This recipe for Eggnog Bourbon Balls is easy and extremely addictive. It was hard to eat just one.
My kitchen has been turning out deliciousness like a well oiled machine over the past week or so. Sweet treats, candies & of course cookies. It’s the holiday way, isn’t it? I wish I had the ability to buy my friends and neighbors a special gift, but a plate of homemade goodies is the easiest and most economical way to show them that I care and that they are thought of during the busy holiday season.
Ingredients in Eggnog Bourbon Balls
- Vanilla Wafers – crushed up vanilla wafer cookies are the perfect carrier for bourbon and cocoa.
- Sugar – powdered confectioners sugar.
- Pecans – ground pecans add depth of flavor and texture.
- Bourbon – make sure you use a decent quality bourbon for this recipe. You’ll taste it in the candy, so you don’t want to use anything too inexpensive.
- Cocoa Powder – adds a touch of chocolatey goodness to these bourbon balls.
- Corn Syrup – light corn syrup will help hold the cookie and nut mixture together giving you a truffle-like consistency.
- Candy Melts – you can purchase candy melts at stores like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, cake decorating shops, or Amazon.
- Spices – ground nutmeg gives the white candy melts the hint of eggnog. You could also add a touch of eggnog flavoring if you want a more intense eggnog flavor.
You know I love my bourbon which is evidenced by some of my favorite recipes like Fresh Peach Old Fashioned, Bacon Bourbon Aperitif and Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta. And what goes better with Bourbon during the holidays than Eggnog? Nothing, if your name is Heather! They are SUPER easy to make and if you let them “marry” for a couple of days you just might get a buzz from eating a couple. So here’s my public service announcement: Don’t eat bourbon balls and drive. The end. 🙂
Eggnog Bourbon Balls
Equipment
- 1 hinged cookie scoop small
Ingredients
- 1 cup Vanilla wafer cookies, crushed - in food processor
- 1 cup powdered confectioners sugar
- 1 cup ground pecans
- ¼ cup Bourbon
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 10 ounces white candy melts
- 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add the ground wafer cookies, powdered sugar, pecans and cocoa powder. Stir to combine well. Add the bourbon and corn syrup and stir until the mixture comes together and is well incorporated.
- Using a small hinged scoop or a teaspoon, make balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining mixture and place the baking sheet in the freezer for 20 minutes.
- Using a double boiler, add the candy melts to the top and melt slowly. Stir the candy melts just to combine and add 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Drop one chilled bourbon ball in the candy mixture using a fork flip it over to coat. Tap the fork on the side of the double boiler to remove excess candy and place back on the parchment lined baking sheet.
- Sprinkle the wet candy with a tiny pinch of ground nutmeg. Repeat with the remaining bourbon balls. Refrigerate or consume immediately.
Recipe By:
Co-Founder at Spiceology | More About Heather…
Heather is a recipe developer and content creator living in Vancouver, Washington. She started Farmgirl Gourmet in 2006, almost 20 years ago, as a way to share recipes with friends and family. Heather is also the co-founder of Spiceology , a unique spice company, which she started in 2013. She shares family friendly recipes for easy everyday meals with a gourmet twist.
I really love this recipe and hope you will too!
I made these last year and they were awesome. Will make this year too.
What is the yield per recipe, with balls a little smaller than a ping pong ball?
I made these today and they turned out great! I made a few changes. I used Wild Turkey American Honey Bourbon; it’s only 70 proof so I increased the amount to 75ml and added a bit more pecans and Nilla wafers until I had a smooth but firm dough. As an alternate, I rolled part of the batch in powdered sugar and coated the rest according to the recipe..
I’m such a rum ball fan, and THESE just sound amazing to add a little variety to my collection!
Made these today! They are great. Will be a great addition to my cookie plates this year!
I was just thinking about how I wanted to find more recipes with eggnog flavor this year. I hope I can find the candy melts! [If not, I can at least have a glass of bourbon, right?]
What a delicious idea! I love eggnog flavored desserts!
Thank you Lisa. The candy melts taste just like eggnog. So yum! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
These are delightful. Heather! I love white Christmas treats and really love the dark interior with the vanilla wafers and other goodies. Brilliant idea! That said..my challah was from 2009 after knee surgery and rehab. I was so thrilled to bake again, much less stand on two feet!!
After I commented I realized it was an older post. Oops. 🙂 Still you make some awesome Challah and you need to teach me the 5 braid. I can only muster a 3. 🙂
This is brilliant! Bourbon is my winter go-to, and eggnog is a perfect match: making these!
Let me know how you like them Ashley! Bourbon is my go-to – always. 🙂 I’m kind of obsessed. Anyway, thanks for commenting!!
YES! Oh YES!!! I can imagine these wouldn’t last long in my house. With just me, stuffing these into my face every time I walked past them.
you and me both Donna. One here, 2 there…all gone. 🙂
I love my balls with bourbon. Oops, that didn’t sound right. These sound amazing!!
LOL. Saying “balls” makes me think of the SNL skit with Alec Balwin – it makes me snicker! Thanks for commenting…they were amazing (we ate the last ones today). Time to make mas!! 🙂
OH MY GOD YES.
LOL Claire. I wish I could share with you…but they are all gone. Time to make more, I think! 🙂
I love my bourbon, too! Which is exactly why I know I’d love these balls (that, and the fact that they look delicious AND that you made them)!
Ha Kristy! You’re too sweet. XO and Happy Holidays friend. I miss your face!!