If you’re on the hunt for a wonderfully easy, boozy treat to brighten up your holiday gatherings, let me introduce you to my absolute favorite Festive Rum Ball Recipe. I love this recipe because it’s quick, requires no baking, and delivers that perfect balance of rich, chocolaty, and kicky rum flavor that makes any party instantly feel special. Trust me, once you try these, you’re going to want to make them year-round!

❤️

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

No-Bake Convenience: You simply pulse, roll, and coat—no oven required, making it perfect for busy days.
Crowd-Pleaser: My family goes crazy for these, and they’re always the first to disappear at parties.
Customizable Flavor: You can tweak the type of cookie crumbs or rum to fit your style or what you have on hand.
Make-Ahead Friendly: These freeze beautifully, so you can prep well in advance and stress less during the holidays.

A small open box with nine round chocolate truffles inside, each set in white pleated paper cups. The truffles have a rough texture and are dusted lightly with white powder, showing a mix of dark brown and grayish tones. The box is placed on a light wood surface with some red decorations nearby. The overall look is neat and simple, focusing on the truffles' texture and arrangement. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Festive Rum Balls, Rum Ball Recipe, Holiday Party Treats, No-Bake Rum Balls, Easy Christmas Desserts

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of this Festive Rum Ball Recipe lies in the simple, pantry-friendly ingredients that blend into a perfectly boozy and sweet treat. When I shop for this, I make sure to grab fresh vanilla wafers and good-quality rum to really elevate the flavor. Also, remember that the confectioners’ sugar not only sweetens but also helps with that signature smooth texture.

Flat lay of a small pile of whole vanilla wafers with a smooth golden color, a small heap of fine white confectioners’ sugar on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white ceramic bowl filled with rich dark brown cocoa powder, a small white ceramic bowl containing glossy translucent white corn syrup, and a small white ceramic bowl with clear amber rum, all arranged in perfect symmetry with balanced spacing, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Festive Rum Balls, Rum Ball Recipe, Holiday Party Treats, No-Bake Rum Balls, Easy Christmas Desserts

Vanilla wafers: These create the crumbly base—if you don’t find them, graham crackers or shortbread cookies work beautifully too.
Confectioners’ sugar: Essential for sweetness and to help the mixture hold together.
Cocoa powder: Adds that rich chocolate depth that I just can’t resist in rum balls.
White corn syrup: This binds everything together and adds a gentle chewiness.
Rum: The star of the show! Use your favorite type—dark, spiced, or even flavored rum—all three bring their own charm.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I’ve had so much fun experimenting with this Festive Rum Ball Recipe over the years. Feel free to make it your own! Whether you want to infuse seasonal spices or swap out ingredients for dietary tweaks, there’s plenty of room to play.

Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg: I like adding warm spices for a cozy holiday vibe that feels just like Christmas in a bite.
Use spiced rum: This instantly amps up the flavor complexity—I discovered this trick when I ran out of plain rum and never looked back!
Gluten-free approach: Swap out vanilla wafers for gluten-free cookies or crushed nuts, and you still get a fantastic texture.
Chocolate coating: For a fancy upgrade, dip your rum balls in melted dark chocolate and let them set—my guests love this glam finish.

How to Make Festive Rum Ball Recipe

Step 1: Crush Those Vanilla Wafers to Perfection

Start by pulsing your vanilla wafers in a food processor until they’re finely ground. At first, some bigger chunks might linger, but don’t sweat it — keep pulsing a bit more, and they’ll break down nicely. No food processor? No problem. Just pop the wafers in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin or heavy pan until crumbly. This step is key for that smooth texture you’re aiming for in your rum balls.

Step 2: Mix in Sugar, Cocoa, and Corn Syrup

Next up, add the confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, and white corn syrup straight to your crumbs. Pulse or mix until everything’s evenly combined—this helps incorporate sweetness and that beautiful chocolate bitterness that balances the rum. The corn syrup also gives the mixture just enough stickiness to help it form.

Step 3: Pour in the Rum and Bring It Together

Here’s where things get fun: add the rum, about a third of a cup to start. Pulse just enough to combine, then check if the mixture holds together when pinched. If it feels crumbly or dry, add a splash more rum slowly until it forms a soft, pliable mass. I’ve learned that patience here makes a big difference—too much rum and it gets sloppy, too little and the balls won’t stick.

Step 4: Shape and Coat Your Rum Balls

Using a teaspoon or a small cookie scoop, portion out the dough and roll gently between your palms. Drop each ball into a shallow dish filled with powdered sugar and give it a gentle shake to coat. This gives them that classic festive sparkle and a little extra sweetness. Transfer to an airtight container, and voilà, you’re all set!

👨‍🍳

Pro Tips for Making Festive Rum Ball Recipe

Perfect Consistency: Don’t rush the rum addition—adding it slowly helped me avoid a mixture that was too wet or dry.
Use a Small Scoop: I swear by a #100 cookie scoop for uniform rum balls, but a teaspoon and your hands work fine too!
Fine Crumbs Matter: If your crumbs aren’t fine enough, the rum balls can be crumbly and fall apart, so blitz well!
Storage Strategy: I avoid stacking balls before they’re fully coated in powdered sugar to keep them from sticking together.

How to Serve Festive Rum Ball Recipe

Seven round chocolate balls covered in a layer of white powdered sugar are placed inside white paper cupcake holders on a white plate. The chocolates have a rough texture visible beneath the sugar coating. A short string of small, shiny red beads crosses over the chocolates, adding a bright contrast. The plate is set on a white marbled surface that looks smooth and clean. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Festive Rum Balls, Rum Ball Recipe, Holiday Party Treats, No-Bake Rum Balls, Easy Christmas Desserts

Garnishes

For garnishes, I like a simple coat of powdered sugar, but sometimes I sprinkle a little extra cocoa powder or even crushed toasted pecans on top. It adds a nice texture contrast and a little extra holiday flair that gets compliments every time.

Side Dishes

Since these rum balls are sweet and boozy, I often pair them with fresh fruit platters or a hot cup of coffee or mulled wine. If I’m serving a holiday dessert tray, these little bites hold their own alongside cookies and fudge.

Creative Ways to Present

I love arranging the rum balls in festive mini cupcake liners and placing them in a pretty box or tin for gifting. Another fun trick I tried was stacking them in a glass jar tied with a ribbon, which makes a beautiful, edible centerpiece for holiday parties.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover rum balls store wonderfully at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week. Just keep them away from direct sunlight and heat to maintain their texture and flavor. I usually make extras ahead because they keep so well!

Freezing

I often freeze these rum balls wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer-safe bag or container — they’re great frozen for up to three months. When you want some, just thaw them in the fridge overnight, and they come back perfectly soft and flavorful.

Reheating

These rum balls don’t need reheating, but if you want to bring out the rum aroma and soften them up just a bit, let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving, especially after freezing.

FAQs

Can I substitute the vanilla wafers with other cookies?

Absolutely! If you can’t find vanilla wafers, graham crackers, ginger snaps, or even shortbread cookies make great alternatives. Just make sure to finely crush them for the right texture in your rum balls.
How boozy are these rum balls?

This recipe strikes a nice balance—the rum adds warmth and depth without overpowering. You can adjust the amount of rum to your preference, but keep in mind that too much can make the mixture too wet and hard to form into balls.
Can I make these rum balls ahead of time?

Yes! These are fantastic make-ahead treats. They store well at room temperature for a week and freeze beautifully for up to three months, making them perfect for holiday prep or party planning.
Do I need to refrigerate rum balls?

Not necessarily. These rum balls are fine kept at room temperature in an airtight container. Refrigeration isn’t required unless your kitchen is very warm, but if you do refrigerate, allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
What’s the best rum to use?

I like using a good-quality spiced or dark rum for more flavor complexity, but a lighter rum works well too. Ultimately, use what you enjoy drinking—since it really shines in the finished product.

Final Thoughts

In all honesty, this Festive Rum Ball Recipe has become my go-to holiday treat because it’s fast, festive, and always impresses. I love how easy it is to whip up a batch that brings everyone around the table for a little indulgent fun. I promise, once you make these, you’ll be gifting them and making them for yourself for years to come. So go ahead, dive in, and enjoy making these delicious little bites of holiday joy!

Festive Rum Ball Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.6 from 503 reviews

Author: Jasmine
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 40 rum balls
Category: Dessert
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Description

These Easy, Festive (and Boozy!) Rum Balls are a delightful no-bake holiday treat combining vanilla wafers, cocoa, confectioners’ sugar, and rum for a rich, boozy flavor. Perfect for gifting or indulging, these rum balls require minimal preparation, no baking, and can be stored for weeks or frozen for longer enjoyment.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

3+ cups (311 g) vanilla wafers (a whole box of Nilla wafers)
1 cup (120 g) confectioners’ sugar (plus more for rolling)
2 tablespoons (10 g) cocoa powder
2 tablespoons (44 g) white corn syrup
1/3 cup (74 g) rum, plus more as needed

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Crush the Vanilla Wafers: Place the vanilla wafers into a food processor and pulse until they are turned into fine crumbs. Some larger pieces may remain initially but will be pulverized with continued pulsing. Alternatively, place wafers in a Ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin until finely ground.
Mix Dry Ingredients: Add the confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, and white corn syrup to the food processor with the crushed wafers. Pulse until all ingredients are well combined and evenly mixed.
Add Rum and Combine: Pour in the 1/3 cup of rum and pulse the mixture until it begins to form a dough-like consistency. If the mixture is too dry and crumbly, add rum slowly, a little at a time, until the mixture holds together when pinched or forms a mass around the blade.
Shape the Rum Balls: Using a teaspoon, a #100 scoop, or your hands, scoop out portions of the mixture and roll gently to form smooth balls.
Coat with Powdered Sugar: Place a thin layer of powdered sugar in a shallow plate or container. Drop the formed rum balls into the powdered sugar and gently shake or roll them until fully coated.
Store Properly: Transfer the coated rum balls into an airtight container. Store them at room temperature for up to one week or freeze for up to three months. If frozen, bring to room temperature briefly before serving.

Notes

These rum balls require no baking and are incredibly quick and easy to make, making them perfect for holiday gifting.
If you cannot find vanilla wafers, graham crackers, ginger snaps, shortbread cookies, or creme-filled cookies work well as substitutes.
Mini foil wrappers make for an attractive presentation if gifting the rum balls.
A #100 scoop is helpful for portioning and shaping, but teaspoons or hands work just as well.
Store rum balls in an airtight container at room temperature or freeze for longer storage.