“Booze Balls” were traditional holiday treats in my family, and I love them (we’d make “No-Booze Balls” with orange juice for the kids).
When we began living aboard, I decided they were great as they didn’t need to be baked . . . then I discovered an easier way to make them by pressing the mixture into a pan and cutting instead of rolling each one separately.
Perfect for days when you want a treat, but don’t feel like devoting the whole day to baking!
No-Bake Booze Balls
Traditional holiday recipe that’s great anytime in hot climates where you don’t want to bake or even cook on the stove top. Now with a quicker way to make them!
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Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 145kcal
Carbs (g): 20
Ingredients
Cookie Mix
- 3 cups vanilla wafers (or, say, shortbread cookies), crushed
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped finely
- 2 1/3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons corn syrup
- 1/2 cup rum, bourbon, Triple Sec, Grand Marnier or orange juice (choose one)
Coating
- 1/2 cup additional powdered sugar, cocoa, finely chopped nuts, coconut, sugar or sprinkles (use your imagination)
Instructions
- Crush vanilla wafers finely by placing them in a resealable bag and rolling with a rolling pin or wine bottle (or using a food processor a blender if you have one).
- Place crushed wafers in a medium bowl and add the powdered sugar, nuts, and cocoa powder. Mix well.
- In a small cup, mix the corn syrup and the alcohol. (This helps to thin the corn syrup so it’s easier to mix with the wafer mixture.) Add the liquid mix to the dry mix and mix thoroughly. It will be very stiff.
- TRADITIONAL METHOD: Form the mix into 1-inch balls, then roll in powdered sugar or other “dusting” material.
- EASIER METHOD: Sprinkle an ungreased 8″ x 8″ pan with powdered sugar or cocoa, press the mixture into an even layer in the pan, then sprinkle the top with powdered sugar, cocoa, nuts and/or sprinkles. Cut into 3/4-inch squares.
- Place on a plate or piece of waxed paper to dry for 1 hour. Store in a tightly lidded container or resealable bag
Nutrition Facts
No-Bake Booze Balls
Amount Per Serving
Calories 145
Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 57mg2%
Potassium 40mg1%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 0g0%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 5mg1%
Iron 0.2mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Pickled Pirate on Facebook says
My kinda snack!
stephanie says
omigod! i used to LOVE bourbon balls! thanks for the recipe….i have lost mine. i’ll be getting on these next week! i just LOVE your blog and your fb page. thanks, carolyn! oh, by the way, how are dave’s eyes doing? cataract surgery is the best thing ever!
Lisa says
Yummy! I enjoy so many of your articles, but this one has me taking immediate action! Hope you are all having a great holiday season! Lisa (GMSC – YFlyer)
Julie Birbeck says
Definitely going to try these. Thanks.
Cathy Dunn Dreaper says
I made these recently for boat guests! They were easy to make and were a great hit!
Christina Gildea says
I´ve had these!! They are amazing!!!
Tammy Swart says
Sounds relish! OK to share Carolyn?
Shana Kelly says
Ooooohhhh!! I wanna make these with some Cruzan Black Cherry rum!!!
Carolyn Shearlock says
Tammy — of course! Shana — that sounds like an incredible combo!
Ruth Ann Greathouse says
Can you replace alcohol and you Moonshine instead?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Of course. Moonshine is an alcohol.
Jan Elliott Stein says
I made them yesterday with Mount Gay Rum! Love the cookbook !
Robyn Smith says
I love the name!
Suzie Mendenhall says
I am making some for the office “cookie exchange”. No better place for booze balls than in the office xmas week!
Alice Delisle says
Rum Balls!!!!!!!!!
Sailing Banyan says
these look really good 🙂
Lupari Sue says
Will be sharing plenty of these 🙂
Linda M Fletcher says
Oh yeah!
Barbara Nau Bryant says
I don’t have corn syrup. What do you think about substituting agave syrup?
The Boat Galley says
I think it would work but you might have to adjust the amount slightly as it’s typically (or at least what I’ve seen has been) a little thinner than corn syrup. So start out with a little less and then see if you need more to make the mix “wet enough” to incorporate all the wafer crumbs, etc.
Katharina Prenzlau J says
In sweden we use oats instead of wafers/cookies
Carol says
Thank you for the printing hint.
Kimberly Fain Ward says
Love the idea to press them into a pan vs. Rolling!
Kimberly Fain Ward says
AND I love the idea of oats vs. wafers!!
Stasea Arnold says
Anne Rittenhouse Parry you could spin these treats into healthy too!!
Peggy Stone says
Oldie but goodie. After dinner dessert and drink in one.
Patricia Jackson says
Love these. I roll in granulated sugar. They keep really well. I hid some one year and didn’t find them for 6 months…they were even better aged.
Michelle says
Is that 1/2 cup of each of the alcohols mentioned, or just 1/2 cup of one? Since it didn’t specify. I know it’s 3 cups of crushed cookies, and just 1/2 cup of liquid doesn’t seem it would be enough, however, 1/2 cup of each of the listed alcohols seems a bit over board? I don’t know, I’ve only made rum balls 1 x, years ago. Thanks for any info.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Just 1/2 cup of any one of them. It’s a very dry mixture.
Diane says
Has anyone tried Irish whiskey?
Carolyn Shearlock says
It’d be good!
Rowan says
what wound you do for someone with a nut allergy. oats are also out for them 🙁
Carolyn Shearlock says
Just leave the nuts out. A batch won’t make as many balls, but they will still taste great!
Michelle says
Is that dark or light corn syrup?
Carolyn Shearlock says
You can use either one. I generally use light, but that’s because it’s what I have on hand for other recipes.
Laurie says
Do these freeze well? Will cranberry juice work instead of orange juice?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Yes and yes.