Description
Delicious, no-bake Bourbon Balls featuring crushed vanilla wafers, toasted pecans, cocoa powder, and a rich bourbon flavor. These bite-sized treats are rolled in powdered sugar and perfect for parties or gifting, with a simple preparation that requires chilling but no cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 (11-ounce) package vanilla wafer cookies
- 1 cup finely chopped toasted pecans
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- Powdered sugar for coating
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup bourbon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or flavoring
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
Instructions
- Crush the Cookies: Use a food processor or a food chopper to finely crush the vanilla wafer cookies into crumbs. Alternatively, place the cookies inside a large zip-top bag and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to crush them into fine crumbs.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the crushed cookie crumbs, finely chopped toasted pecans, unsweetened cocoa powder, and powdered sugar until evenly distributed.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the bourbon, vanilla extract, and light corn syrup until well combined.
- Form the Dough: Pour the bourbon mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir thoroughly until a thick, uniform dough forms that can hold its shape when rolled.
- Shape the Balls: Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon measure, portion out the dough and roll each portion into roughly 1-inch diameter balls with your hands.
- Coat with Powdered Sugar: Pour additional powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Roll each bourbon ball in the powdered sugar until fully coated, ensuring an even dusting for sweetness and appearance.
- Chill: Place the coated bourbon balls in a sealed container and refrigerate for at least one hour to allow the flavors to meld and the texture to firm up.
- Store: Keep the bourbon balls stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They remain fresh for up to two weeks, making them ideal for advance preparation or gifting.
Notes
- For best flavor, use good-quality bourbon.
- To toast pecans, spread them on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until fragrant.
- You can substitute vanilla extract with bourbon vanilla or bourbon flavoring if preferred.
- These treats are no-bake, making them easy and quick to prepare.
- Store leftovers in the fridge to maintain freshness and texture.
- Feel free to roll the balls in cocoa powder or finely chopped nuts instead of powdered sugar for variation.
