The BEST No-Bake Chocolate Bourbon Balls
- Kristina V
- April 25, 2022
Need another way to sneak in some extra liquor? Nutty, Chocolatey, AND Boozy! These little treats are filled with bourbon and are fantastic for an all-adult party or even just snacking on while you make holiday cookies with friends…. But then again, mom might just need to have her own stash for daily trials…..
Why You Need No-Bake Chocolate Bourbon Balls
Listen. We all have a few of those rough days where there are certain things that we would give our left arm for… ok maybe just the pinky toe… you get the picture. These include things like booze, chocolate, cookies, and a way to get all these things that doesn’t take 5 years to make and 3 years’ worth of training in the kitchen.
Sound familiar?
Yea…. I thought so.
Well, look no farther because here’s the answer to not just one of those things, but ALL OF THEM!
Come with me, let me help you through your day.
How to Make These Easy Bourbon Balls
As usual, gather your cast of characters first. This just makes life easier.
If using a food processor, place the toasted nuts in first and give them a few pulses before adding the wafers. Since the nuts are harder and larger than the wafers, this just helps them to break down at the same speed as the wafers once added.
Once you have a slightly crumbly powder, transfer the mixture into a bowl and stir in the powdered sugar, bourbon, corn syrup, and cocoa powder.
After the mixture is completely and evenly combined, use a tablespoon or 1-inch scoop to form balls. Fill a small bowl with about ½ cup of granulated sugar and roll the balls to coat.
Place in a single layer in the fridge for about an hour to allow them to firm up.
In my experience, these can last up to a week or so in the fridge…. If you hide them!
Pro Tips
- Don’t have a food processor? No worries! The only ingredients that need to be chopped are the vanilla wafers and the pecans. The good news here is that you can easily place the wafers in a large freezer bag and crush them with a rolling pin to desired consistency.
- As for the nuts, measure out a cup of pecans into another freezer bag and use the same technique to crush them to small crumbles. You want them to be larger than the wafer crumbs but not so big that they do not disperse through the mixture evenly.
- If you want your balls to look a little bit fancier or have a little more crunch, use raw cane sugar to coat instead of granulated.
- I suggest combining all your ingredients before adding the bourbon in. This way, you can add until the dough is the correct consistency. You want to have a firm dough, not runny, otherwise, the balls will easily lose shape.
- Toast your pecans either in a skillet or in the oven. With both methods, you are just looking for them to become fragrant and darken slightly. In the skillet, this takes about 1-3 minutes making sure to shake the pan constantly. If you use the oven, preheat to 350-degrees, spread in a single layer on a baking sheet, and remove the nuts when they begin to darken.
Many Ways to Use No-Bake Chocolate Bourbon Balls
- As indicated above, these are a great snack to keep tucked in the back of the fridge in case of emergencies, but they are so versatile….
- Serve as a pretty and boozy treat at your own or a friend’s party!
- Everyone loves the gift of food people! And with these little babies, you are sure to get points on presentation as well as taste if you simply line a small box with parchment and place these gems inside!
- Working on a fun project with friends or family, but don’t want the guilt of drinking in the middle of the day? Set these on the counter to add a few giggles yet retain consciousness!
The BEST No-Bake Chocolate Bourbon Balls
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Food Processor Can also use a bag and rolling pin
- Spatula or Spoon
- Skillet or Baking Sheet for toasting pecans
- Scoop or Spoon for balling the dough
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Vanilla Wafers
- 1 Cup Pecans (toasted)
- ½ Cup Powdered Sugar
- 8 Oz Bourbon Your favorite brand will do. This is an estimated amount
- ¼ Cup Light Corn Syrup
- 2 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- ½ Cup Granulated Sugar OR raw cane sugar for more texture
Instructions
- Toast the pecans in either the oven (350-degrees to darkening and fragrant) or skillet (1-3 minutes to fragrant)
- If using a food processor, place only the nuts in and give a few pulses.
- Add the wafers and pulse until a fine crumb or powder forms.
- Transfer mixture to a mixing bowl and stir in remaining ingredients except for the bourbon and granulated sugar.
- Once combined, slowly stir in the bourbon until a stiff dough forms.
- Using a 1-inch scoop or tablespoon form the dough into 1-inch balls.
- Roll the balls in granulated or raw can sugar.
- Place in the fridge with a covered container in a single layer for about an hour to stiffen.