It’s holiday baking season again, and I am always looking for new recipes for Christmas treats to give to my family and friends during the holiday season. This year I decided to try making no bake Kentucky Bourbon Balls. They take a couple of hours to make, but if you have the time to make them, they are definitely worth the effort!
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I know that rum balls are often popular during the holiday season, but I had never heard of bourbon balls before. Kentucky is famous for its bourbon whiskey, so that’s how these Kentucky Bourbon Balls got their name.
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If you are wondering what these bourbon balls taste like, they are not a cookie, they are a very rich candy, similar to a truffle. They have a soft candy inside and a thin layer of chocolate on the outside, similar to what you would expect from a box of chocolates, except better!
The bourbon really gives this candy its flavor. It is just a subtle flavor, but definitely makes the whole candy. If you want to substitute rum for the bourbon, that would totally work too for this recipe.
Kentucky Bourbon Ball Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 c. walnuts, chopped finely
- 10 tbsp. bourbon
- 2 sticks (1 cup butter), softened
- 2 lb. (1 package) powdered sugar
- 1 lb. semi-sweet chocolate chips*
Directions:
Combine chopped walnuts and 6 tablespoons of the bourbon. Ideally you want to let the walnuts soak in the bourbon overnight, but a couple hours is fine if you are short on time. I use this old fashioned style nut chopper to easily finely chop nuts. I can’t believe you can actually still buy these, I still have my mom’s, and love it!
Cream butter, sugar, and the remaining 4 tablespoons of bourbon. Mix in the walnut and bourbon mixture. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least an hour, you can also stick it in the freezer for 1/2 hour or so.
Prepworks by Progressive Nut Chopper with Non-Skid Base
Roll the sugar mixture into 1 inch balls. Place the balls on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet. Chill the balls for another hour (if you don’t chill them the butter will soften quickly and the balls will be hard to coat with chocolate).
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Dip the balls into the chocolate, coating them completely. It works well to place them on a wooden skewer and dip them into the chocolate.
You might want to consider adding some paraffin wax shavings to your chocolate. Paraffin wax is edible and will make your chocolate extra shiny and help it to harden more quickly. Adding paraffin wax is totally optional.
Set the coated balls on the waxed paper to dry.
*Note: You can also use white chocolate in the place of the semi-sweet chocolate chips.
These bourbon balls can be stored at room temperature, but they will be a little soft. I put mine in the refrigerator to keep them extra firm until I’m ready to give them to people. You can also freeze them depending on how far ahead of time you want to make them.
Enjoy!
Related Recipes
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- rocky road fudge
- rocky road peanut clusters
Follow my holiday recipes and Christmas desserts boards on Pinterest.
Your recipe is really good. I live in Frankfort,Kentucky
Home of the boubon ball. Rebecca Ruth candy is still being made at the same site as when it came to life. I would suggest you read the story of Rebecca Ruth, a woman way ahead of the women’s movement. Her family still make them and so many more confections.
The only thing I do different is soak pecans in the fridge overnight. Drain well.
I do hope you read the story.
When soaking nuts overnight, should I refrigerate?
Add a small bit of shortening when reheating.
My chocolate was so thick the ball started to fall apart so I tried to thin it with milk and then it hardened. I can’t get it go melt again. Is there any way to revive the chocolate?
I would use Pecans instead of walnuts and add a whole salty pecan on top.
Can one use brandy or another liqueur?
This appears to be double the size of a normal bourbon ball recipe, so I’m guessing around 60 or so.
Love these but will try adding parafin wax . Family both home and work love
Approx how many does this recipe make?