Rum ball recipes

Maple rum balls are an easy, no bake holiday treat for grownups. This easy rum ball recipe is made with maple cookies and rolled in maple sugar. They are a great nibble for holiday gatherings and for shipping to friends and family.

I like to have an easy no bake recipe that I can make ahead for holiday parties or Christmas cookie platters. Rum balls are perfect for this because they are incredibly easy and fast.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

Maple rum balls for Christmas

Most often, I roll rum balls in powdered sugar or a mixture of granulated sugar and powdered sugar. However, these are maple rum balls, so these little treats get their holiday sparkle from maple sugar.

One of the best things about making these boozy bites is that you can swap out the cookies, the spices and the alcohol used to make as many variations as you can dream up. Believe me, I’ve made at least a dozen and there are more coming.

Rum balls were originally a way for bakeries to use up leftover cookie and cake scraps. They mixed up the crumbs with a bit of alcohol and jam or honey, rolled them into sugar-coated balls and sold them.

The bakeries were trying to avoid food waste and profit loss, I think it was a moment of absolute genius.

Ingredients

The only ingredient you will likely have to shop for are the maple cookies. I bought mine at Trader Joe’s, but any maple cookies will do.

If you’ve already started stocking up for holiday baking, you probably have everything else already. I’ve made rum balls with both walnuts and pecans – use whichever you prefer, or whatever you have in the pantry.

Please do not skip the salt in the recipe. All sweet recipes benefit from a bit of salt to help balance the sweetness.

How to make rum balls

First, grind the cookies and nuts in the bowl of a food processor. This is what it should look like – large crumbs, but you should still see small pieces of nuts or cookies.

Next, sift the powdered sugar with the salt and allspice. Then stir in the rum and maple syrup.

Finally, add the cookie mixture to the bowl and stir it all together. Cover with plastic wrap and let it chill for about 30 minutes. Do not skip this step – the mixture needs time to absorb the liquid and set up.

After half an hour, the mixture will be firmer and scoopable. Use a small cookie scoop to portion rum balls. Then toss in a mixture of brown sugar and granulated sugar, maple sugar or powdered sugar.

Rum ball Q & A

This is a great time to get together with a friend or neighbor, share your resources and make a big batch of rum balls for holiday parties or shipping cookies to family.

They keep really well and they are even better after a day or two, so making them a few days before you’ll need them is perfect.

Rum ball recipes

These easy, no bake treats are so simple to make, you can whip up a few batches in no time! Try a few of these recipes for your holiday gatherings.

• Peppermint rum balls
• Gingerbread rum balls
• Cinnamon rum balls
• Gluten-free rum balls
• White chocolate rum balls
• Peanut butter whiskey balls

Please share

If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!

I hope you love these maple rum balls as much as we do! Please consider rating and/or commenting.

Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

A worthy cause

This year, we’re raising money in support of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. We’d love if you could join us in supporting a worthy cause this holiday season. Here is our fundraising page.

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments. Since 2008, they have granted nearly $17 million to research in the form of 100+ research grants to leading pediatric cancer centers across the country. From these grants have stemmed 35+ treatments available to kids battling cancer today.

Yield: 40 pieces

Maple Rum Balls

Print

Quick and easy, maple rum balls are the perfect make ahead, boozy holiday treat for grownups.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Chill Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

For rum balls

• 12 ounces maple sandwich cookies
• 1 1/4 cups toasted walnuts
• 1 cup powdered (icing) sugar
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. allspice
• 1/2 cup amber rum
• 2 tbsp. maple syrup

For sugar coating

• 1/2 cup maple sugar

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a food processor, process maple cookies and walnuts until finely ground. Set aside. (You may have to do this batches if you have a smaller food processor)
2. In a large bowl, sift together powdered sugar, salt and allspice.
3. Stir in rum and maple syrup.
4. Add cookie and nut mixture to the bowl and stir well to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
5. Scoop out tablespoon sized portions and use your hands to roll into balls.
6. Toss in maple sugar to coat.
7. Place on baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving, to allow the sugar to adhere.

Notes

Instead of maple sugar, you can use 1/4 cup granulated sugar mixed with 1/4 cup light brown sugar to coat the rum balls.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Cuisinart 11-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless
• 
  Cuisinart 11-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

40

Serving Size:

1 rum ball
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 62Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 62mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g

Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe without prior written permission. Thank you!

Peanut butter whiskey balls are an easy, no bake holiday treat for grownups. A variation of my traditional rum ball recipe, these boozy bites are made with peanut butter cookies and rolled in cinnamon sugar. They are perfect for holiday gatherings and shipping to friends and family.

This simple no bake sweet comes together in no time and because the flavor develops even more overnight, it’s the perfect make ahead treat for Christmas.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

Peanut butter whiskey balls

Earlier this year, a friend of mine gifted me a bottle of peanut butter whiskey for my birthday. I was skeptical, because, I’ll be honest, it sounded unappealing. Boy, was I wrong. It is actually quite tasty!

However, I’ve barely made a dent in it. So, instead of letting this perfectly good bottle of booze collect dust, we’re making whisky balls.

I’ve made my fair share of rum ball recipes over the years, so it wasn’t much of a leap to start including different spirits.

No peanut butter whisky? No problem! Swap in your favorite rum in place of the whisky to make peanut butter rum balls. This recipe, like all of my rum ball recipes, is made entirely in the food processor.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make these peanut butter whiskey balls:

• Peanut butter sandwich cookies (I used Nutter Butters)
• Peanuts or pecans
• Powdered sugar (also known as confectioners sugar or icing sugar)
• Peanut butter whiskey
• Salt
• Honey
• Peanut butter
• Cinnamon

I’ve made several batches of these no bake cookies, swapping out different nuts and spices.

The peanuts obviously give them the most peanut flavor, but if you only have pecans or walnuts for holiday baking, feel free to use them. To give them added peanut flavor, you could increase the peanut butter by a tablespoon.

The cinnamon goes really well with the honey and peanut butter, but allspice or nutmeg is also nice here. There are no shortage of ways to change up this recipe to make different variations.

How to make peanut butter whiskey balls

First, grind the cookies and nuts in the bowl of a food processor. Next, mix the powdered sugar, whiskey, honey, and peanut butter together in a separate bowl.

Then add the cookie mixture to the powdered sugar mixture and stir until it is uniform. Cover and refrigerate to let it firm up a little – this makes it easier to scoop and roll.

Use a small cookie scoop to portion the peanut butter whiskey balls, then roll in your hands to smooth them out and make them perfectly round.

Toss in cinnamon sugar to give them a bit of sparkle and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

They make excellent homemade gifts for friends and neighbors, and they are ideal for shipping.

These simple, no-bake cookies are perfect for Christmas parties. Grab a few friends and make a double batch for all of your holiday gatherings or cookie exchanges.

More boozy treats

• Gingerbread rum balls
• Peppermint hot chocolate (with schnapps)
• Cinnamon rum balls
• Peppermint rum balls

Please share

If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!

I hope you love these peanut butter whiskey balls as much as we do! Please consider rating and/or commenting.

Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

Yield: 30 pieces

Peanut butter whiskey balls

Print

Easy, no-bake peanut butter whiskey balls are the perfect make ahead holiday treat for grownups.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Chill Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 10 ounces peanut butter sandwich cookies (like Nutter Butters)
• 1 cup unsalted peanuts (or pecans)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/3 cup peanut butter whiskey
• 2 tbsp. honey
• 2 tbsp. creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• *See note for cinnamon sugar coating

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a food processor, process peanut butter cookies and peanuts (or pecans) until finely ground. Set aside. (You may have to do this batches if you have a smaller food processor)
2. In a large bowl, sift together powdered sugar, salt and cinnamon.
3. Stir peanut butter, honey and peanut butter whiskey into the powdered sugar mixture until completely incorporated.
4. Add cookie and nut mixture, then stir until it is uniform. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
5. In a small bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon (see note!). Whisk to combine and set aside.
6. Using a small cookie scoop, portion whiskey balls and roll with your hands to smooth and shape. Toss in cinnamon sugar, a few at a time, to completely coat.
7. Set on baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving to allow sugar to adhere.

Notes

Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

Combine 1/4 cup granulated and 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Whisk to combine. Toss whiskey balls in sugar, a few at a time, to full coat.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Cuisinart 11-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

30

Serving Size:

1 whiskey ball
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 133Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 58mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 2gSugar: 11gProtein: 3g

Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe without prior written permission. Thank you!

Peppermint rum balls are a perfect quick and easy holiday treat. For traditional rum balls, check out my easy rum ball recipe.

Full of peppermint flavor, they are great for making ahead and having on hand when you need a little sweet.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

Read More

This easy rum balls recipe is a tasty treat for grown-ups. This traditional no bake recipe comes together in no time and because the flavor develops even more overnight, it’s the perfect make ahead sweet. For an even more decadent treat, try chocolate covered rum balls!

It wouldn’t be Christmas without these old fashioned rum balls. They are as much a part of our holiday treats as gingerbread, buckeyes and sugar cookies. This recipe makes 5 dozen, so it is great for cookie exchanges and gift-giving.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

Read More

Gingerbread rum balls are full of warm spices for a holiday twist on my classic easy rum ball recipe. 

Old fashioned rum balls are a Christmas staple in our house. They have been since I was a teenager. Over the years, I’ve made a few variations and these festive holiday rum balls are the latest version.

Read More

White chocolate rum balls are an easy no bake treat that is perfect for your holiday cookie exchanges and dessert table. Cover with colorful sprinkles for a sweet, homemade gift.  A variation on my easy rum ball recipe, this version is dipped in creamy white chocolate for an extra sweet treat.

Rum balls are an easy, no bake cookie that is perfect for your holiday dessert table or cookie exchange. I like to have a batch of these around for everyone to nibble on after holiday dinners. 

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

…

Read More

Chocolate covered rum balls are a sweet, boozy grownup treat. Made with dark rum and dark chocolate, these chocolate covered rum balls are a variation on my easy rum ball recipe. They make a great addition to the holiday dessert table and they are perfect for holiday cookie exchanges.

Most often, we make rum balls around the holidays. Which is the time of the year when many of us are indulging in two things: booze and sugar. Check and check.

And, because we usually make these around the holiday season, I need a recipe that doesn’t require much time or energy when I have a to do list that’s a mile long. Enter: rum balls.

Read More

Cinnamon rum balls are a sweet, cinnamon-flavored, boozy grownup treat. Made with amber rum and warm spices, these cinnamon rum balls are a variation on my easy rum ball recipe. They make a great addition to the holiday dessert table and they are perfect for holiday cookie exchanges.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

Cinnamon balls

These rum balls are full of warm cinnamon flavor. They taste like cinnamon toast, not a red hot (do they still make those?).

The outside of these cookie balls is coated in cinnamon sugar, the same combination you sprinkle on buttered toast for a sweet breakfast treat. Except this treat is spiked with a hefty amount of rum.

If you want to make these with an extra kick, you could try swapping some of the rum for cinnamon schnapps. You know the one with the gold flecks floating in the bottle. That will give these rum balls a bit of fire.

Most of my rum ball recipes use dark rum, but for this cinnamon variation, I went with amber rum. The dark rum has a very strong rum flavor and it competed with the cinnamon.

That being said – unless you plan to make several batches of rum balls, or you are stocking the bar for the holidays, it isn’t worth a special trip to the store. Use what you have.

Cinnamon Rum Ball Recipe

Most rum ball recipes start out with vanilla wafer cookies, and this recipe does as well. I had planned to use half vanilla wafer cookies and half graham crackers, but I didn’t want to overcomplicate things. The next time I make these, I’ll definitely try that combination, just to experiment.

The base of most rum ball recipes is this: one box of cookies mixed with toasted nuts, sugar, rum, honey (or corn syrup) and a pinch of salt. Salt in desserts is necessary to help balance out the sweetness.

Do rum balls need to be refrigerated?

Nope, but they should be kept in a cool area. If they are kept on the counter, try to find a cool spot and they will be fine. That is, if they even last that long.

Rum balls are also a big hit for cookie exchanges. They are easy to make and everyone loves them. Plus, they satisfy two things that many of us partake of during the holidays: sugar and booze.

FAQ’s

Here are some helpful tips to getting them perfect every time!

Helpful tools and equipment for this recipe

One tool that I use to make cinnamon rum balls is a food processor. It makes quick work of chopping nuts and grinding cookie crumbs. If you don’t have one, you can certainly break the cookies up with a rolling pin.

Another helpful tool is a kitchen scale. I often use weight as a measurement instead of volume because it is more accurate.

Finally a small cookie scoop will ensure that your rum balls are all the same size.

If you’re planning to make some for your holiday cookie exchange, these Christmas tree gift boxes are the perfect size and they are super cute

Rum Ball Recipes

Looking for a few more variations? Try these flavors!

• Easy Rum Ball Recipe
• Pumpkin Rum Balls
• Coconut Rum Balls
• Cherry Rum Balls
• Chocolate Coconut Rum Balls
• Chocolate Covered Rum Balls
• Halloween Rum Balls

Please share

If you love this cinnamon rum ball recipe, please give it 5 stars!

I hope you like this recipe as much as we do! Please consider rating and/or commenting.

Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? Please share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

Yield: 50 rum balls

Cinnamon Rum Balls

Print

Cinnamon rum balls are a sweet, cinnamon-flavored, boozy grownup treat. Made with amber rum and warm spices, they are perfect for your holiday dessert table.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Chilling Time (optional) 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes

Ingredients

For the rum balls:

• 11 oz vanilla wafer cookies
• 1 cup toasted walnuts
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup amber rum
• 2 Tbsp. corn syrup

Cinnamon sugar coating:

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a food processor, process vanilla wafer cookies and walnuts until finely ground.  Set aside. (You may have to do this batches if you have a smaller food processor).
2. In a large bowl, sift together 1 cup powdered sugar, cinnamon and salt.
3. Add vanilla wafers and walnuts. Mix well.
4. Stir rum and corn syrup together in small bowl, then add to cookie mixture. Mix until uniform.
5. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tbsp cinnamon in a shallow bowl and set aside.
6. Scoop out tablespoon portions, roll into balls and toss to coat in cinnamon sugar mixture.
7. Place on parchment lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

Notes

To toast walnuts:

Preheat oven to 325°F. Place walnuts on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast in the oven for 8 - 10 minutes until fragrant.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Cuisinart 11-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

50

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 62Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 49mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g

Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe without prior written permission. Thank you!