Kentucky Bourbon Ball Cookies - Easy No Bake Recipe! (2024)

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These delicious Kentucky Bourbon Balls are a classic treat! Sweet, boozy, and easy to make!

Kentucky Bourbon Ball Cookies - Easy No Bake Recipe! (1)

Kentucky Bourbon Balls

Bourbon balls are a must at any holiday gathering in the South — and if you’ve ever tried them you’ll know why! They are my Mother-in-Law’s favorite Christmas treat!

As the name implies, bourbon balls are a boozy cookie. There’s no baking, so the liquor doesn’t cook off like it might in some other desserts. This one is definitely for grown-ups only!

Just like other classic recipes, like Texas Sheet Cake cookies, it seems every family has their own recipe for Kentucky Bourbon Balls. (Or just Bourbon Balls if you use a different type of bourbon).

Sometimes bourbon balls are coated in chocolate, sometimes they are rolled in powdered sugar (like ours). Most recipes do have the following ingredients:

  • Crushed vanilla wafers
  • Chopped pecans
  • Cocoa powder
  • Bourbon, of course!

Keep reading to learn our favorite way to make bourbon balls!

Related: Click here to see ALL of our favorite Christmas cookies! There’s over 75 recipes!

Kentucky Bourbon Ball Cookies - Easy No Bake Recipe! (2)

Kentucky Bourbon Balls Ingredients

I’ve provided this quick list of shop-able ingredients for your convenience; disclosure policy here.

  • 1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
  • 1 cup pecans (chopped)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (for the dough)
  • 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup bourbon (we used Jim Beam)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon light corn syrup
  • 1/3 cup confectioners sugar (for rolling)

Makes: 48 balls

Kitchen Supplies Used:

How to Make Kentucky Bourbon Balls

Besides the fact that they taste delicious, one of the reasons bourbon balls might be one of the most popular holiday treats is that they are so easy to make!

Kentucky Bourbon Ball Cookies - Easy No Bake Recipe! (3)

  1. Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another bowl.
  2. Slowly add dry ingredients to bowl of wet ingredients, stirring until well combined.
  3. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place in a small bowl of powdered sugar.
  4. Roll the ball in the powdered sugar until surface is coated.

Finish your bourbon balls by placing them on a baking sheet in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour. Store them in an airtight container for up to a week.

Kentucky Bourbon Ball Cookies - Easy No Bake Recipe! (4)

More Christmas Recipes

  • Christmas Puppy Chow
  • Christmas Wreath Cupcakes
  • Christmas Tree Oreos
  • Mini Santa Belly Cakes
  • Kid-Made Mini Gingerbread House Cakes
  • Oreo Gingerbread Truffles
  • Rudolph Cupcakes
  • Copycat Starbuck Cranberry Bliss Bread
  • Grinch Jello Shots

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Kentucky Bourbon Ball Cookies - Easy No Bake Recipe! (5)

Print Recipe

4 from 1 vote

Kentucky Bourbon Balls Recipe

These delicious Kentucky Bourbon Balls are a classic treat! Sweet, boozy, and easy to make!

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Chill Time30 minutes mins

Total Time50 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Bourbon, Bourbon Balls, Christmas, cookies, Kentucky Bourbon Balls

Servings: 48 Balls

Calories: 42kcal

Author: Stacey aka the Soccer Mom

Cost: $10

Equipment

  • Medium bowl

  • Small bowl

  • Spoon

  • Mini cookie scoop

  • Baking pan

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Vanilla Wafer crumbs
  • 1 Cup Pecans chopped
  • 1 Cup Powdered sugar for the dough
  • 2 teaspoon Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 Cup Bourbon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon Light corn syrup
  • 1/3 Cup Powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions

  • Combine wafer crumbs, pecans, cocoa, and 1 cup of powdered sugar together in a medium bowl.

  • Pour the corn syrup and bourbon together in a small bowl and mix with a spoon.

  • Slowly add the crumb mixture to bowl of wet ingredients and mix well.

  • Form dough into 1" balls and place in a bowl of powdered sugar.

  • Roll balls in powdered sugar until coated.

  • Put the dough balls on the baking pan and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Notes

Note: Nutrition information is a rough estimate only; actual values will vary based on the exact ingredients used and amount of recipe prepared.

Nutrition

Calories: 42kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 10mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

Pin this Kentucky Bourbon Balls recipe on Pinterest:

Kentucky Bourbon Ball Cookies - Easy No Bake Recipe! (6)

More of our favorite Christmas cookies:

Kentucky Bourbon Ball Cookies - Easy No Bake Recipe! (7)

Hot Cocoa Cookies

White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

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Stacey aka the Soccer Mom

Stacey is the creator of The Soccer Mom Blog, a Houston Texas mom blog that focuses on positive living for women and families. She loves to share real food recipes, money-saving tips, parenting encouragement, kids activities, DIY tutorials, home hacks, fitness, and so much more! To get to know Stacey even better, click here.

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Kentucky Bourbon Ball Cookies - Easy No Bake Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How long can you store bourbon balls? ›

Bourbon balls will last for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Storing them uncovered will result in a more defined “crust”, and storing them covered will keep them moist. To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months.

Can kids eat bourbon balls? ›

Bourbon balls are a no-bake treat, which means you don't have to turn on the oven to whip up a tasty grown-up treat on a hot summer day (awesome). But, that also means any bourbon you add is staying in the dessert, and those boozy balls should stay on the adult table.

Does Ole Smoky bourbon ball go bad? ›

Hi, Scott the cream based spirits are good for 6 months after opening if kept refrigerated. Have a great day and Shine Responsibly!

Does bourbon go bad over time? ›

A sealed bottle of bourbon is unlikely to spoil and can go for years or even decades without a detectable change in quality. Once opened, however, it becomes exposed to air and begins to oxidize.

Can bourbon balls get you drunk? ›

Can I get drunk from eating your bourbon balls? Highly unlikely. The balls are bite-sized, maybe two bite-sized, so you would have to eat a lot of them. You are more likely to experience a sugar high, than a buzz, so we feel it is a safe indulgence.

What are the three ingredients of bourbon? ›

The process is much like that of starting a sourdough bread. The Recipe - Bourbon is distilled from a fermented mash of grain, yeast and water.

Is the alcohol cooked out of bourbon balls? ›

Since the balls aren't baked, the alcohol from the bourbon isn't cooked off, as it is in many other candies and desserts. "After eating one, you can smell the bourbon on you for a little while," says Chavez-Graziano.

Who invented bourbon balls? ›

Bourbon balls were invented in 1938 by Ruth Hanly Booe, who operated a shop called Rebecca Ruth Candy. The history behind this candy shop is actually pretty notable. Initially, Booe founded the shop with her friend, Rebecca Gooch.

Is Jack Daniel's a bourbon? ›

So, Jack Daniel's is a bourbon in the eyes of the Federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits. In response to this, Jack Daniel's choose to define their liquid as a 'Tennessee whisky' instead of a bourbon because it is better than bourbon.

Can 7 year olds drink whiskey? ›

While whiskey doesn't necessarily expire, it does start to lose flavor and elements after it is opened. An unopened bottle of whiskey will last indefinitely if stored in proper condition. After opening a bottle of whiskey, you have as long as two years or as few as six months or less to drink it before it goes bad.

How long do whiskey balls stay cold? ›

As Josh points out, whisky stones don't get very cold. They cool your drink, and are generally good for one round before they come up to room temperature.

Do Woodford Reserve bourbon balls need to be refrigerated? ›

They can be kept at room temperature (65-68 degrees) for several days. If they last that long, congratulations for showing unbelievable self-restraint. If you must store them in the refrigerator, seal the box in a plastic bag.

How long can you store rum balls? ›

Yes! In fact, rum balls are better when made a day or two ahead. They'll last for a few weeks when stored in an airtight container in the fridge. If you like rum balls, you're sure to like other rum-flavored desserts such as Spiced Rum and Pear Cake, Spiced Eggnog Rum Cookies and Spiced Nut Rum Brittle.

Does bourbon cream have a shelf life? ›

Ultra-pasteurized, shelf stable up to a year and no need to refrigerate, this spirit just gives you even more reasons to add it to your bar collection. Bourbon Cream is delicious on its own or in any number of co*cktails. Start your day with a Morning Cure by adding it to your favorite coffee.

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