Bourbon Balls
One of the easiest and deliciously boozy no-bake treats you can make during the holiday season.
Makes20 balls
Prep15 minutes to 20 minutes
Bourbon balls are one of the easiest and most delicious no-bake treats you can make during the holiday season. All you need is a food processor, some vanilla wafer cookies, nuts, your favorite Kentucky bourbon, and some pantry staples.
When it comes to garnishing bourbon balls, you have a lot of options. Some recipes call for melted chocolate, while others call for decorative sparkling sugar. For this recipe, I roll half in cocoa powder for chocolatey vibes, and the other half in powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.
Because bourbon balls are a no-bake treat, the alcohol is not cooked off, and therefore bourbon balls should be reserved for adults only.
Although there is only 1/4 cup of bourbon in the whole batch, the flavor will find its way into every bite — so choose your bourbon wisely. Opting for something you would enjoy sipping on ensures that you’ll enjoy eating them.
More No-Bake Holiday Inspiration
Bourbon Balls Recipe
One of the easiest and deliciously boozy no-bake treats you can make during the holiday season.
Prep time 15 minutes to 20 minutes
Makes 20 balls
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 6 ounces
vanilla wafer cookies, such as Nilla wafers (about 45 cookies)
- 1 cup
pecan halves
- 1/2 cup
powdered sugar, plus more as needed
- 1/4 cup
bourbon
- 2 tablespoons
unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons
light corn syrup, plus more as needed
For the coating:
- 1/4 cup
powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup
unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
Place 6 ounces vanilla wafer cookies and 1 cup pecans in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Process into fine crumbs, about 20 seconds. Transfer to a large bowl.
Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup bourbon, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, and 2 tablespoons light corn syrup. Stir to combine. The mixture should be easy enough to roll into balls without crumbling, but not too sticky. If the mixture is too sticky, mix in more powdered sugar. If the mixture is too dry, mix in more corn syrup.
Portion the mixture into 20 (about 1 tablespoon) balls, and roll each ball with your hands until smooth. Place on a plate or baking sheet in a single layer.
Coat the bourbon balls:
Place 1/4 cup powdered sugar in a small bowl. Place 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder in a second small bowl. Roll one at a time in either the powdered sugar or cocoa powder (10 balls of each type) and return to the plate or baking sheet.
Recipe Notes
Storage: The balls can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Re-roll the balls in powdered sugar or cocoa powder before serving.