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    Home » Recipes » Just Chocolate

    Published Jun 5, 2020 · Updated Jul 26, 2022 · by Tammy Spencer · This post may contain affiliate links.

    No-Bake Chocolate Rum Balls

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    These easy no-bake Chocolate Rum Balls are soft and fudgy treats made with chocolate cookie crumbs, toasted pecans, and a kick of rum. They ship well, and are great for Christmas and Hanukkah gifts, hostess gifts, and holiday platters. A festive adults only treat! 

    Rum balls with different topping on a white plate. this …
    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • How to make chocolate rum balls
    • Questions asked and answered
    • Pro Tip: What to choose for toppings
    • Rich and fudgy with a kick
    • Related Recipes
    • No-Bake Chocolate Rum Balls
    • Comments

    Why this recipe works

    • Rich fudgy chocolate with a soft, slightly chewy texture
    • Easy to make with only a food processor. No baking required!
    • Adjust the amount of rum to your preference, or use another spirit of your choice.

    These chocolate rum balls are so easy to make, requiring less than 20 minutes of hands-on work. There's no baking involved, and no melting chocolate. Also, you won't need corn syrup or condensed milk

    They ship well, and are great for Christmas and Hanukkah gifts, hostess gifts, and holiday platters. Perfect!

    Recipe Ingredients

    You'll need the following ingredients to make this chocolate rum balls recipe:

    Rum Ball ingredients in bowls on a wooden tray.

    Ingredient Notes

    Traditional rum ball recipes use crushed vanilla wafers as the base mixed with finely ground pecans. However, I love fudgy rum balls with a soft chocolate core using chocolate cookie crumbs as the base.

    Cookie crumbs: You can make homemade chocolate cookie crumbs if you don't have chocolate cookies at home. Seriously, they're so easy to do, and there's no need to run out and buy them! Otherwise, you can use store-bought chocolate cookies or graham crackers, or go with the more traditional vanilla cookies. You'll need about 9 ounces (260 grams) of cookies.

    Pecans: Pulsing the toasted pecans with the cookie crumbs helps to thoroughly combine them together for even distribution. the nuts help to add moisture to the rum balls, contributing to its fudgy texture. If desired you can replace the pecans with walnuts or almonds.

    Rum: Since you'll be tasting the rum in this recipe, choose a rum you like to drink. You can also reduce the amount of rum by half for a more subtly flavored candy to suit your tastes. Just reduce the amount of cookie crumbs to compensate - start with half and add more until you get a good thick consistency.

    For a different take, replace the rum with another alcohol (like bourbon, Kahlua, or another strongly flavored spirit). Or you can opt for a kid-friendly non-alcoholic rum ball by replacing the rum with strong coffee, tea, or apple juice and adding ¼ teaspoon of rum extract.

    Toppings: You can use anything that’s small, like sprinkles, coarse sugar, finely chopped nuts, or extra cookie crumbs. Unlike with chocolate truffles, I wouldn't recommend using powdery toppings like powdered sugar or cocoa powder because the rum balls can get gummy.

    See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

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    How to make chocolate rum balls

    All you need to do is make a soft chocolate dough, then roll them into balls and your favorite toppings. The dough comes together quickly with a food processor.

    Step 1: Mix the cookie crumbs and pecans

    Combine the cookie crumbs and pecans in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse them together until the nuts are finely ground (photo 1). Set aside.

    Collage of before and after chopping pecans and cookie crumbs in a food process bowl.
    Before and after chopping the chocolate cookies and pecans

    Step 2: Make the chocolate base

    Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder together (I like this sifter). Add the rum and honey to the cocoa mixture, and whisk until smooth (photo 2).

    Collage of preparing rum ball base in a glass mixing bowl.
    Whisking cocoa powder and powdered sugar, then adding the rum and honey

    Step 3: Make the dough

    Add the cocoa mixture to the food processor bowl and pulse until the dough is just combined (photo 3).

    Set the food processor bowl aside at room temperature, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours so the cookie crumbs absorb the liquid and soften. This makes for a fudgier texture and easier rolling.

    Collage of before and after adding rum ball base to coookie crumbs & pecans in a food process bowl.
    Adding the cocoa base into the chocolate cookies and pecans

    Step 4: Roll the dough into balls

    Using a small cookie scoop, portion the dough into balls about 1-inch wide. Roll each ball in your hands to get it smooth, then roll it in the topping of your choice (photo 4).

    Rum ball in palm rolled in sprinkles with bowl of sprinkles underneath.
    Rolling the scooped balls in colored sprinkles

    Storage instructions

    Chocolate rum balls can be stored at room temperature for a soft texture in an airtight container, or uncovered if you like them a little drier. Stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container, the texture will be firmer. Rum balls will keep for at least 2 weeks.

    Questions asked and answered

    Here are some questions you might have...

    Can I replace the chocolate cookie crumbs with vanilla wafers?

    Traditional rum balls use vanilla wafers, but they won't be quite as fudgy. You'll need about 9 ounces (260 grams) of cookies.

    Can I reduce the amount of rum?

    You can reduce the amount of rum by half for a more subtly flavored candy to suit your tastes. Just reduce the amount of cookie crumbs to compensate - start with half and add more until you get a good thick consistency.

    Can I substitute a different spirit for the rum or replace it with a non-alcoholic choice?

    Sure! Bourbon, Kahlua, or another strongly flavored spirit will work well. For a kid-friendly non-alcoholic rum ball, replace the rum with strong coffee, tea, or apple juice and add ¼ teaspoon of rum extract.

    Rum balls with different topping on a white plate from overhead.

    Pro Tip: What to choose for toppings

    I use colored sprinkles and pink coarse sugar. Other choices could be finely chopped nuts, more cookie crumbs, or go all out and dip them in tempered melted chocolate.

    Unlike with chocolate truffles, I wouldn't recommend using powdery toppings like powdered sugar or cocoa powder because the rum balls can get gummy.

    Finished rum balls on a tray with bowl of sprinkles & dough.

    Rich and fudgy with a kick

    These fudgy rum balls have a luscious chocolate flavor, a slight chewy texture from the pecans, and a kick from the rum. This recipe makes 15 chocolate pecan rum balls, but the recipe can easily be doubled if you want more. I'd approve!

    Rum balls can be stored at room temperature or in the fridge. If at room temperature, you can leave them covered for moister balls or uncovered if you like them a little drier (hint: drier rum balls travel better).

    Rum balls with different topping with one bitten on a white plate.

    Chocolate rum balls are so easy to make, can be shipped, and look festive, too. Great as a Christmas or Hanukkah gift, hostess gift, and on a holiday dessert platter.

    Celebrate a birthday, bring them to your next adult gathering, or just treat someone you love with this candy with a kick.

    They're a festive adults-only treat!

    Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!

    Tammy

    Related Recipes

    Candy making doesn't have to be hard, and making fudge definitely isn't. And if you want to try your hand at chocolate dipped treats, there's a guide on how to temper chocolate for that satisfying snap. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

    • Two candied pecan bourbon brownies on a white plate surrounded by whole pecans.
      Candied Pecan Bourbon Brownies
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      Buttery English Toffee Candy (Gluten-Free)
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    Tammy dressed in her culinary school chef's coat.

    I hope you like this recipe! Do you have any questions I can help with? Let me know! Or, if you made the recipe, I'd love for you to leave a comment and rating. Thanks!

    Comment or Rate Recipe
    Rum balls with different topping on a white plate.

    No-Bake Chocolate Rum Balls

    Tammy Spencer
    These easy no-bake Chocolate Rum Balls are soft and fudgy treats made with chocolate cookie crumbs, toasted pecans, and a kick of rum. They ship well, and are great for Christmas and Hanukkah gifts, hostess gifts, and holiday platters. A festive adults only treat! 
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Resting Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 balls
    Calories 112 kcal

    Equipment

    • food processor
    • sifter
    • small cookie scoop (1 tablespoon)
    Prevent your screen from going dark while cooking

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1¼ cups chocolate cookie crumbs, see Recipe Notes
    • ¾ cup pecans, walnuts, or almonds, toasted
    • 1½ tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted
    • ½ cup powdered sugar, sifted
    • ¼ cup rum, see Recipe Notes
    • 2¼ teaspoons honey
    • toppings, as desired, see Recipe Notes

    Instructions
     

    • In the bowl of a food processor, combine the cookie crumbs and pecans. Pulse them together until the nuts are finely ground. Set aside.
    • Sift the cocoa powder and powdered sugar together into a small bowl. Add the rum and honey to the cocoa mixture, and whisk until smooth. Add the cocoa mixture to the food processor bowl and pulse until the dough is just combined.
    • Set the food processor bowl aside at room temperature, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours so the cookie crumbs absorb the liquid and soften. This makes for a fudgier texture and easier rolling.
    • Using a small cookie scoop, portion the dough into balls about 1-inch wide. Roll each ball in your hands to get it smooth, then roll it in the topping of your choice.
    • Storage instructions: Chocolate rum balls can be stored at room temperature for a soft texture in an airtight container, or uncovered if you like them a little drier. Stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container, the texture will be firmer. Rum balls will keep for at least 2 weeks.
    • This recipe can be easily doubled.

    Notes

    You can make your own cookie crumbs, use store-bought chocolate cookies or graham grackers, or go with the more traditional vanilla cookies. You'll need about 9 ounces (260 grams) of cookies.
    Since you'll be tasting the rum in this recipe, choose a rum you like to drink. You can also reduce the amount of rum by half for a more subtly flavored candy to suit your tastes. Just reduce the amount of cookie crumbs to compensate - start with half and add more until you get a good thick consistency. For a different take, replace the rum with another alcohol (bourbon, Kahlua, or another strongly flavored spirit).
    To make a kid-friendly non-alcoholic rum ball by replacing the rum with strong coffee, tea, or apple juice and adding ¼ teaspoon of rum extract.
    Toppings can be anything that’s small, like sprinkles, coarse sugar, finely chopped nuts, or extra cookie crumbs. Unlike with chocolate truffles, I wouldn't recommend using powdery toppings like powdered sugar or cocoa powder because the rum balls can get gummy.

    Your Notes

    Click here to add your own private notes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 ballCalories: 112 kcalCarbohydrates: 13 gProtein: 2 gFat: 6 gSaturated Fat: 2 gCholesterol: 9 mgSodium: 39 mgPotassium: 64 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 9 gVitamin A: 78 IUCalcium: 7 mgIron: 1 mg
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    Profile picture - Tammy, July 2019 square

    Hi, I'm Tammy! My fascination with baking comes from my love of science and the magic of bringing together ingredients to produce something yummy. Coupling that with my appreciation of scotches and bourbons, I love to bake stuff, jot down my whisky tasting notes, and share my experiences with you!

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