Easy Rum Balls Recipe (No Bake)

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Indulge in the simplicity of this easy rum balls recipe, a perfect blend of cocoa, rum, and nuts for a festive treat. These hassle-free sweets are ideal for holiday cheer, especially at Christmas, and offer a joyous and delicious addition to any celebration.

Deliicous easy to make rum balls on a platter.

This recipe is part of my collection of Desserts, where you can find more holiday treats, like these 39 Easy Fudge Recipes For Christmas, these Easy Chocolate Truffles, or these Homemade Raffaello Coconut Almond Confections. These homemade treats are all delicious and make a great holiday dessert tray for any party.

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What Are Rum Balls
📝 Ingredients you need
👩‍🍳 How to make rum balls
💡 Expert Tip
🍽️ How To Serve Homemade Rum Balls
❄️ How To Store Rum Balls
🙋‍♀️ Recipe Faqs
More delicious recipes
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

What Are Rum Balls

Rum balls, a no-bake dessert originating from Europe, are a festive treat popular in countries like Australia, Canada, the U.S., and Latin America. These sweets are made by mixing crushed cookies or cake with cocoa powder and rum, bound together with ingredients like sweetened condensed milk, light corn syrup, or butter.

They are often enhanced with nuts, coconut, or dried fruits. The mixture is rolled into golf ball-sized servings and coated in cocoa powder, sugar, or toppings like nuts and chocolate shavings. The rum you use shapes the flavor of the rum balls. Dark or spiced rum adds a rich taste, while white rum makes them lighter in flavor.

Easy to make with readily available ingredients, rum balls are a beloved holiday delicacy, a fun treat enjoyed with coffee or tea, and evoke nostalgic memories for many.

Related: Check out my Turkish Coffee Recipe.

📝 Ingredients you need

Here's a look at the main ingredients for these rum balls, but you will find the full list and quantities of each in the recipe card.

Graham Cracker Crumbs: These are the sweet, crunchy base for the rum balls. For variations, consider using crushed vanilla wafers, shortbread cookies, digestive biscuits, butter cookies, chocolate wafers, or leftover cake.
Unsalted Butter: Used as a binding agent. While traditional recipes may use sweetened condensed milk, butter enhances the dessert's taste, making it rich and delicious.
Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the mixture. Fine granulated sugar can be used if sifted.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Gives a deep chocolate flavor. Dutch-processed cocoa (affiliate link) can be used for a smoother taste. (my favorite)
Heavy Cream: Essential for binding the rum balls mixture together with the butter.
Rum: A key ingredient that gives these rum balls their distinctive holiday flavor. You can choose any type you prefer: dark rum, spiced, white, gold, or coconut flavored, depending on your budget and taste preferences. For a non-alcoholic version suitable for children or those avoiding alcohol, rum or vanilla extract is an excellent alternative. Bourbon is also a suitable substitute.
Roasted Chopped Walnuts: Add texture. Pecans or almonds are good alternatives.
Granulated Sugar for Coating: Gives a sweet outer layer. Alternatives include coconut flakes, chocolate sprinkles, shaved chocolate, colored sprinkles, unsweetened cocoa powder, or powdered sugar.
Optional: Cherries in Syrup: Add a sweet, fruity note. They can be omitted or replaced with other dried fruits like raisins or cranberries.

👩‍🍳 How to make rum balls

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) for roasting the nuts. Roast walnuts on a tray for 8 minutes until fragrant and light brown, or use a skillet, stirring until aromatic. Let them cool, then finely chop. Place them in a large bowl for the next step.

Step 2: Crumble the Cookies. Process your chosen cookies (such as graham crackers or vanilla wafer cookies) using a food processor until they are fine crumbs. Combine these crumbs with the previously prepared nuts in the large bowl. If a food processor is unavailable, place the cookies in a bag and crush them to a fine consistency using a rolling pin or a bottle.

Step 3: Prepare the Binding Syrup. Using a wooden spoon or a spatula, combine butter, heavy cream, powdered sugar, and cocoa in a small saucepan. Bring this mixture to a boil, being careful not to let it simmer. Once it reaches boiling point, remove the pot from the stove and let it cool to room temperature. After it has cooled, stir in the rum or rum extract.

Chocolate syrup in a sauce pan cooking on the stove.

Step 4: Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients. Carefully pour the cooled wet mixture over the bowl of dry ingredients, which includes your nuts and cookie crumbs. Stir the mixture thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are well combined. If you find the mixture too soft, refrigerate it for about 30 minutes to firm it up before proceeding to the next step.

Step 5: Shape and Decorate the Rum Balls. Use your hands or a small cookie scoop to shape the mixture into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in one or more of the following for decoration: granulated sugar, coconut flakes, chocolate sprinkles, shaved chocolate, colored sprinkles, powdered sugar (or confectioners' sugar), or unsweetened cocoa powder. Mix and match these toppings to create festive, eye-catching rum balls perfect for your dessert table.

Rum balls on a white platter with Christmas decor in the background.

Note: If you opt for powdered sugar or cocoa powder, you might need to reroll the rum balls before serving, as they can absorb moisture while refrigerated.

Step 6. Refrigerate. After shaping the rum balls, place them on a baking sheet to chill in the refrigerator overnight so they hold their shape. For space efficiency or longer storage, transfer the chilled rum balls into an airtight container, using parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.

Optional: For an added surprise, insert a pitted cherry from syrup, a maraschino cherry, or an almond into the center of each ball before rolling them in your chosen toppings.

💡 Expert Tip

To ensure the rum or rum extract retains its full flavor, avoid adding it to the cream while it's being heated. The alcohol will evaporate if heated. Instead, wait for the mixture to cool to room temperature before incorporating the rum or extract. This step helps preserve the intended taste and aroma of the rum in your rum balls.

🍽️ How To Serve Homemade Rum Balls

I like to arrange these rum balls on a platter or in mini cupcake liners for a nice, finished look. They're a great dessert for parties, and I love pairing them with coffee, tea, or dessert wine.

During the holidays, especially at Christmas, they're perfect on my holiday cookie platter. I also enjoy gifting them to friends and family for a sweet surprise.

If I use rum extract, everyone can enjoy them, but if I go with real rum, I keep them away from kids.

❄️ How To Store Rum Balls

Refrigerator: Keep in an airtight container for up to two weeks. They may develop richer flavors after a few days.
Freezer: Freeze on a parchment-lined sheet until solid, then move to a container or freezer bag. They last up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before serving.
Room Temperature: Suitable for a few days, but refrigeration is recommended to maintain shape and freshness due to the heavy cream content.

🙋‍♀️ Recipe Faqs

Can I Make Rum Balls in Advance?

Absolutely, preparing them in advance is perfect, particularly for having them ready to enjoy during Christmas time. Their flavors tend to meld and enhance when allowed to sit, making them even more delicious the next day.

Why Are My Rum Balls Crumbling?

This could be due to the mixture being too dry. Try adding a little more heavy cream or melted butter for better consistency.

Can Rum Balls Make You Drunk?

It's unlikely, as the alcohol content is generally low, and much of the alcohol can evaporate during the process. However, consumption in large quantities could have some effect.

What Country Are Rum Balls From?

Rum balls are believed to have originated in Europe, particularly in Denmark and Germany, where they are traditional Christmas treats.