Bourbon Balls

Bourbon Balls are no bake treats that are loaded with flavor and super easy to make. These old fashioned cookies are perfect for the holidays!

It wouldn’t be Christmas without this no bake bourbon balls recipe! If you’re looking for a super easy dessert or treat to serve at your holiday party or share with friends or neighbors, you’ll love this one!

This is my grandma’s recipe for bourbon balls, and she used to make these every Christmas. My grandmother was the baker of the family, and she used to make nearly all of the Christmas treats each year. My mom and I made sugar cookies, but that was about it — the rest was all done by Grandma.

My dad tried making bourbon balls once. Even though he was definitely not a baker, bourbon balls are super easy to make, so he figured that he could easily do this.

But halfway through the recipe, he decided the mixture could use more bourbon. So he added more and a little bit more, until he was left with a sticky, gooey mess — good times!

Don’t let that stop you from trying these little gems. Bourbon balls are super easy — just follow the amounts called for, and you’ll be fine!

How to Make Bourbon Balls

You only need a few ingredients to make the bourbon balls:

• Vanilla wafers
• Ground walnuts
• Powdered sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Corn syrup
• Bourbon
• Granulated sugar for rolling the balls

Add the crushed wafers and nuts to a mixing bowl. Then, and add the remaining dry ingredients, and stir in the corn syrup and bourbon.

Now, roll the mixture into small balls. The mixture will be sticky!

Right after rolling the balls, drop them, one by one, into a small bowl filled with sugar. You can also mix colored sugar and holiday sprinkles in the same bowl.

Can you Use Rum?

Actually, you can — Grandma used to make both! Use the same ingredients and same amounts, but substitute rum for the bourbon.

How to Store Rum Balls

Place the balls into a container, cover, and store in a cool place until ready to serve. Place a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper between layers so that the balls don’t stick together.

The flavor intensifies the longer they stay covered, so if you think they’re not too strong at first, just wait until the next day — wowza!

Do Bourbon Balls Need to be Refrigerated

No need to refrigerate these cookies. They last for 2 to 3 weeks if you keep them in a cool place so that they don’t become too soft. If your kitchen is warm, you can keep them in the refrigerator.

These little treats are definitely not for the kiddos. You can share easy no bake treats like Peppermint Bark, Fantasy Fudge, Chocolate Peppermint Fudge or Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge with your kids.

Bourbon Balls Recipe

Post was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2019.