There’s something truly special about a treat that’s both effortless to make and bursting with flavor, and this Festive & Easy Rum Balls Recipe is exactly that! Perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting to special friends, these boozy, no-bake delights come together quickly and develop their full richness after a day or two in the fridge. Get ready for a celebration in every bite!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

No-Bake Convenience: Skip the oven and whip these up in no time — perfect for busy holiday seasons.
Rich, Layered Flavors: The combination of spiced rum, honey, and cocoa brings warm festive notes you’ll crave.
Customizable Coatings: Choose coconut or chopped pecans for the coating to match your texture preference.
Make-Ahead Friendly: These rum balls improve after sitting overnight, making party prep stress-free.

The image shows a close-up of a single dark brown chocolate ball with a rough texture and small crunchy nut pieces sprinkled on the outside. It sits on a white, ridged cupcake liner that adds a delicate background detail, placed on a white marbled surface. The chocolate ball has a moist, slightly crumbly inside, visible from a bite taken out of its front. In the soft-focus background, there are other chocolate balls in white ridged liners, enhancing depth but keeping attention on the front piece. The lighting is soft and natural, making the chocolate look rich and inviting. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 6.1

Ingredients You’ll Need

This Festive & Easy Rum Balls Recipe calls for simple pantry staples and a few special ingredients that all work together to create a wonderfully moist, flavorful, and satisfying bite. Each component contributes to the texture, the balance of sweetness, and that irresistible boozy kick.

Pecans: These add a buttery crunch and earthy flavor—toast them lightly if you want an extra toasty note.
Biscoff Cookies (or Nilla Wafers): Ground into crumbs, these provide the perfect base that soaks up rum nicely without falling apart.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Adds a rich, chocolatey depth with a touch of bitterness that balances the sweetness.
Confectioners’ Sugar: Sweetens and helps bind everything smoothly.
Pure Vanilla Extract: Brings warmth and rounds out the flavors.
Spiced Rum: The star ingredient delivering festive warmth and a subtle spice kick.
Honey: Adds natural sweetness and helps keep everything moist.
Coating Options: Choose between desiccated coconut for a tropical twist, or finely chopped pecans for more crunch.

Note: Exact ingredients and measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

Variations

One of the best things about this Festive & Easy Rum Balls Recipe is how adaptable it is. Feel free to tweak, swap, or add ingredients to suit your taste, dietary needs, or what you have on hand. These variations can make your rum balls even more personalized and festive!

Use Different Nuts: Swap pecans for walnuts or almonds if that’s what you have or prefer a different crunch.
Play with Coatings: Instead of coconut or pecans, try rolling rum balls in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, or even crushed candy canes for a peppermint twist.
Non-Alcoholic Version: Substitute the rum with spiced apple cider or orange juice concentrate for a kid-friendly treat that still packs flavor.
Add Mix-Ins: Toss in mini chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or chopped candied ginger for extra bursts of texture and taste.

How to Make Festive & Easy Rum Balls Recipe

Step 1: Grind Nuts and Cookies

Start by placing the pecans and Biscoff cookies into a food processor. Pulse them together until you get a fine crumb-like mixture. This texture is crucial because it serves as the sturdy yet tender base of your rum balls, allowing them to hold together beautifully.

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients

Transfer the crumbs to a large mixing bowl (don’t do this back in the food processor!). Stir in the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder. This blend layers the sweetness and deep chocolate notes harmoniously with your nut-cookie mixture.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients and Mix

Next, pour in the spiced rum, vanilla extract, and honey. Stir everything with a spatula until it comes together into a wet dough. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes—it’s a game changer to let those crumbs soak up the liquid and develop a perfect, moldable texture.

Step 4: Roll and Coat

Using a tablespoon measure (about 20 grams), scoop the mixture and roll it gently between your palms to form balls. Don’t worry if the mixture feels a bit sticky—that’s exactly how it should be. Roll each ball through your choice of coating, whether it’s desiccated coconut or finely chopped pecans, and set them on a lined tray.

Step 5: Chill and Serve

Pop your rum balls into the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, but ideally overnight. Chilling allows the flavors to meld and the texture to firm up to that perfect bite. Before serving, consider placing them in mini baking cups to keep things neat and extra festive.

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Pro Tips for Making Festive & Easy Rum Balls Recipe

Measure Carefully: Weighing ingredients, especially cookies and nuts, ensures consistent texture and flavor every time.
Let the Mixture Rest: Allowing the dough to sit before rolling helps it bind better, making shaping easier.
Roll Gently: Press just enough to form balls without squeezing out the moisture, to keep them soft and luscious.
Store Properly: Refrigerate in an airtight container to maintain freshness and prevent coatings from falling off.

How to Serve Festive & Easy Rum Balls Recipe

A metal tray is filled with several round chocolate balls, each placed in its own white paper cup. The balls are coated with three different toppings: dark chocolate sprinkles with a shiny texture, crushed nuts giving a rough, tan surface, and white powdered sugar or coconut flakes creating a soft, snowy look. The balls are closely packed in rows across the tray, held by two woman's hands at opposite corners of the tray. The whole scene is set on a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 6.1

Garnishes

To dress up your rum balls, try dusting with a light sprinkle of extra cocoa powder or confectioners’ sugar right before serving. For a little sparkle, edible glitter or a tiny drizzle of melted dark chocolate adds a festive flair that’s sure to impress your guests.

Side Dishes

Rum balls are fantastic on their own, but if you want to offer a pairing, think along the lines of a warm cup of spiced tea, rich coffee, or even a glass of the same spiced rum used in the recipe. Cheese platters and fresh fruit also complement the richness beautifully.

Creative Ways to Present

Place rum balls in colorful mini cupcake liners or festive tins to make gifting effortless. For a party, arrange them on a tiered dessert stand or skewer them onto cocktail sticks with a cherry or mint sprig for a fun and elegant bite-sized treat.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftover rum balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them fresh and chewy. They’ll stay perfect for up to 5 days, making this recipe ideal for holiday entertaining or a decadent treat throughout the week.

Freezing

If you want to make these even further in advance, rum balls freeze beautifully. Place them on a tray to freeze solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. They’ll keep up to 3 months, so holiday prep just got a whole lot easier!

Reheating

Rum balls are best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature, so no need to reheat. Simply thaw frozen balls in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a couple of hours before serving. This helps maintain their delicate texture and flavor.

FAQs

Can I use different types of cookies instead of Biscoff?

Absolutely! While Biscoff adds a unique caramel-like flavor, you can substitute with Nilla Wafers, vanilla biscuits, or even graham crackers. Just make sure they’re light and crisp to maintain the right texture.
How strong will the rum flavor be in these rum balls?

The rum flavor is pleasantly present but not overpowering. Using spiced rum adds depth without being too harsh. If you prefer milder bites, reduce the rum slightly or use a less potent variety.
Are rum balls safe to serve to children?

Since this recipe contains alcohol, it’s best to keep these for adult guests. However, you can easily make an alcohol-free version by swapping rum for fruit juice or flavored syrup to retain sweetness and moisture.
What’s the best way to prevent rum balls from drying out?

Store rum balls in an airtight container refrigerated and avoid leaving them out uncovered. The honey helps retain moisture, but proper storage keeps them soft and delicious.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a charming, no-fuss treat with a grown-up twist, this Festive & Easy Rum Balls Recipe is your new best friend. Whether for your holiday table, a thoughtful homemade gift, or a sweet pick-me-up, these rum balls bring festive cheer in every bite. Try them out—you’ll be amazed at how something so simple can taste so divine!

Festive & Easy Rum Balls Recipe

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4.6 from 145 reviews

Festive & Easy Rum Balls are a no-bake, boozy treat perfect for holiday celebrations and gifting. Made with ground pecans, spiced rum, and Biscoff cookies, these rum balls are coated in your choice of shredded coconut or chopped pecans. They require minimal hands-on time, benefit from chilling to develop flavors, and delight with a rich, spiced sweetness.

Author: Lena
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Yield: 30–36 rum balls
Category: Dessert
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale

Main Ingredients

1 and 1/4 cups (150g) pecans
38 Biscoff cookies (300g) or Nilla Wafers
2 Tablespoons (10g) natural or dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup (90g) confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (120ml) spiced rum
2 Tablespoons (30ml) honey

Coating (Choose Any)

1 cup desiccated unsweetened coconut (100g) OR finely chopped pecans (130g)

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Instructions

Grind Ingredients: Place the pecans and Biscoff cookies in a food processor and pulse until they are finely ground into crumbs. Add the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder, then pulse a few more times until everything is evenly combined.
Mix Wet Ingredients: Transfer the dry crumb mixture to a large bowl (do not add the wet ingredients in the food processor). Stir in the spiced rum, vanilla extract, and honey with a spatula until a wet dough forms. Let this mixture rest for 10 minutes so the crumbs absorb the liquid.
Prepare Coatings: While the dough is resting, place your choice of coating—desiccated coconut or chopped pecans—in small separate bowls for rolling.
Shape the Rum Balls: Using a tablespoon measure (about 20g), scoop the dough and roll it into a ball between your hands. The dough will be slightly wet, which is expected. Roll each ball thoroughly in your chosen coating, then place on a lined baking sheet or tray. Repeat until all the dough is used.
Chill the Rum Balls: Refrigerate the rum balls for at least 2 hours and up to 5 days to allow flavors to meld and the texture to firm up. For best taste and texture, refrigerate for at least one day. Cover them tightly if storing longer.
Serve: Before serving, optionally place the rum balls in mini baking cups to prevent excess coating from falling off and keep them neat.

Notes

For a slightly different texture, you can substitute Biscoff cookies with Nilla Wafers.
If you prefer, use either desiccated unsweetened coconut or finely chopped pecans as the coating—both add a lovely texture and complement the rum flavor.
Because these rum balls contain alcohol, they are intended for adult consumption.
Making the rum balls a day or two in advance improves their taste and texture.
Store rum balls tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or keep at room temperature for a few days if needed.