Rum Balls

These lightly boozy balls come together in about 30 minutes. While you can eat them soon after they’re made, they taste best the day after. Slideshow: More Dessert Recipes 

Rum Balls
Photo: Danica Jorge
Active Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs
Yield:
32 balls

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pecan pieces

  • 50 chocolate wafer cookies, such as Nabisco Famous (about 10 ounces)

  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup

  • 2 tablespoons honey

  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons light rum

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the pecans in a pie plate and bake for 10 minutes, until toasted. Let cool slightly.

  2. Using your hands, break the chocolate wafer cookies into large pieces over a food processor bowl. Add the cooled pecans and pulse until fine crumbs form. Add 1 cup of the confectioners’ sugar to the food processor along with the cocoa and kosher salt. Pulse until combined. Scrape into a large bowl.

  3. In a small saucepan, combine the corn syrup with the honey. Bring to a low simmer over moderate heat, until the mixture is looser and more liquid, about 2 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the rum. Pour the rum into the bowl with the chocolate. Using a rubber spatula, stir until well combined.

  4. Using a fine mesh sieve, sift the remaining 1/2 cup of the confectioners’ sugar into a shallow bowl. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon, scoop 32 portions of the chocolate mixture and shape into balls. Working in batches, roll the rum balls in the confectioners’ sugar, gently shaking off the excess. Return to the prepared baking sheet. Cover the baking sheet loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 25 minutes. Serve cold.

Make Ahead

The rum balls can be refrigerated between layers of parchment or wax paper in an airtight container.

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