This Whiskey Ball recipe is a yummy, no-bake dessert that packs a ton of flavor and texture into small sweet bites! The recipe makes a small batch, meaning you won't have piles of leftovers. It's perfect for a small family gathering or office party and they are always a favorite Christmas treat. They are also called Rum Balls, Whiskey Kisses, Bourbon Balls, and Kentucky Bourbon Balls.
Originally posted December 2019, updated September 2024
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Mama's Whiskey Balls
This recipe has been in our family recipe box for as long as I can remember... at least since I was a preteen.
I know this because sometime around 11 or 12, I asked for an electric typewriter (sort of like this one) for Christmas. Maybe it was a foreshadowing of my job now? I have always loved to type!
Anyway, I did get the typewriter. One of the first things I did was decide I wanted to organize my Mama's recipes. She had them all stuffed into a kitchen drawer on random papers, cards, and magazine pages.
But I wanted them to be easier to find, so I bought index cards and typed every single recipe onto an index card, then put them into a card box, including this whiskey balls recipe.
This is the card I typed way back when:
Whiskey Kisses
Gosh I miss typewriters. I loved the sound of the clicking keys way better than most computers and laptops now. Anyway... you get the idea. To this day, several of my typed recipes are still in Mama's box, including the Whiskey Kisses (aka Whiskey Balls).
In fact, when I added this to my 12 Days of Christmas Cookies list, I called Daddy and asked him to send me a picture of the card that I typed (because 30+ years ago, Mama still used them).
Rum Balls
So anyway - these Whiskey Balls are super fast and easy to make and are packed with a punch of flavor. Whiskey will do that, ya know!? 😉
The recipe requires no baking and makes a small batch, so you won't end up with piles of leftovers. It's perfect if you want to make them for a small family gathering or office party.
The picture might be misleading on the size of these Whiskey Kisses - they're pretty small.
They're really only about an inch in diameter. But trust me, you won't need more than that! Wowzers they're good but strong!
What are Whiskey Balls?
Bring on the nostalgia when you create these classic, old-fashioned Whiskey Balls. The liquor gives a strong bite, but the edges quickly get tamed by a nutty sweetness. No bake and an easy, fun dessert for the holidays.
Whiskey balls are a dessert. They are bite-sized no-bake "cookies" (sort of) made with whiskey, typically combined with ingredients like crushed cookies, nuts, cocoa, and a touch of sweetness.
They remind me a little bit of chocolate truffles, but not. These treats are rolled into balls and can be coated with powdered sugar, cocoa, or finely chopped nuts.
What is the difference between whiskey, rum, and bourbon?
As I mentioned before, this boozy treat has many names, but the recipes are all very similar. The main difference is whether they're called whiskey balls, bourbon balls, or rum balls. I will use those terms (along with Whiskey Kisses) interchangeably in this post, but don't let that confuse you.
I'm gonna be honest - I don't 'consume much alcohol, and I never drink any hard liquor on its own. I'm likely not touching it if it's not mixed into a girly drink like a margarita or Bahama Mama. So I had to rely on internet research to learn what I now know.
Bourbon, whiskey, and rum, though all classified as distilled spirits are distinguished by their unique ingredients, production methods, and places of origin:
Bourbon
First - bourbon is whiskey but a particular type. This American whiskey, predominantly crafted from a corn mash (at least 51%), is aged in new, charred oak barrels. Originating from the United States, especially Kentucky, it is known for its subtly sweet profile, featuring hints of caramel and vanilla. This is my preferred liquor for this bourbon balls recipe, and you'll only need ¼ cup of bourbon, so you don't have to buy a big bottle of the highest quality bourbon.
Note: One reason they're sometimes called Kentucky Bourbon Balls is that bourbon is primarily known to be from Kentucky. And if it's called "Kentucky Bourbon," it has to be made in Kentucky!
Whiskey
Encompassing a wide array of distilled spirits derived from fermented grain mash, whiskey can be made from barley, corn, rye, or wheat. Its varieties, such as Scotch, Irish whiskey, and rye whiskey, differ regionally and offer a spectrum of flavors influenced by their specific grains and aging techniques.
Rum
Distilled from sugarcane byproducts such as molasses or sugarcane juice, rum is aged in barrels and hails from the Caribbean and Latin America. Its taste can vary from light and sweet to deep and robust, shaped by the length and conditions of its aging process.
For most of my childhood, we used bourbon in our whiskey balls. But occasionally (on days like the day I made these for this post), I used spiced rum when making whiskey balls. However, I assure you, any of the above will yield amazing holiday treats!
It doesn't need to be the best bourbon you can find or the most expensive kind of whiskey, but rather, it should be your favorite bourbon or rum or whiskey. The flavor of the bourbon or rum is very prominent in this rum balls recipe so you want a flavor you like!
Ingredients
These old-fashioned bourbon balls only require 5 simple ingredients plus a couple of optional ingredients.
- Vanilla Wafers, aka Nilla Wafers (crushed into crumbs)
- Pecans or Walnuts (finely chopped)
- Powdered Sugar, aka Confectioners' Sugar
- Cocoa Powder
- Bourbon (or Rum or Whiskey) - when pics were taken for today's recipe, I used spiced rum because that's what I had, but we usually use bourbon (my bottle was almost empty).
- A Pinch of Salt (optional)
- A Splash of Vanilla extract (optional)
Optional Garnishes (choose one or mix the up for a variety of Whiskey Kisses):
- ¼ Cup Powdered Sugar
- ¼ Cup Cocoa Powder (regular cocoa powder or dark chocolate cocoa powder works great here!)
- ½ Cup Finely Crushed Wafers
- ½ Cup Walnuts or Pecans, finely chopped
- ½ cup Toasted Coconut
Substitutions
Vanilla Wafers - the very best thing you can do is use vanilla wafers (in my opinion). That is the traditional ingredient in almost every Kentucky Bourbon Balls recipe. But, if you don't have or can't get your hands on Nilla wafers, graham cracker crumbs can be used instead. You'll still get the typical whiskey balls' texture with a slightly different flavor.
How to Make Whiskey Balls
This is a perfect old fashioned bourban balls recipe that we have used for ages. If you have any problems with the recipe as written, be sure to check out the Pro Tips section below!
- Line a 9x13 baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Make sure your cookie crumbs and finely chopped walnuts don’t have any big chunks. You want them to be similar to dry sand so they mix into your ingredients seamlessly.I pulse mine in the bowl of a food processor to achieve this.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the crushed Nilla wafers, salt, and finely chopped walnuts.
- Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder into the walnut mixture. Stir the walnut and Nilla wafers mixture until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the whiskey over the Nilla wafer mixture and mixture until it starts to get a thick consistency.
- Grab your rubber gloves and, without too much smashing, finish combining the mixture. It will be like cookie dough.
- Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared pan. A 1-inch scoop is a #40 cookie scoop or a 1.5-tablespoon cookie scoop.
Find the complete recipe with ingredients measurements in the recipe card below.
Add Toppings
- Choose your toppings and place them in small bowls. Once you’re ready to coat them, re-roll each one into a smooth ball right before you roll balls in the toppings of your choice.
- Place back on the pan and enjoy!
Pro Tips for Making Whiskey Balls
To make this rum balls recipe easy, I'm sharing all of my best tips!
- The size of vanilla wafer cookies varies by brand, but approximately 24-30 cookies should yield a cup of crumbs.
- Use a food processor to turn your Nilla wafers into crumbs. If you don't have a food processor, you can use a Blendtec Blender or you can use the plastic bag method. To do this, put the cookies in a Ziptop bag and beat them with a rolling pin into fine crumbs.
- These can be made days in advance and since they're no-bake whiskey balls, they come together very quickly!
- We prefer walnuts in this recipe, but pecans work just as well.
- As the rum balls sit, their bottoms will flatten a bit, which is nice because they won’t roll all over the place when being served.
- If you roll a ball and hold it flat in your hand and it seems to slowly melt, your mixture is too soft. Simply add more crushed cookies, ¼ cup at a time until the right consistency is reached.
- If your mixture is dry before rolling, add about a ½ tablespoon of rum at a time until it reaches the right consistency.
- It’s important to note that while these are sometimes called "whiskey cookies," they do not get baked, which means the alcohol is not reduced in any manner. They are best for the 21-and-over crowd (or the legal drinking age in your area).
- Sometimes light corn syrup (around 2 tablespoons) is mixed with the whiskey before it's added to the dry ingredients. This helps bind the balls together. I don't usually do this, but it's a good idea if you're struggling to keep the balls intact. You can also use maple syrup or honey in place of the corn syrup. Dark corn syrup works as well.
Variations
Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Balls
Obviously, they will not have the key bourbon flavor that is part of their namesake, but if you want to make a non-alcoholic rum balls recipe, you can substitute apple juice or orange juice in place of the alcohol. They will be a little sweeter than usual and will be missing the signature bittersweet zing, but they can still be enjoyed!
Nut-Free Bourbon Balls
If you need to skip the pecans or walnuts because of an allergy or you simply don't like nuts, you can substitute an equal amount of extra vanilla wafers or graham crackers for the nuts.
You will need to keep in mind that the extra cookie crumbs in a nut-free version will absorb more liquid than the nuts will so you may have to adjust the amount of bourbon you use (start with less and add more as needed) until you get a rollable dough. You may also want to roll them in extra cookie crumbs for some extra much-needed crunch.
Serving Suggestions
These old fashioned bourbon balls are perfect for holiday gatherings from Thanksgiving to New Year's. I've even taken them to church potluck (just keep them out of reach of little hands).
Storage Directions
- Add parchment paper to the bottom of an airtight container and store them at room temperature for 2-5 days. Or you can store these in the fridge, which helps them hold their shape and they will keep for up to 2 weeks. You could also place the in a dish covered tightly with plastic wrap.
- These are best when served the same day they’re made. If your boozy balls are kept for more than a day, you may want to roll them in powdered sugar or cocoa again if it's all been absorbed or gotten gooey.
- I do not suggest freezing.
More Christmas Recipes
PrintRecipe
Mama's Whiskey Balls
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Description
This Whiskey Ball recipe is a yummy, no-bake dessert that packs a ton of flavor and texture into small sweet bites! The recipe makes a small batch, meaning you won't have piles of leftovers. It's perfect for a small family gathering or office party and they are always a favorite Christmas treat. They are also called Rum Balls, Whiskey Kisses, Bourbon Balls, and Kentucky Bourbon Balls.
Ingredients
- 5 Cups Nilla Wafers, finely crushed (1 cup of crumbs total)
- ¾ Cup Powdered Sugar
- ¾ Cup Pecans, finely chopped
- 4 Cup Bourbon, Whiskey, or Spiced Rum
- 1 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt (optional)
Optional Garnishes:
- ¼ Cup Powdered Sugar
- ¼ Cup Cocoa Powder
- ½ Cup Finely Crushed Nilla Wafers
- ½ cup Finely Chopped Pecans or Walnuts
- ½ cup Toasted Coconut
Supplies Needed
- 1-Inch Cookie Scoop
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Small Mixing Bowl
- Rubber Spatula
- Rubber Gloves
- Dry Ingredient Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Small Bowls
- Parchment Paper
- 9x13 Baking Sheet (optional)
Instructions
- Line a 9x13 baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Make sure your cookie crumbs and finely chopped pecans or walnuts don’t have any big chunks. You want them to be similar to dry sand so they mix into your ingredients seamlessly.I pulse mine in a food processor to achieve this.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the crushed Nilla wafers, salt, and finely chopped walnuts.
- Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder into the walnut mixture. Stir the walnut and Nilla wafers mixture until thoroughly combined.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the corn syrup and rum. Mix until the syrup is dissolved.
- Pour over the Nilla wafer mixture and mixture until it starts to get a thick consistency.
- Grab your rubber gloves and, without too much smashing, finish combining the mixture. It will be like cookie dough.
- Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared pan.
- Choose your toppings and place them in small bowls. Once you’re ready to coat them, re-roll the balls right before rolling them in the toppings of your choice. Place back on the pan and enjoy!
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in a cold, dry room for up to 5 days. You can store these in the fridge, but there’s a possibility the coatings will get gooey from the added moisture. These are best when served the same day they’re made. I do not suggest freezing.
- As the rum balls sit, the bottoms will flatten a bit, but it’s nice because then they’re not rolling all over the place when being served.
- You can use honey in place of the corn syrup. Dark corn syrup works as well.
- If your mixture is dry before rolling, add about a ½ tablespoon of rum at a time until it reaches the right consistency.
- You can use pecans in place of the walnuts.
- If you roll a ball and hold it flat in your hand and it seems to slowly melt, your mixture is too soft. Simply add more crushed cookies, ¼ cup at a time until the right consistency is reached.
- It’s important to note that these do not get baked, which means the alcohol is not reduced in any manner. These are best for the 21 and over crowd (or the legal drinking age in your area).
- Prep Time: 20
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
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