Food and Recipes Desserts Cookies Bourbon Balls 4.9 (20) 19 Reviews Bourbon balls offer up a powerful punch while packaged in a small bite. By Southern Living Test Kitchen Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on December 23, 2024 Save Rate PRINT Share Hands On Time: 30 mins Total Time: 53 mins Yield: 3 dozen Jump to recipe Bourbon balls are an old-fashioned treat made up of six simple ingredients. And while these no-bake cookies are easy to make, they certainly have a storied past. Learn how to make bourbon balls, and make a batch or two to keep in the fridge for a quick treat. These timeless bourbon balls make the perfect gift or addition to any Christmas cookie platter. Never Lose A Favorite Recipe Again With MyRecipes, your personal recipe box, you can save and organize your Southern Living favorites and thousands more in one place. Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox What Are Bourbon Balls? Bourbon balls are said to have been first invented in 1938 by Rebecca Ruth Candy Company based in Frankfort, Kentucky, and they've been a longtime favorite ever since. Now, there are several versions of bourbon balls. Some are rolled in sugar or sprinkles, while others are dipped in chocolate. This classic, no-frills version uses a coating of powdered sugar for a touch of sweetness, while letting the flavor from the bourbon, toasted pecans, and cocoa powder shine through. Each bite offers a soft texture with just a hint of crunch from the toasted pecans. Ingredients For Bourbon Balls Bourbon balls are made with a mixture of dry and wet ingredients. Finely crushed vanilla wafers serve as the base, with powdered sugar, unsweetened cocoa, and chopped toasted pecans adding great flavor. Bourbon and light corn syrup moisten the dry mixture to make a soft dough. Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox How To Make Bourbon Balls Bourbon balls are quick and easy to make. They also are ready nearly as soon as you finish them so you can sneak a treat before you pack these bites up. The full recipe is further below, but here's a brief outline: Combine dry ingredients: Stir together crushed vanilla wafers, powdered sugar, cocoa, and pecans.Make the dough: Combine the bourbon and corn syrup in a small bowl. Then, add the bourbon mixture to the dry mixture, and stir until a soft dough forms.Roll the balls: Scoop small sections of dough and form them into 1-inch balls.Roll in powdered sugar: Roll each bourbon ball in powdered sugar before placing them on a platter or in an airtight container.Chill: Cover the bourbon balls, and allow them to chill for at least 30 minutes. What's The Best Bourbon For Bourbon Balls? This recipe calls for half a cup of bourbon, and the flavor definitely comes through in the finished product. It's important to choose decent quality bourbon for making bourbon balls. While you won't necessarily taste specific nuanced flavors of a high-end bourbon, you will still be able to taste some of its flavor, so pick one you like. How To Store Bourbon Balls Once the balls have been formed and rolled in powdered sugar, they should be stored in the fridge. Chilling bourbon balls helps to develop their flavor and improve their texture. They can still be left out at room temperature in an airtight container after the initial chilling time, but for best results, keep them in the fridge. Store them in the fridge for up to two weeks. Why Are My Bourbon Balls Dry? Bourbon balls are made up of a careful ratio of dry to wet ingredients. A heavy pour of bourbon adds flavor, but it also moistens the mixture to make it easier to form into balls. The corn syrup adds moisture as well while also acting like glue to hold the mixture together. If the mixture seems to be on the drier side, add a tiny bit more corn syrup. If the mixture feels too dry while forming the bourbon balls, lightly wet your hands with water to make the rolling process simpler. Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 (11-oz.) package vanilla wafers, finely crushed 1 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted 3/4 cup powdered sugar 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa 1/2 cup bourbon 2 1/2 Tbsp. light corn syrup Powdered sugar Directions Combine dry ingredients: Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl until well blended. Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Mix bourbon and corn syrup: In a separate bowl, stir together bourbon and corn syrup until well blended. Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Combine bourbon mixture and water mixture: Stir bourbon mixture into the wafer mixture. Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Roll bourbon balls: Shape into 1-inch balls. Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Roll in powdered sugar. Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Chill bourbon balls: Place finished bourbon balls in a lidded container, cover, and chill at least 30 minutes. Store chilled in a container up to 2 weeks. Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Save Rate Print