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)

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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!

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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

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.

What is chocolate bourbon? ›

The Bourbon (pronounced /ˈbʊərbən/ or /ˈbɔːrbən/) is a sandwich biscuit consisting of two thin rectangular dark chocolate-flavoured biscuits with a chocolate buttercream filling. Bourbon. Alternative names. Bourbon cream, Bourbon, Chocolate Bourbon.

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 tipsy 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.

Can rum chocolate get you drunk? ›

Companies generally state that if you eat just one chocolate, you won't be at any kind of risk of serious intoxication, and the likelihood of your BAC being above . 01% is low.

Can kids eat food cooked with bourbon? ›

The choice is up to you. You may choose to use cooking methods that help to reduce the alcohol content and use less alcohol in a dish to make it safer for your child. Otherwise the safer option is to choose to leave out alcoholic drinks when preparing food for babies and children.

What bourbon pairs best with chocolate? ›

5 Best Chocolate & Whiskey Pairings
  1. Black Walnut Bourbon pairs with Brown Butter Milk Chocolate. ...
  2. Hudson Do the Rye Thing pairs with Fruition Tanzania Latte Dark Milk Koka Kamili. ...
  3. Berkshire Bourbon pairs with Bolivia Wild Forest Dark 74% ...
  4. New England Corn Whiskey pairs with Dominican Nacional Dark 74%
May 3, 2023

What's the difference between rum and bourbon? ›

WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RUM AND BOURBON? Most rum comes from sugar cane, whereas the bourbon is made mostly from corn. Rum doesn't have set regulations, whereas bourbon rules are consistent. Rum can be made anywhere, whereas bourbon can only be made in the US.

How to taste bourbon with chocolate? ›

1. Take a sip of bourbon #1, then a bite of chocolate #1, allowing it to coat your tongue. Take another sip of bourbon and really concentrate on what you are tasting. Sip the bourbon again.

Can children eat rum balls? ›

Can Kids Eat Rum Balls? Yes, kids can eat rum balls but the rum in them may not be suitable for kids.

What to replace rum with in rum balls? ›

What can you use instead of rum 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.

How to thicken rum balls? ›

Add more cocoa powder or ground almonds if the mixture needs thickening. Roll and coat: Bakery rum balls tend to be monstrously huge; I prefer to make them bite-sized at home.

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 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.

Can kids have rum cake? ›

They contain less than half of 1% alcohol so appropriate for all ages and cultures. If you are feeling tipsy after enjoying our rum cake, you are simply high on our delicious taste of the islands.

Do Buzzballz give you a buzz? ›

The buzz ball does exactly what the name says if gives you a buzz.

How much alcohol is in a bourbon ball? ›

This recipe calls for half a cup of bourbon, but you could adjust the recipe if you prefer less bourbon flavor. If you prefer to make the balls completely non-alcoholic, you could substitute the bourbon for juice (such as orange or apple), but that will certainly change the flavor and the spirit of the confection.

How much bourbon does it take to get buzzed? ›

Factors like body weight, gender, metabolism, and tolerance can all affect how much whiskey it takes to get drunk. As a general rule, it takes approximately 4-5 shots of whiskey for a person of average weight and metabolism to become intoxicated. However, it's always important to drink responsibly and in moderation.

Can kids eat bourbon meatballs? ›

The alcohol in the bourbon sauce cooks off, so it's safe for kids (or non-drinkers) to eat these meatballs. But, with the bourbon flavor left behind, it's the parents at the meets who really love these meatballs!

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