How to Make Rum Balls

Guide Note

Rum balls are a classic treat in the winter season. How to Make Rum Balls shows you how to prepare this easy recipe.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What You'll Need
• Make the Rum Balls
• Conclusion
• References

Making Rum Balls Tips

1. Substitute another alcohol for rum.
2. Make the rum balls a few days before serving.
3. Form dough into 1–inch balls.
4. Store in an airtight container.
5. Bring rum balls to holiday parties.

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Introduction

• Rum balls are a classic winter holiday treat and are very easy to make. They require no cooking, no equipment other than a bowl and no hard–to–find ingredients. If you prefer bourbon or another flavorful liquor to rum, feel free to alter the recipe to suit your taste.

What You'll Need

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Ann Larie Valentine)
  Recipe yields about 5 1/2 dozen rum balls.¹

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup rum
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Make the Rum Balls

• Remember to make your rum balls a few days before you want to serve them.

1. In large bowl combine 1 cup of the confectioners' sugar with the rest of the dry ingredients.
2. Add the rum and honey and knead into a sort of dough.²
3. Form the dough into 1–inch balls, then roll in the remaining confectioners' sugar.
4. Place the balls in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator at least a couple of days before serving.

Variations

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by maebmij)
  Although the ingredients and recipe is extremely simple, there is still plenty of room for experimentation. Because each ingredient brings a unique flavor to the overall recipe, rum ball variations simply swap out individual components for ones with different flavors.

1. Replace the alcohol in the recipe with 1/2 cup orange juice and 1 teaspoon grated orange peel.³
2. Substitute the liquor in the recipe with red wine and add cocoa powder to make chocolate wine balls.⁴
3. Incorporate dried coconut shavings into the batter to make coconut rum balls.⁵ You can also add coconut to the batter for an extra kick.³
4. Substitute the rum with Baileys Irish Cream, then use vanilla wafers and white chocolate to make Bailey Balls.⁶

Conclusion

• With rum balls in hand, you're ready to attend any holiday party or even to throw one of your own. Check out more Mahalo how tos for holiday treats such as special holiday cocktails, Christmas cookies, pecan pie or even a Yule log.

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References for How to Make Rum Balls

1. ↑ FoodNetwork.com: Rum Balls by Emeril Lagasse
2. ↑ FoodNetwork.com: Rum Balls by Gale Gand
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Go Dariy Free: Cocoa Rum Balls
4. ↑ AllRecipes.com: Chocolate Wine Balls
5. ↑ AllRecipes.com: Coconut Rum Balls
6. ↑ Epicurious: Rum Balls

Rum Ball Recipes

• Allrecipes: Chocolate Rum Balls I
• Allrecipes: Rum Balls I
• FoodNetwork.com: Holiday Rum Balls
• FoodNetwork.com: Rum Balls
• FoodNetwork.com: Rum Balls
• RecipeZaar: Bourbon or Rum Balls (January 30, 2002)
• RecipeZaar: Christmas Rum Balls (or Bourbon Balls) (October 25, 2001)
• RecipeZaar: Fudge Rum Balls (December 1, 1999)