Boozy Bourbon Balls make the perfect adult treat for the holidays or the Kentucky Derby. Made with real bourbon, cookie crumbs and pecans, these sweet confections are no-bake and easy to put together.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and buy something, Feast + West receives a small commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Kentucky Bourbon Balls recipe
These bourbon balls are the ultimate sharable treat for adults at a holiday party or a Kentucky Derby party.
Similar to rum balls , each bite of a Bourbon Ball is crunchy and soft at once, with the flavors of nuttiness, dark chocolate, oaky bourbon and sweet vanilla hitting your taste buds in waves.
Decorated with your favorite toppings, they are a show-stopping treat that is full of bourbon flavor with a touch of sweetness.
Place them in a bakery box or a cookie tin for easy gifts or set them out as a finger-food dessert for a party.
Why you’ll love this recipe
My first experience with bourbon balls was at a distillery tour in Louisville, Ky. I absolutely fell in love with these boozy treats, and I know you will too!
- Bourbon balls are so easy and require no baking!
- You don’t need any special equipment to make this recipe.
- They’d make an awesome addition to a party spread or on cookie trays.
Enjoy this great recipe along with a Kentucky Derby cocktail like a mint julep or a holiday cocktail with whiskey like an old-fashioned or Seelbach cocktail.
What are Bourbon Balls?
Made with real whiskey, Kentucky Bourbon Balls are a Southern delicacy!
They were invented in 1938 by Ruth Hanly Booe of Rebecca Ruth Candy in Frankfort, Ky. and are often served at the holidays and in honor of the Kentucky Derby.
These bite-sized confections can come in different shapes, sizes and flavors, but usually feature a mixture of dry and wet ingredients to form a sweet, boozy dough that’s shaped into spheres.
My recipe features a base of vanilla wafer cookie crumbs, powdered sugar, cocoa powder and finely-chopped pecans for the dry ingredients.
They are then mixed with bourbon, vanilla extract and maple syrup to form a dough that can be rolled into balls and topped with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
For this recipe, you will need to snag the following simple ingredients at the grocery store:
- Nilla wafers (or another cookie — see substitutions section below)
- powdered sugar
- cocoa powder
- finely chopped pecans
- vanilla extract
- maple syrup
- bourbon
And then you will want to stock up on toppings! Bourbon balls look great on their own, but you can jazz them up with a melted chocolate coating or roll them in sprinkles.
Instead of maple syrup, you can use light corn syrup or honey instead.
Bourbon Ball toppings
You can leave the bourbon balls undecorated or you can decorate them with a number of toppings. If you do 3-4 types, they will really wow on a cookie tray!
Here are a few suggestions to try:
- melted chocolate (with whole pecans on top)
- cookie crumbs
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- powdered sugar
- sanding sugar
- sprinkles
- chopped pecans
- shredded coconut
Best whiskey for Bourbon Balls
If you are making Bourbon Balls, you will want to stock up on the right whiskey to make the flavors pop!
Bourbon is a type of whiskey that is made from corn and other grains and must be produced in the United States, and most of it is made in the state of Kentucky.
That said, feel free to make these with other types of whiskey like Irish whiskey or Canadian whisky. Feel free to try them with a flavored whiskey like salted caramel whiskey for a flavor twist.
If you have a favorite bourbon, you can use it in these bourbon balls. I like trying different whiskeys, but my favorites for baked goods are Maker’s Mark, Bulleit and Woodford Reserve.
Save the super expensive stuff for sipping after dinner and use a mid-range priced bottle. And if you have some left over, use it in some of these whiskey cocktails!
Variations and substitutions
Mix things up with one of these variations:
Bourbon balls without nuts: If you need to make a nut-free version, substitute an additional 1 cup Nilla Wafer crumbs for the nuts.
Non-alcoholic bourbon balls: Try them with a non-alcoholic whiskey such as Ritual whiskey alternative.
With other nuts: These would work with walnuts instead of pecans.
Different cookie base: Instead of vanilla wafers, you can use graham cracker crumbs, Biscoff cookies or chocolate wafers.
Gluten-free bourbon balls: Use crumbs from your favorite gluten-free cookies.
How to make Bourbon Balls
These old fashioned bourbon balls are so easy to make! You will love how simple this no-bake recipe is.
First, you’ll need to finely chop pecans and the cookies to get crumbs. I used a food processor, but you don’t have to have one.
To chop nuts without a food processor: Chop them with a sharp knife or pastry cutter until you have a fine crumb. You can also crush them in a sealable bag with a meat mallet or rolling pin.
To make cookie crumbs: Place them in a sealable bag and crush them with a meat mallet or rolling pin until you have fine crumbs and no cookie chunks.
Then, place the cookie crumbs, confectioners’ sugar, cocoa and chopped pecans in a large mixing bowl.
Add the bourbon, vanilla and maple syrup. Stir together until combined and it forms a thick dough.
Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to scoop the bourbon mixture. Roll together in your palms to create evenly-sized, 1-inch balls.
Roll in your favorite toppings, such as powdered sugar, cocoa powder, sprinkles or more chopped pecans. Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. The flavor of the bourbon gets more intense after a day or two, so feel free to make them in advance.
Chocolate-covered Bourbon Balls
For a melted chocolate coating, melt chocolate and coconut together oil in the microwave and stir together until combined.
Use a fork to lower the balls in the melted chocolate until coated and place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet.
Top with a pecan half (or sprinkles) if desired. Place the tray in the fridge or freezer to help the chocolate set.
What to serve with Bourbon Balls
These bourbon balls are perfect for Christmas cookie trays. Serve them alongside other boozy cookies like Baileys chocolate chip cookies or Moscow Mule cookies.
Bourbon anything is also perfect for Kentucky Derby parties. They’re great with a spiced Kentucky Mule, a sweet Whiskey & Coke or a big batch of Bourbon Slush.
FAQ
No, each bourbon ball only contains less than 1 teaspoon of bourbon. You’d need to eat a bunch to feel tipsy, so enjoy them in moderation.
Yes, not only does the fridge help them to stay set up, but Kentucky bourbon balls will become more flavorful after a day in the fridge.
No, bourbon balls are a no-bake treat, so the booze will stay strong and flavorful.
ABOUT THE SWEETEST SEASON
This recipe is part of The Sweetest Season, an annual virtual cookie swap co-hosted by Erin of The Speckled Palate and myself. Every year, we get a big group of food bloggers together to share new holiday cookie recipes.
This year we are raising money for Cookies 4 Kids’ Cancer, which is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer.
This season, OXO will be matching every dollar raised through Dec. 31, 2023, up to $100,000. Whatever money we raise will automatically double on our fundraising page!
Kentucky Derby recipes
More boozy dessert recipes
- Bourbon Ginger Ale Cake
- Bourbon Rice Krispie Treats
- Lemon Drop Cookies with Vodka Glaze
- Chocolate Guinness Cake
Kentucky Bourbon Balls
ingredients
- 3 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped pecans
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ cup bourbon
- toppings such as cocoa powder, powdered sugar, sprinkles, more chopped pecans or melted chocolate
for chocolate-dipped coating
- 4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- whole pecans for garnish
instructions
- Place the cookie crumbs, powdered sugar, cocoa and chopped pecans in a large bowl.
- Add the bourbon, vanilla and maple syrup. Stir together until thoroughly combined and a thick dough has formed.
- Use a 1- or 2-tablespoon-sized cookie scoop or spoon to form evenly-sized balls. Roll balls in your palms to round them out.
- Roll in your favorite toppings, such as powdered sugar, cocoa powder, sprinkles or more chopped pecans.
- For a melted chocolate coating: Warm chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave and stir together until combined. Use a fork to lower the balls in the melted chocolate until coated and place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. Top with a whole pecan half or sprinkles if desired.
notes
Best bourbon for bourbon balls
If you have a favorite bourbon, you can use it in these bourbon balls. I like trying different whiskeys, but my favorites for baked goods are Maker’s Mark, Bulleit and Woodford Reserve.Variations and substitutions
Bourbon balls without nuts: If you need to make a nut-free version, substitute an additional 1 cup Nilla Wafer crumbs for the nuts. Non-alcoholic bourbon balls: Try them with a non-alcoholic whiskey alternative. With other nuts: These would work with walnuts instead of pecans. Different cookie base: Instead of Nilla Wafers, you can use graham cracker crumbs, Biscoff cookies or chocolate wafers. Gluten-free bourbon balls: Use crumbs from your favorite gluten-free cookies.recommended products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Debi says
These are so good. Bourbon treats are da bomb. I dipped some of mine in chocolate and left some plain.
Kathleen says
Perfect timing! I was assigned bourbon balls for a Holiday party, and these look scrumptious, I’m totally doing all the different coatings and dips! Total WOW!
Nikki says
These were my hubby’s favorite! He loves vanilla wafers and bourbon so he couldn’t get enough of them.
Kathryn says
These are so fun and easy to make for the holidays! I know these will be a hit where-ever I take them, thanks for the recipe!
Erin says
Gosh, Suze! These just look and sound MARVELOUS! What a fabulous combination of flavors into a bite-sized treat that is pretty much a solid choice to make a lot of people happy. I feel like I need to make some of these for W for his birthday because this feels like an excellent birthday treat for him…
Sheila says
My hubby absolutely loves these bourbon balls! They’re so easy to make and always the hit of our holiday party!
Megan says
These are so easy to make for parties. I love all the variations you have, although it makes it harder to decide which ones to enjoy!
Sam says
The bourbon flavor pairing with the vanilla wafers and pecans is just *chef’s kiss*
MinShien says
So perfect and tasty! 10/10!
Cheryl | Pook's Pantry says
As a bourbon lover, these are my kind of no bake treat for the holidays!
Molly Moon says
Well, goodness these sound absolutely divine! You’re rocking the holiday recipes this year. Can’t wait to give these a try!
Linda Reilly says
This post was great, the bourbon balls sound great but the availibility to print out just the recipe was impossible. Hate to waste paper. Most recipe sites allow consumer to see the recipe and just print the recipe, not a lot of other info I am not intested in.
Susannah says
Hey Linda, Thanks for your comment. There is a “print” button in the recipe at the bottom of the post, which only prints the recipe. Hope that helps for next time!