays for any adult party.
ingredients:
- 1/2 cup rum, bourbon, Irish cream or Amaretto or another nut-flavored liquor or (whatever kind of booze you like mentioned above (substitute orange juice with orange zest or apple juice with cinnamon for a non-alcohol version)
- 2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 box of vanilla wafers
- 3 tablespoons corn syrup or honey
- 2/3 cup walnuts (if using Frangelico use hazelnuts, for Amaretto use almonds)
- 1 cup powdered sugar and more for rolling in
instructions:
How to cook No Bake Rum Balls
- Place all the ingredients in a food processor except the nuts.
- Add them last and pulse till coarsely chopped ( note use pumpkin seeds if you have nut allergies).
- Roll into balls and add powdered sugar into a large ziplock bag and shake gently until well coated.
- Store in refrigerator or freeze until ready to use the longer they sit and ferment the stronger they get! Roll in powdered sugar just before serving if you froze them as needed to stay covered.
Calories
69
69
Fat (grams)
3
3
Carbs (grams)
9
9
Fiber (grams)
7
7
Sugar (grams)
9
9
Protein (grams)
1
1
Cholesterol (grams)
1
1
Pin No Bake Rum Balls for Later
More Favorite Recipes To Try:
Amaretto Pumpkin Cheesecake
Amaretto Pistachio Fudge
Amaretto Panettone
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2014. It was edited and re-published in 2019.