Rum Balls

Prep 20 min
Total 120 hr 20 min
Servings 60

Treat your near and dear ones these delicious sugar coated candies made with rum and nuts - a traditional holiday dessert. MORE+ LESS-

By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Updated August 27, 2010

Ingredients

package (9 oz) thin chocolate wafer cookies, finely crushed (about 2 cups)

cups finely chopped almonds, pecans or walnuts

cups powdered sugar

1/4

cup light rum

1/4

cup light corn syrup

1/2

cup powdered sugar

Steps

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1

In large bowl, mix crushed cookies, almonds and 2 cups powdered sugar. Stir in rum and corn syrup. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls.
2

In small bowl, place 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Roll balls in powdered sugar. Store in tightly covered container at least 5 days before serving to develop flavor but no longer than 4 weeks.

Expert Tips

Substitute 1/4 cup bourbon for the rum.
Substitute 1/4 cup brandy for the rum.
For a clever, amusing way to show off these favorites, place individual balls in shot glasses—or put more in champagne or martini glasses.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Candy

Calories: 70
Calories from Fat: 25

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 3g; 4%
Saturated Fat 0g 0% Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg; 0%
Sodium: 25mg; 1%
Potassium: 40mg; 1%
Total Carbohydrate: 10g; 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0% Sugars 7g
Protein: 1g

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin A: 0%; 0%
Vitamin C: 0%; 0%
Calcium: 0%; 0%
Iron: 2%; 2%

Exchanges:

0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1/2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choice

1/2

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

Edible booze goes far beyond the Jell-o shot.

While some little jigglers made with vodka can spice up any get together, getting more creative with your edible libations will truly impress your guests.

Here’s a guide to some drinks that you can eat. Remember, just because these may fill your stomach, you’re not off the hook for dinner. And just because you have to chew it doesn’t mean that it won’t leave you tipsy.

Boozy Whipped Cream

The fastest way to add edible booze to pretty much anything is with alcoholic whipped cream, which you can buy online or at a local liquor store that is well stocked. It comes in a can and tastes just like regular whipped cream (or flavors like chocolate and banana). The only difference is that it contains a hint of booze—while it’s hard to taste, you’ll notice it as soon as you start to feel very relaxed after taking a bite of that ice cream sundae. Use this on typical desserts like pie and cake, mix it into hot cocktails like an Irish coffee, or keep it simple—a final course of strawberries and alcoholic whipped cream will have everyone buzzing, and not just because they’re buzzed. Or make your own! Try some Pumpkin Pie Shooters with Bourbon-Vanilla Whipped Cream.

A Really Ice Cold Drink

You’re more likely to find the cocktail version of a snow cone at a bar that specializes in molecular gastronomy, but if you can get your hands on some liquid nitrogen, you can take the phrase “ice cold drink” to an entirely new level at home. Alcohol doesn’t freeze at normal temperatures—just ask anyone who keeps their bottle of vodka chilly by storing it in their freezer. Liquid nitrogen can flash freeze things and it works on booze. Mix the super cold liquid in with your hooch to freeze it solid. Watch a demonstration of the process.

Jell-o, But Not a Shot

So maybe you want to stick with the familiar, but don’t want to do Jell-o shots. You can make a Jell-o mold in exactly the same way you would a shot. But, keep in mind that people will be having larger servings of this—so you should halve the amount of liquor that you would use for the shot edition. There is a quick and easy way to spice up these molds. Since they already seem very 70s dinner party, why not go all out. Soak a bunch of maraschino cherries in vodka for a few days before making your mold, and then suspend them in the Jello before it solidifies. It’s like an edible drink within an edible drink. Check out this recipe for Spiked Rainbow Ribbon Salad as another example.

Rum Balls

These edible confections contain an alcoholic kick that isn’t lost during the baking process. And they are a great go-to edible cocktail when you’re in a pinch, as you don’t actually have to make them because they are widely available to purchase. If you do want to cook them yourself, just remember that if you nibble on the dough as you go, you’ll likely get too tipsy to finish the recipe! Check out this Rum Balls recipe.