This classic rum ball truffle recipe has the distinctive flavor of rum and chocolate. It’s sure to become a favorite no-bake dessert for the holidays.

Rum Balls are a popular Christmas treat in many countries around the world. Traditionally, they are made with pieces of cake or vanilla cookies and rum, which gives them their rich flavor. They make a great addition to a truffle tray along with these Oreo Truffles.
How do you make Rum Balls?
To prepare them, you’ll need to crush the vanilla wafers first. The best way to do this is in the food processor. However, if you don’t own a food processor you can simply put the wafers in a ziptop bag and smash it with a wooden spoon or rolling pin. If you’ve got kids they’ll love this job.
Next, you’ll crush the walnuts to the same consistency so they combine perfectly with the wafers. Then you’ll mix in the rest of the dry ingredients until everything is mixed together well (you want each rum ball to have an even amount of each ingredient). Then mix in the wet ingredients until it incorporates into a somewhat sticky ball.
How do you roll them without making a big mess?
Use a 1 tablespoon measure to scoop out the right amount of the rum and cookie mixture then roll it into a ball with your hands. It shouldn’t stick to your hands a lot, but if it does you can dust them with a little bit of cocoa powder or crushed wafers. Place each ball on a tray lined with parchment paper. Once all the mixture is rolled into bite-sized pieces, roll them in toppings to finish them.
What toppings should I use?
There are many different toppings you can use for these rum balls. We kept it simple with coconut flakes, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar. You could also use hot chocolate mix, granulated sugar, smashed red and green M&Ms, chocolate sprinkles, or whatever idea sparks your interest. It makes a pretty presentation if you use several different toppings.
How do you store rum balls?
Rum balls can be stored in the refrigerator or in a glass container in a cool place. Leaving them on the counter will make them softer. Refrigerating them will help them last longer.

Rum Balls
This classic rum ball truffle recipe has the distinctive flavor of rum and chocolate. It’s sure to become a favorite no-bake dessert for the holidays.
- Prep Time: 45 Minute
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 10 Servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup crushed vanilla wafers
- ¾ cup crushed walnuts
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
- 4 Tbsp. rum
- 3 Tbsp. corn syrup
- 2 Tbsp. melted unsalted butter
Extra coatings:
- coconut flakes, cacao powder and icing sugar
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine vanilla wafers, walnuts, powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Mix well with a spoon.
- Add rum, corn syrup and melted butter. Combine the mixture very well with a spatula. Or use your hands to combine ingredients.
- Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball with your hands.
- Dip a few balls in coconut flakes, a few in cocoa powder, and a few in powdered sugar.
- Place on parchment paper and put in the fridge to harden for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the fridge and dip again in coconut flakes, cocoa powder or powdered sugar.
- Store in the refrigerator.
This post originally appeared in December 2019 and was revised and republished in November 2020.

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