Wed. Dec 4th, 2024
Bourbon balls are one of the easiest and most delicious no-bake treats you can make during the holiday season.

All you need is a food processor, some vanilla wafer cookies, nuts, your favorite Kentucky bourbon, and some pantry staples. A staple in any Kentucky Nana’s recipe arsenal. Making Kentucky Bourbon Balls puts everyone back in the kitchen with their Nana.

Remember, bourbon balls are no-bake. The alcohol is not cooked off and should be reserved for adults only.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • 2 tablespoons sorghum syrup, cane syrup, molasses or honey
  • 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, divided
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground mace
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 10 ounces vanilla wafer cookies (about 60 wafers)
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
METHOD:
  1. Whisk together the bourbon and sorghum syrup in a small bowl until well combined.

  2. In a large bowl, sift together 1 cup of the powdered sugar with the cocoa powder, cayenne, cinnamon, mace and salt.

  3. Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, stir the bourbon mixture into the dry mixture until smooth, glossy paste forms.

  4. In a food processor, pulse the vanilla wafers into fine crumbs, about 10 (5-second) pulses.

  5. Add the wafer crumbs and pecans to the bourbon mixture and stir until consistently doughy and workable, about 2 minutes.

  6. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Place the remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar in a shallow bowl or a plate. Roll each ball in the powdered sugar, then place it on a sheet of waxed paper.

  7. Store in the refrigerator in a container with a tight-fitting lid, with a sheet of waxed paper between layers, for up to 4 days.

The balls can be refrigerated for up to one week or frozen for up to three months. 

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The Bourbon Flight Staff | + posts