Rum Balls are a vintage holiday dessert made with cookie crumbs, chocolate, nuts, and a splash of rum – all rolled up into a sweet and boozy bite-sized treat.

Old-Fashioned Rum Balls

Rum balls are rich, bite-sized truffles made with crushed cookies, cocoa powder, nuts, and of course, RUM! The mixture is rolled into balls and coated in chocolate or powdered sugar. Rum balls are a traditional holiday treat known for their boozy taste and moist texture. They are similar to bourbon balls, but instead of smokey whiskey, they have sweet rum flavors.

While these days you’d probably go out and buy the ingredients specifically for this recipe, rum balls actually originated as a way to use up leftover cake or baked goods. The stale cake or cookies were crumbled up, mixed with a generous amount of rum, and rolled into balls. Because the rum soaked into the crumbs, it covered up any stale taste and made them taste delicious. Over the years, rum balls became a favorite holiday tradition in many countries.

Grandma Lucy is famous for her rum balls and makes a big batch every year during the holidays. But be warned – her rum balls are definitely a boozy treat! They make a great Christmas gift for anyone who loves boozy desserts and are something a little bit different than the usual cookie recipe.

Ingredients

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5 Cups Nilla Wafers, finely crushed
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Cup Walnuts or Pecans, finely chopped
1/2 Cup Spiced Rum
2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
2 Tablespoons Light Corn Syrup
1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Optional Toppings

1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder

Kitchen Tools Used

Instructions

To Prep: Line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the crushed vanilla wafers, salt, and finely chopped nuts. Make sure the nuts and vanilla wafer crumbs don’t have any big chunks before incorporating. Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder and stir together until thoroughly combined.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the corn syrup and rum until the syrup is dissolved. Pour this mixture into the cookie dough and stir. If needed, you can finishing kneading the mixture by hand. It should be thick like cookies dough.
Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, portion the mixture into 1-inch balls, roll until they are an even sphere shape, and place them on the prepared pan.
Add the extra confectioners’ sugar and/or cocoa powder to separate small bowls. Roll the rum balls in the coating and place them back on the pan to dry.

Prep Tips

Texture – Make sure your cookie crumbs and finely chopped walnuts don’t have any big chunks. You want them to be similar to dry sand so they mix into your ingredients seamlessly. I pulse mine in a food processor to achieve this, but you could also put the cookies in a large zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin to achieve similar results.
Storage – Keep your rum balls in an airtight container at room temperature, for up to a week. Do not keep them in the refrigerator, as this can cause them to become mushy.
Substitutions/Variations – You can use honey or dark corn syrup instead of the light corn syrup. If you don’t have spiced rum, you could alternatively use dark rum or light rum. If you don’t have vanilla wafers, graham crackers or shortbread cookies will have a similar consistency in the finished recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Freeze Rum Balls?

Yes, you can make rum balls ahead of time and freeze them for up to 3 months in a large freezer bag or other freezer-safe container. To thaw the rum balls, place the bag in the fridge overnight.

What Can I Substitute For Nilla Wafers?

If you don’t have Nilla Wafers or vanilla wafer cookies readily available, you can still make this recipe. Graham crackers, gingersnap cookies, shortbread cookies, or even creme-filled cookies (like Golden Oreos) could work instead.

Do Rum Balls Get You Drunk?

While rum balls do contain alcohol, it is unlikely that you’d get drunk from eating a couple of them. The amount of alcohol in each rum ball is relatively small and is diluted by the other ingredients. However, if you consume a large quantity, it is possible that you may feel some affects of the rum.

It’s important to note that since this is a no-bake recipe, the alcohol in rum balls doesn’t cook off, so if you’re sensitive to alcohol, you might want to limit your intake. They should also not be served to children.

Rum Ball Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)

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