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Overhead image of Bourbon Balls served on a platter.

Bourbon Balls

Katerina | Diethood
These traditional Bourbon Balls are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, made with vanilla wafers, pecans, chocolate, and a hearty splash of bourbon.
Servings : 36 Cookies
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chilling Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 package (11 ounces) vanilla wafers, finely crushed
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar, plus more for rolling
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ cup bourbon
  • tablespoons light corn syrup

Instructions
 

  • Place cookies in the food processor bowl equipped with a steel blade and pulse the cookies until finely crushed. Be sure to use the pulse function, as continuously running the food processor can turn the mixture into a butter-like consistency.
  • In a deep bowl, combine the crushed vanilla wafer crumbs, chopped pecans, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, and cocoa.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the bourbon and corn syrup.
  • Pour the bourbon mixture into the dry mixture; mix and blend well until a soft dough forms.
  • Cover and chill for 20 minutes.
  • Remove it from the fridge, scoop small sections of dough, and form them into 1-inch balls. Then, roll them in powdered sugar. Store in refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
  • For a more intense flavor, make the bourbon balls 3 days in advance.

Notes

  • Use a Food Processor: To make things easier, you can use a food processor for the entire recipe. First, combine the vanilla wafers and pecans, pulsing a few times until you have a mixture that looks like breadcrumbs. Then, add the sugar and cocoa. Pulse again. Finally, add the liquid ingredients and pulse until everything is well combined.
  • Bourbon balls are best stored in the fridge. Place them in an airtight container after you have added the powdered sugar coating. They will keep for up to 2 weeks.
  • You can also freeze these in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, defrost them in the fridge overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 65 kcal | Carbohydrates: 9 g | Protein: 0 g | Fat: 2 g | Saturated Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 12 mg | Potassium: 18 mg | Fiber: 0 g | Sugar: 8 g | Vitamin A: 0 IU | Vitamin C: 0 mg | Calcium: 2 mg | Iron: 0.1 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bourbon candy, christmas candy recipe, christmas cookies