Bourbon Balls

Deep luscious notes of chocolate layered with vanilla wafers and toasted pecans, all highlighted by the exotic spirit of a rich bourbon. It’s an old classic with flavors that dance in your mouth!

Bourbon Balls have long been a favorite of mine and at one time I made them frequently for holiday gifts. But for some reason they dropped off my list of treats, but not this year. This version creates a bite that is soft and a bit gooey – rolled in toppings and served room temperature or chilled.

Though you often see these tiny confections made with rum, I tend to prefer bourbon for a bold contrast to the chocolate. The combination of chocolate and bourbon is simply magical. This is a no bake candy with a short list of ingredients– vanilla wafers, finely chopped toasted pecans, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, some corn syrup and a big splash of deep, straight bourbon whiskey. After a quick mix they’re off to chill.

Bourbon Balls make a fun dessert for guests and are a perfect size for an entertaining nibble on a holiday dessert buffet.

Quick note, whenever you’re using pecans in a recipe, always give them a quick toast in the oven. About 8 to 10 minutes at 350-degrees, just until you smell that nutty aroma then you’re good to go. Toasting pecans or any nut is a step that shouldn’t be skipped.

The mixture for Bourbon Balls is a bit sticky, ideal for rolling in delectable toppings!

Easy to make, these luscious little candies make a delicious holiday gift!

Bourbon Balls

3-½ cups vanilla wafers

1 cup toasted finely chopped pecans

½ cup good bourbon whiskey

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

1 cup powdered sugar

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Toppings for rolling: Additional powdered sugar, chopped nuts or toasted coconut for rolling – about 3/4 cup of each if you use all three options

Toss the vanilla wafers in a food processor and process until the wafers are finely ground.

Pour the vanilla wafer crumbs into a large bowl along with the chopped pecans and stir to blend together.

In a small bowl whisk together the cocoa powder and the powdered sugar.

Pour in the bourbon and the corn syrup, stirring to blend together then add the bourbon and chocolate mixture to the vanilla wafers and pecans. Stir to mix the ingredients until well combined.

Chill at least 3 hours to let the mixture firm up. Using a teaspoon or a small ice cream scoop, gather up small rounds and shape into balls. You want them to be “bite size”. Place the toppings for rolling into small bowls and roll each Bourbon Ball into one of the toppings.

Chill thoroughly before serving. Keep chilled and stored wrapped or in a sealed container. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Makes about 30 Bourbon Balls.

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