This is the best classic rum balls recipe you can find around and can be made in no time all year round when you have leftover cake or for the holidays.
Best Rum Balls Recipe
This is the best rum balls recipe you will find out there. It comes from Europe and it is a classic, old recipe that most Europeans would make.
What are rum balls?
Rum balls are truffle-like confections, made with crumbled cookies, butter, flavored with cocoa powder, chocolate, and rum.
They should be about the size of a golf ball and they are not cooked. Basically, this is a no bake dessert.
The rum balls are very popular in Europe during Christmas season, but in some countries, these wonderful treats are available all year round.
Try this another no bake chocolate dessert you might fall in love with.
What kind of ingredients can I use in rum balls?
There are many different ways to make rum balls, as recipes vary from region to region and family to family.
All rum balls must include chocolate and rum, but the rest of the ingredients could be different.
Rum is the ingredient that makes them special and perfect for the holidays.
What makes this recipe different is the use of butter as a binding ingredient, and no corn syrup at all.
Rum balls are very versatile, you can make them from the following ingredients(choose one and go with it):
- graham crackers
- crushed vanilla wafers
- shortbread cookies
- digestive biscuits
- chocolate wafers or even
- leftover cake
When it comes to cocoa powder, we use either unsweetened natural or Dutch-processed. I personally like the dark, deep flavor of the Dutch processed cocoa powder.
We also like to add :
- dried fruits to the mixture
- all kinds of nuts, especially walnuts( roasted are better)
The rum balls can be covered in:
- granulated sugar
- coconut flakes
- chocolate sprinkles
- shaved chocolate
- colored sprinkles
- powder sugar
The Eastern European custom is to roll these rum balls in granulated sugar and sometimes in coconut flakes. However, you can adapt the recipe and use ingredients that work for you or are available.
We sometimes add in the middle of the rum ball a little pitted cherry, usually preserved in syrup, or an almond.
I think a maraschino cherry could be an awesome surprise inside.
How to make these rum balls:
Step 1.
Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Place the walnuts on a baking tray and roast them for about 8 minutes, or until fragrant and lightly brown.
Let nuts cool, then chopped them with a knife, or toss them in a food processor until finely chopped. Place them in a big bowl.
Step 2.
Process the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add them to the nuts.
If you do not have a food processor, place them in a bag and crush them with a roller pin or a bottle.
Step 3.
In a small pot, place butter, heavy cream, sugar and cocoa and bring them to a boil. DO NOT SIMMER THEM. As soon as the cream gets to the boiling point, remove it from the stove and allow it to cool.
Add the rum or the rum flavor. Also add the vanilla flavor.
TIP:
Do not add the flavors to the hot cream or while you bring the heavy cream to a boil, as the alcohol and flavors will dissipate. Allow the mixture to cool first, then add the rum and vanilla.
Step 4.
Pour the mixture over the dry ingredients. Mix everything very well. If the mixture is soft, place it in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Step 5.
Using your hands, form 1 inch balls and toss them in granulated sugar, coconut flakes, chocolate sprinkles etc.
Place the rum balls in the refrigerator overnight in an airtight container.
Optional: Place a pitted cherry from syrup or a maraschino cherry in the middle of the ball, or an almond, form the ball, then toss in sugar.
Keep them refrigerated and serve them cold.
Do I need to roast the nuts?
It is not mandatory, but roasted nuts have more flavor than raw ones, therefore the rum balls will taste better.
Can I make these chocolate rum balls in advance and how to store them:
If you want to have them for a party, it is a good idea to make them with some time in advance.
These little pieces of heaven are better the next day anyway, when all the flavors have time to get friendly with each other.
You can even refrigerate the mixture over night and roll these beauties the next day.
They keep well in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks, in an airtight container.
The rum balls are great for the holidays, especially Christmas when everyone appreciates them.
They make a great gift for family and friends, but they are also an awesome, super easy to make dessert for the days when we crave something sweet and decadent.
Using good quality ingredients obviously will make them taste better. They are awesome little treats for the entire family, if you add the rum flavor.
Note: If you go with the real rum, then don’t serve them to children.
Interested in more chocolate dessert recipes?
Triple layer chocolate peanut butter cookie bars
Collection of homemade chocolate desserts for Valentine’s Day
Suggestions for other recipes made with rum
This Rum Raisins Cookies Recipe comes from Romania. The cookies are flavored with rum, are very easy to make and taste delicious. Serve them next to a cup of your favorite tea, or coffee and enjoy an old recipe that is very traditional in Romania.
Delicious chocolate cupcakes with rum chocolate ganache– a treat for the chocolate lovers! Make them for parties or potlucks with your favorite decorations.
This walnut chocolate rum cake is a delicious option for your family birthdays or other celebrations . The walnuts, chocolate, rum and coffee flavors are perfect together.
Enjoy!
Best Classic Rum Balls Recipe
This recipe of rum balls comes from Romania. Rum balls can be made with graham crackers, crushed vanilla wafers, or even leftover cake and make a great gift around the holidays.
Ingredients
- 4 cups/11 oz/ 300 g graham crackers crumbs
- 1 cup/8 oz/ 225 g unsalted butter
- 1 3/4 cups/7 oz/ 200 g powder sugar
- 1 cup/3.5 oz/ 100 g unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup/3.5 fl.oz/ 100 ml heavy cream
- 3 Tablespoons/ 50 ml rum or 1 Tablespoon/10 ml rum flavor
- 1 teaspoon vanilla flavor
- 2/3 cups/3.5 oz/ 100 g roasted chopped walnuts
- granulated sugar to toss the rum balls OR coconut flakes
- Optional: cherries in syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
- Place the walnuts on a baking tray and roast them for about 8 minutes, or until fragrant and lightly brown.
- Let nuts cool, then chopped them with a knife, or toss them in a food processor until finely chopped.
- Place them in a big bowl.
- Process the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. If you do not have a food processor, place them in a bag and crush them with a roller pin or a bottle.
- Add them to the nuts.
- In a small pot, place butter, heavy cream, sugar and cocoa and bring to a boil without simmering them. Remove and set aside to cool.
- Add the rum or the rum flavor. Also add the vanilla flavor.
- Pour the mixture over the dry ingredients. Mix everything very well.
- If the mixture is soft, place it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
- Using your hands, form 1 inch balls and toss them in granulated sugar, coconut flakes, chocolate sprinkles etc.
- Place the rum balls in the refrigerator overnight in an airtight container.
- Optional: stick a pitted cherry from syrup in the middle of the ball, or an almond, then toss in sugar.
- Serve cold.
Notes
The base for these rum balls could be:
- graham crackers
- crushed vanilla wafers
- shortbread cookies
- digestive biscuits
- chocolate wafers
- leftover cake
Cover the rum balls in:
- granulated sugar
- coconut flakes
- chocolate sprinkles
- shaved chocolate
- colored sprinkles
- powder sugar
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
20Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 274Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 86mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 2gSugar: 17gProtein: 2g
Mary-Anne
Tuesday 22nd of December 2020
Can I add more rum?
The Bossy Kitchen
Tuesday 22nd of December 2020
Of course, just make sure you don't add too much and make them too wet. :-)) Happy holidays!
Amanda
Saturday 12th of December 2020
Is it possible to use salted butter?
The Bossy Kitchen
Saturday 12th of December 2020
I never used salted butter in the recipe, so I would not know what to tell you about the final taste of the rum balls. A cup of butter that is used as a binder for the rest of ingredients is enough to change the taste of the dessert. You can experiment and make a very small batch for yourself to see if you like the rum balls saltier and let me know what you think.
ELIZABETH A HUCEK
Sunday 29th of November 2020
I'm making this recipe now for my 98 year old Mother in Law. she's Hungarian and I think she would really like them, but I'm having a difficult time incorporating the ingredients. The butter keeps oozing out. I've had it in the refrigerator for an hour now and will continue to mix. I was wondering if you meant a half cup butter instead of a cup.
The Bossy Kitchen
Sunday 29th of November 2020
Hi Elizabeth,
I checked the recipe again and it is correct. 11 oz of crackers mean roughly about 4 generous cups of ground crackers. You add 1 3/4 cups powder sugar, 2/3 cup walnuts. There is also a cup of cocoa powder added to the heavy cream and butter. If you feel like the mixture is too soft to make the balls, add more crushed crackers to absorb the extra moisture. Add them spoon by spoon until you get the right consistency. Make sure you don't add too much at once. However, the butter gets harder in the refrigerator and the crackers will absorb the moisture. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions.