Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

bourbon balls

(23 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Opal Jackson-Cakmak
Birmingham, AL

This easy recipe is a Southern favorite, made with bourbon, vanilla wafer crumbs, and cocoa, along with pecans and confectioners' sugar.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Yum! These were a unanimous hit among the Kitchen Crew... even with those who wouldn't normally opt for Bourbon. I do suggest that you lessen the amount of alcohol a bit if you're not used to the flavor, as it does come through the chocolate quite prominently.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(23 ratings)
yield 36 serving(s)
prep time 45 Min
method No-Cook or Other

Ingredients For bourbon balls

  • 1 c
    fine vanilla wafer crumbs
  • 1 c
    finely chopped pecans
  • 1 c
    confectioners sugar
  • 2 Tbsp
    unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 c
    bourbon
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoon light corn syrup
  • confectioners sugar sifted

How To Make bourbon balls

  • 1
    Thoroughly combine 1 crushed vanilla wafer crumbs, chopped pecans, 1 cup confectioners' sugar, and the cocoa.
  • 2
    In a separate bowl, blend the bourbon and corn syrup.
  • 3
    Stir this bourbon mixture into the dry mixture; blend well. Cover and chill for at least a few hours.
  • 4
    Sift about 1/2 to 1 cup of confectioners' sugar on a cookie sheet.
  • 5
    Shape small bits of the dough into balls and roll them in the confectioners'.
  • 6
    Store in refrigerator in tightly covered containers. Make these a few days in advance for best flavor, and roll in confectioners' sugar again before serving, if desired.
  • 7
    These can also be frozen for longer storage. Makes about 3 dozen bourbon balls.
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