6-Ingredient Rum Balls Recipe

Rum Balls Recipe

 The Spruce

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 30 servings

Rum balls are a classic candy for a reason—they're easy to make, taste amazing, and everyone loves receiving them as gifts. These rich, chocolate orbs are most commonly made around Christmas time, but there's no reason you can't enjoy them year-round. These do contain a fair amount of alcohol but can be kid-friendly if you swap another liquid in for the rum. Then add any additional flavorings, like butter rum extract, as desired. You can also replace the rum with another spirit, like bourbon, for a completely different flavor profile.

These candies are better after they've been aged for at least two to three days, so be sure to plan ahead if you want to serve them at a holiday party.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chocolate chips, or chopped chocolate

  • 3 tablespoons light corn syrup

  • 1/2 cup rum

  • 2 1/2 cups crushed wafer cookies, or graham cracker crumbs

  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar, divided

  • 1 cup nuts, finely chopped

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Rum Balls Recipe ingredients
     The Spruce
  2. Place the chocolate chips or chopped chocolate in a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted, stirring after every 45 seconds to prevent overheating.

    Rum Balls Recipe
     The Spruce
  3. Once the chocolate is melted, add the corn syrup and rum and stir until combined.

    Rum Balls Recipe
    The Spruce 
  4. Stir in the wafer crumbs, 1/2 cup of the confectioners' sugar, and chopped nuts.

    Rum Balls Recipe
     The Spruce
  5. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and place the mixture in the refrigerator until it is firm enough to shape—about 1 hour.

    Rum Balls Recipe
    The Spruce 
  6. Using a small candy scoop or a spoon, roll the candy into small 1-inch balls between your palms.

    Rum Balls Recipe
     The Spruce
  7. Place the remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar in a small bowl, and roll the balls in the sugar. (Alternatively, the balls can be rolled in chopped nuts or cocoa powder).

    Rum Balls Recipe
     The Spruce
  8. Store the balls in the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature before serving.

    Rum Balls Recipe
     The Spruce
  9. Enjoy!

Tip

  • Also, consider making ahead and refrigerating the rum balls in an airtight container for several days to age them.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
113 Calories
5g Fat
15g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 30
Amount per serving
Calories 113
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 7%
Saturated Fat 2g 9%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 41mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 15g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 7mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 55mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)