Make Ahead

You Can't Eat Just One rum balls

by:
December  1, 2011
4.3
3 Ratings
  • Makes about 3 dozen balls
Author Notes

I've always had a thing for holiday-time treats: fudge, cookies, and so forth. Years ago, my Aunt Renee started making and shipping out as gifts these rum balls, and I waited with eager anticipation each Christmas so that I could receive mine and squirrel them away. I finagled the recipe from her, tweaked it a bit, and have a tin of these hidden in my pantry right now.
These get better over time, so make at least a few days ahead. And make some to share because no one can eat just one! —em-i-lis

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • cups (1 box) vanilla wafers (I use Whole Foods' organic ones)
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar + more for rolling the balls in
  • 1 cup walnuts, very finely chopped
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup light (not white!) rum
Directions
  1. Using a ziploc and meat pounder, a food processor, or the like, crush the vanilla wafers well and place in a large mixing bowl. To them add the chopped walnuts and 1/2 c powdered sugar. Set aside.
  2. Melt chocolate in a double boiler, remove from heat, and add corn syrup and rum. Pour mixture into dry ingredients and stir until thick dough forms (don’t add any more liquid).
  3. Roll dough into 3/4 - 1 inch balls between powdered palms. Drop balls into small bowl of powdered sugar and roll around until fully coated. Line a container with wax paper and lay the rum balls inside (they can touch each other). Cover and set them aside for a couple of days so that flavors will marry.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Summer of Eggplant
    Summer of Eggplant
  • Bevi
    Bevi
  • em-i-lis
    em-i-lis
  • boulangere
    boulangere
  • nannydeb
    nannydeb

11 Reviews

Shannon December 23, 2014
What brand rum did you use?
 
em-i-lis December 23, 2014
Hi Shannon, I use Orinoco but any solid light rum will work. Hope you make and love! :)
 
Summer O. December 5, 2011
Rum balls remind me of my Aunt, thanks! I had forgotten about them, the rum balls, not my aunt.
 
em-i-lis December 6, 2011
:)
 
Bevi December 3, 2011
My friend used to make rum balls and I can't for the life of me find the recipe. Thanks so much for posting this. It is similar and on the list to make!
 
em-i-lis December 3, 2011
Oh good, Bevi!! I hope these hit the spot. They are totally addictive and yummy!
 
Bevi December 6, 2011
These went to my Secret Santa, minus the choc. chips.
 
nannydeb May 5, 2014
I was the lucky Secret Santa that got these and they were delicious! Just like Bevi, I can't find the recipe so I'm glad you posted this!
 
em-i-lis May 5, 2014
Hi nannydeb, I'm so glad you received and enjoyed them. :) Thank you!
 
em-i-lis December 2, 2011
It's frighteningly true! :)
 
boulangere December 2, 2011
Well I don't doubt the title!