Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Balls Recipe (2024)

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We take our rum balls and bourbon balls seriously in this household as they are Mr Magpie’s favourite treat. Which also means that I leave the rum ball making up to him during the holidays! These rum balls are nut free, melt in your mouth, fudgy delights!

Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Balls Recipe (1)

How to Make Rum Balls

Making rum balls in my house is SO EASY. First, I ask Mr Magpie to make them. And second, he makes them! Magic! But honestly, here are the super quick and easy steps to making rum balls.

  1. Prepare your cake. You can make a chocolate cake mix or you can bake up my Crazy Cake or Wacky Cake Recipe. It’s so easy you don’t really need a cake mix to be honest.
  2. Break up the cake and place it into a large bowl.
  3. Add in rum or bourbon and condensed milk.
  4. Make the rum balls, roll them in sprinkles and let sit.

Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Balls Recipe (2)We prefer the rum balls or bourbon balls to be chewy and fudge-like, not dried out like the rum ball recipes that use nuts. Consider these to be rum brownie balls, even, to understand the texture that I am talking about. Take a peek at the photo below, you can tell that these are truly spectacular rum balls! That photo was taken right after I made them, so they are now sitting in my freezer with the flavours melding together until Christmas. The consistency will be the same as shown in the photos.
Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Balls Recipe (3)

Tips & Tricks for Making Bourbon Balls or Rum Balls

  • Use a good quality rum or bourbon, a dark rum for sure but you could also try spiced!
  • These rum balls freeze exceptionally well and are better after sitting for a while in a container. I make these a few weeks before Christmas and then freeze them until the big day.
  • Once you try my version of rum balls, you aren’t ever going back to those nut filled dry versions but you could add in some walnuts or favourite nut into the mixture if you wanted to. You can really adapt these to your liking!
  • Refrigerate the dough before rolling and wet your hands when you go to form the balls. These are sticky and your hands will get a bit messy making them, so make sure you have everything ready to go before you make them!

Happy baking everyone! I’m sitting here thinking of these babies that are in the freezer and wondering if I can sneak one…

Love,

Karlynn

Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Balls Recipe (4)

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My Favourite Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Ball Recipe

These rum balls are SO much better than the dried out ones that use nuts! These are so decadent they are like chocolate rum truffles! Nut free and chocolate cake based!

4.96 from 91 votes

Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Balls Recipe (6)

Review

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Prep Time
30 minutes
Total Time
30 minutes
Course
Dessert
Cuisine
American
Servings
24 rum balls
Calories
147
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients

  • one 9x13 baked chocolate cake use a mix or my cake recipe
  • 1/2 cup dark or spiced rum or bourbon
  • 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/3 cup chocolate sprinkles

Instructions

  • Crumble up the baked cake into a medium mixing bowl.

  • Add in the rum and the condensed milk. Mix together until all of the ingredients are combined and the cake is now a dough that can be rolled into balls.

  • Roll the mixture into one inch balls, then roll the balls into the chocolate sprinkles, covering them completely.

  • Place the rum balls on a parchment lined baking sheet. Freeze them individually first, then transfer to a sealed container to keep frozen.

  • These are best if left to sit a few days in the refrigerator if you are eating them soon, or keep them in the freezer until you are ready to eat.

Recipe Notes

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION is going to vary depending on what cake mix you use or what cake you bake up!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 147kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 11mg, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 10IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 9mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a co*cktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

Learn more about me

Site Index Chocolate Christmas Christmas baking Confections Rum

Reader Interactions

Comments & Recipe Tips Share a tip or comment!

  1. Lynda says

    Reply

    Hi, I do NOT like chocolate! I know I am weird. That being said, can I use a white cake mix or another flavor. If so will the results still taste as good? Maybe I should use chocolate, then I won’t eat any.:-))Thanks so much. Merry Christmas!

  2. Susan T. says

    Reply

    I used the linked Wacky Cake recipe (my longtime go-to recipe for chocolate cake) and it worked out perfectly – did not have to add extra rum or condensed milk and the sprinkles adhered to the balls. I believe the secret is to not over-bake the cake. It’s also not necessary to fully cool the cake – in fact, I think that when it’s slightly warm, it forms a better, stickier dough. I refrigerated the dough for about an hour before forming the balls.

    I’ve had mixed results with other chocolate rum ball recipes – they’re often too dry. Last year, we couldn’t find vanilla wafer or crumbs so I tried a recipe without them and the result was balls of chocolate icing – too sweet! I really like this recipe because it’s easy, moist, chocolatey and not too sweet!Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Balls Recipe (11)

  3. Marta Roberts says

    Reply

    For the chocolate cake you suggest a 9 x 13 cake from a mix or your chocolate cake. Your cake is 9 x 9. Will your cake be enough?

    • Karlynn Johnston says

      Reply

      The wacky cake is a 9×13 cake, it will work!

  4. Margaret says

    Reply

    These are so very yummy! Definitely a Christmas favourite. Thanks for sharing the recipe.Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Balls Recipe (12)

    • Jenn says

      Reply

      I just made this recipe & they are delicious. I have an issue with them being wet on the outside though. The sprinkles and the outside of the ball are wet, but the inside is fine. I did wet my hands when rolling them, could that be what caused this? Thanks!

      • Jill says

        Reply

        Rolled some of mine in coconut!

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Chocolate Bourbon or Rum Balls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does chocolate rum balls contain alcohol? ›

They are roughly the size of a golf ball and often coated in chocolate sprinkles, desiccated coconut, or cocoa. As their name implies, these treats contain rum. Because they are not baked, the alcohol flavour and kick are not neutralized during preparation.

Can you get buzzed from bourbon balls? ›

Can I get drunk from eating your bourbon balls? Highly unlikely. The balls are bite-sized, maybe two bite-sized, so you would have to eat a lot of them. You are more likely to experience a sugar high, than a buzz, so we feel it is a safe indulgence.

Can you get a buzz from rum balls? ›

Can rum balls make you drunk? This is a no bake recipe, which means any alcohol we use in the process won't be cooked away or made less effective. However, we're not using that much of it, so getting drunk isn't something to worry about! After all, there's only ¼ cup of rum divided among 24 individual bites.

Where did chocolate rum balls originate? ›

Rum balls were originally created as a way for Danish bakers to make use of cakes and pastries leftover at the end of the day. They would mix them up with cocoa and rum, and roll the dough into balls, coating with coconut or chocolate sprinkles to sell for a low price the next day.

Are bourbon balls alcoholic? ›

The most common variation for home cooked recipes is regional to the southern United States and incorporates crushed cookies, corn syrup, chopped pecans, and bourbon into a mixture that is formed into balls and coated in powdered sugar to prevent the evaporation of the alcohol.

Can toddler eat rum balls? ›

Most classic rum ball recipes are made with a dash of rum (totally delicious but adults-only, of course!)... but my rum ball recipe has absolutely no rum in it at all, making it perfect for kids!

Is there alcohol in bourbon chocolate? ›

Note: This product contains real alcohol -- must be 21 or older to purchase! Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not consume this product. Gift box contains 16 ounces of Maker's Mark Bourbon Liquor Chocolates.

Can I get drunk from rum chocolate? ›

A standard shot is 30 millilitres so you would need to eat almost four 100-gram blocks of chocolate to get one shot of liqueur. Most people would need to consume more than 700 grams of chocolate to be over the legal blood alcohol limit. To get quite drunk, most would need to eat close to two kilograms.

How long does bourbon balls last in the fridge? ›

Bourbon balls will last for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Storing them uncovered will result in a more defined “crust”, and storing them covered will keep them moist. To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months.

What is a substitute for Nilla wafers in rum balls? ›

While vanilla wafers are my favorite for their subtle sweetness and vanilla notes, graham crackers, butter cookies, digestive biscuits, or shortbread cookies are all excellent substitutes. For a gluten-free version, opt for gluten-free cookies.

What to replace rum with in rum balls? ›

Of course, a traditional rum ball contains rum, but you can use other types of alcohol, including Baileys or a coffee-flavoured liqueur, for example to flavour the truffles. For a non-alcoholic substitute, you could try using fruit juice (orange works well) instead of rum.

What if my rum balls are too dry? ›

If the mixture seems too dry, add an additional small amount of melted butter or more rum. Form small balls about the size of a walnut.

What are the chocolate balls from the 90s? ›

Wonder Balls were initially called the Nestle Magic Balls, as they were sold and distributed by Nestle a Swiss food and drink company in the mid-1990s. They were made up of hollow milk chocolate that stored a small, plastic toy. Usually, it was a Disney or Pokemon character.

Who makes chocolate rum? ›

We have hand blended our decadent chocolate recipe to our delicious rum to create something extra-ordinary. As we hand blend the rum, we take the alcohol content down to a warming 20% abv.

Who made chocolate balls? ›

GEORGES ESCOFFIER

The invention of chocolate truffles is often attributed to an accident in the kitchen of a French chef called Georges Auguste Escoffier. The accident involved one of his apprentices making pastry cream. However, he poured the hot cream into a bowl of chopped chocolate instead of sugar and eggs.

Do rum balls contain alcohol? ›

Do rum balls have alcohol in them? Yes, rum is added to the mixture, which is how they get the name! Because rum balls are not baked, the alcohol in the rum does not cook out. But they are not overly boozy since there is a small amount in each ball.

How much alcohol is in chocolate rum? ›

It contains NO ALCOHOL.

What percentage of alcohol is in chocolate rum? ›

We have hand blended our decadent chocolate recipe to our delicious rum to create something extra-ordinary. As we hand blend the rum, we take the alcohol content down to a warming 20% abv. We let the chocolate speak for itself…

Does chocolate liquor in chocolate have alcohol? ›

Chocolate liquor is one of the key ingredients in any bar of chocolate. It's made from the nibs of cocoa beans, and contrary to what the name suggests, it doesn't contain any alcohol. Despite the misnomer, chocolate liquor helps give chocolate its distinctive taste and texture.

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