5 / 6 votes

Rum Balls

These gorgeous rum balls, made with walnuts, chocolate, confectioners' sugar, and butter, are a Southern classic. A lovely homemade Christmas gift.

Prep Time30

Chill Time30

Total Time1

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: rum balls

Calories: 101

▢ 1/4 cup dark rum
▢ 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
▢ 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
▢ 1/4 cup walnuts, toasted and finely chopped (or pecans)
▢ 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
▢ Generous pinch fine sea salt
▢ Sprinkles, shredded coconut, or more toasted and finely chopped nuts, for decorating (optional)

Heat the rum in a small saucepan over medium heat until the booze is reduced by half. Watch it carefully, as it evaporates quickly.
Set a heatproof bowl over but not touching a pot of gently simmering water. Add the chocolate and butter to the bowl and wait, stirring occasionally, until they're both completely melted.
Remove the bowl from the heat (careful, it will be hot!) and stir in the walnuts, rum, confectioners’ sugar, and salt. Let cool to room temperature. (You can cover and refrigerate the cooled rum balls mixture for a few hours or even up to a few days, although you'll need to let it warm to room temperature before you proceed.)
Portion the mixture into 1-inch balls. (If it's too sticky to easily roll into balls, cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. If it's a little crumbly, try to roll it into balls anyways and if that doesn't work, let the mixture rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes and try again.)
Roll the rum balls in sprinkles of some sort, if desired. Place the rum balls in a parchment-lined container with a lid.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. The taste of the rum will be subtle at first yet will deepen with time. We found the taste after exerting patience for a few days to be perfect.

Make-ahead--The rum balls can be made up to 2 weeks before serving. Store in the refrigerator.
Freezing--The rum balls can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Dietary--This recipe is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Substitutions--Use spiced rum or bourbon instead of dark rum.
Rolling tips--Coat your hands with cooking spray before rolling the balls. The warmth of your hands will soften the chocolate mixture, so start with a mixture that is a little chilly.