These easy Rum Balls are a tender, pecan-filled truffle-like treat that is for adults only. Made with dark rum, they are a delicious way to spread holiday cheer. With just a few simple ingredients and no baking required, this boozy confection packs a punch and is sure to make cookie season a little brighter!

We love holiday cookies no matter how you fix them, like Peppermint Surprise Crinkle Cookies, Eggnog Truffles, and Russian Tea Cakes.

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easy Rum Balls stacked on gold tray

Halloween has come and gone and it appears we’ve gone straight into Christmas mode. I can’t say I’m mad about it because that means it gives me an excuse to start making Christmas cookies already!

This month I’m teaming up again with some incredibly talented blogger friends for another addition in the Tastes of the Season Holiday Recipe series. Each month through the end of the year, there will be seasonally inspired recipes you won’t want to miss!

This month, we’re gearing up for Christmas with a part of the holiday season I love the most — Christmas Cookies.  I’ll be linking up all 20 delicious recipes at the end of this post. Be sure to visit each one for even more holiday-inspired cookies.

easy Rum Balls piled on gold tray

Easy Holiday Rum Balls

Who’s ready to get boozy this holiday season?! If you said yes then you’ve come to the right place. These little bites of rum ball heaven let you have drinks and dessert at the same time because, why not?

This easy and delicious rum balls recipe has that perfect spicy punch that lives in perfect harmony with the sugary chocolatey goodness. You might as well just save yourself the extra trip to the dessert table and grab a few because they’re too addicting to stop at just one.

*Warning* Too many rum balls and you might end up as the tipsy family member everyone secretly judges at the Christmas party. So, remember to snack responsibly when it comes to any and all of your boozy desserts.

 Rum Balls stacked on a gold cake stand

How To Make Rum Balls

(full printable recipe at end of post)

During the holidays time can be limited when everyone in the family has requested a different Christmas cookie this season. So, the ease and simplicity of this no-bake rum balls recipe is great for when you need just one more recipe but don’t have the time or oven space to bake any cookies.

You just have to stir together crushed vanilla wafers, sugar, cocoa powder, and walnuts. Blend in corn syrup and rum.
Shape balls and roll in powdered sugar. It can’t get much easier than that!

Give The Gift of Cookies

Looking for a last-minute gift idea? These rum balls make the perfect gift for a neighbor, friend, or any rum-loving adult in your life. Package them in small boxes with paper candy liners and voila you have a cost-effective, easy, and cute gift!

easy Rum Balls with bite taken from one

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Secrets For Making Unbelievable Rum Balls Every Time 

Crush Wafers in a Food Processor: The easiest way to make sure all of the wafer cookies are properly crushed up is to use a food processor. It saves a lot of time and hassle compared to crushing them by hand.

With that being said, you can definitely still crush them using a zip-top bag and a rolling pin, if you don’t have a food processor.

Use A Cookie Scoop: If you want each cookie to be exactly the same size, I suggest using a cookie scoop to collect the dough. This also makes rolling the cookies into balls a lot easier because they are already rounded from the scoop.

For this recipe, I used a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop, but feel free to use larger or smaller based on your personal preferences.

Wear Food Safe Gloves: Rolling dough can get pretty messy, and can even stain your hands, so I like to wear food-safe gloves. It prevents the dough from sticking to your hands and makes for a quick and easy clean-up.

easy Rum Balls piled on gold tray

Can I Make Rum Balls Non-Alcoholic?

I know we all love to make treats that everyone can enjoy, but this just isn’t one of those recipes. Unfortunately, I can’t give a recommendation on how to make these cookies without the rum because it would change the cookies completely. These are strictly an adult-only cookie since none of the alcohol is baked off at any point.

If you’re looking for non-alcoholic treats the whole family can enjoy then I highly suggest checking out my Very Merry Tricolor Cupcakes, Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies, or my personal favorite Snowman Cookies (perfect for holiday class parties).

Like This Easy Rum Balls Recipe? Pin It!pinterest-image

easy Rum Balls piled on tray photo collage

Your New Favorite Christmas Cookie

Add this cookie recipe to your Christmas baking list now, and you won’t regret it. These cookies are sure to be a crowd-pleaser that no one can stop talking about. I can’t wait to hear how much you love them!

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easy Rum Balls on gold tray

Rum Balls

Yield: 36
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

These easy Rum Balls are a tender, pecan-filled truffle like treat that is for adults only. Made with dark rum, they are a delicious way to spread holiday cheer. With just a few simple ingredients and no baking required, this boozy confection packs a punch and is sure to make cookie season a little brighter!

Ingredients

  • 3 ¼ cups (one 12 ounce box) crushed vanilla wafers
  • 1 ½ cups chopped walnuts
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar (plus additional sugar for rolling)
  • 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (plus additional for rolling)
  • 1/2 cup spiced rum

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, stir together crushed vanilla wafters, sugar, cocoa powder and walnuts. Blend in corn syrup and rum.
  2. Shape into 1-inch balls and roll in powdered sugar (tip: I either wear food safe gloves or cover my hands in powdered sugar while I roll the balls, so they don't stick to my hands as much). Store in an airtight container for at least two days to develop the flavor.
  3. Roll in additional powdered sugar or cocoa powder before serving. Store in refrigerator for up to one month.



Notes

Serve on a tray or package them in small boxes with paper candy liners for gift giving.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 58Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 1g

Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used.

Did you make this recipe?

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For more amazing Christmas Cookies be sure to visit my blogger friends below.

Enjoy!

TASTES OF THE SEASON BLOGGER RECIPES FOR CHRISTMAS COOKIES:

TASTES OF THE SEASON CHRISTMAS COOKIES photo collage 1

The Perfect Soft Gingerbread Cookies by Ella Claire | Classic Sugar Cookies by Nina Hendrick Design Co. | Plaid Sugar Cookies by Craftberry Bush | Buttery Shortbread Cookies with Icing Sugar by A Burst of Beautiful | German Chocolate Cake Cookies by City Farmhouse

TASTES OF THE SEASON CHRISTMAS COOKIES photo collage 2

Cranberry Orange Walnut Tassies by Inspired by Charm | Eggnog Gooey Butter Cookies by Julie Blanner | All Natural Orange Almond Cookies by Tidbits | Choco-mallow Peppermint Cookies by Summer Adams Designs | Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies by Love Grows Wild

TASTES OF THE SEASON CHRISTMAS COOKIES photo collage 3

Paleo Chocolate Cranberry Cookies by Nesting with Grace | Raspberry Gingersnap Sandwiches by anderson + grant | Christmas Tree Gingerbread Cookies by Rooms for Rent | Large Thumbprint Cookies by So Much Better with Age | Rum Balls by Tidy Mom

TASTES OF THE SEASON CHRISTMAS COOKIES photo collage 4

Countdown to Christmas Cookies by House 214 Design | GF + DF Gingerbread Sugar Cookies by Zevy Joy | Christmas Shortbread by Boxwood Avenue | Double Chocolate Christmas Cookies by Nest of Posies | Almond Sugar Cookies by My Sweet Savannah

TASTES OF THE SEASON CHRISTMAS COOKIES photo collage 5

M&M Peanut Butter Cookies by Sweet C’s | Rustic Granola Cookies by Farmhouse on Boone