These homemade bourbon balls are an easy DIY gift! They're made with pecans, good quality bourbon, chocolate wafer cookies, cocoa powder and maple syrup, then dipped in dark chocolate and topped with a pecan. They're strong, but make for a delicious treat!
Bourbon balls are a popular holiday gift, but did you know they're actually pretty easy to make from scratch? You only need a few ingredients, and they're as easy as mixing everything together, rolling into a ball and dipping in chocolate.
This recipe is part of our 2025 Recipe Advent Calendar. If you love homemade food gifts, try our Cranberry Pomegranate Caramels or Homemade Ferrero Rocher next!
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What You Need To Make This
- Bourbon: Use a good quality bourbon for this – you'll definitely be able to taste it! These would also be good with a dark spiced rum.
- Pecans: Toasting them before soaking in rum adds an extra layer of flavor. You can buy them pre-toasted, but make sure they aren't salted.
- Maple syrup: Feel free to use another liquid sweetener of choice, like agave.
- Chocolate wafer cookies: You can also use graham crackers or Nilla wafers in this recipe. We like the texture that the wafer cookies add.
- Cocoa powder: Unsweetened is best for this recipe.
- Vanilla extract and salt
How To Make This Recipe
Preheat the oven to 325˚F. Add the pecans to a sheet pan and toast them in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned and fragrant. Transfer to a cutting board and chop finely.
Add the chopped pecans to a bowl. Pour the bourbon over the nuts and stir, then let sit on the counter for 2-3 hours.
Strain the nuts, reserving the bourbon. Whisk together the leftover bourbon, maple syrup and vanilla in a small bowl.
In a large bowl, stir together the chopped wafer cookies, pecans, cocoa, and salt.
Add in the bourbon mixture and stir until a paste forms. If the mixture is too dry, add another tablespoon of bourbon.
Use a heaping tablespoon to portion the balls and roll into a ball with your hands. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes while you melt the chocolate.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between each interval, until fully melted. Using two forks, coat each ball in melted chocolate and let the excess chocolate drip off. Transfer to the parchment paper, then place a pecan on top.
Storage
Keep these stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 weeks, or in the freezer for 3 months. Defrost at room temperature (or in the refrigerator overnight) before eating.
Lexi & Beth's Top Tips
- Chill the rolled balls in the fridge or freezer before dipping in chocolate. The filling is soft at room temperature, so it can get pretty messy if they aren't firmed up before dipping in chocolate.
More Homemade Food Gifts
Recipe
Bourbon Balls
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 325˚F. Add the pecans to a sheet pan and toast them in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned and fragrant. Transfer to a cutting board and chop finely.
- Add the chopped pecans to a bowl. Pour the bourbon over the nuts and stir, then let sit on the counter for 2-3 hours.
- Strain the nuts, reserving the bourbon.
- Whisk together the leftover bourbon, maple syrup and vanilla in a small bowl.
- In a large bowl, stir together the chopped wafer cookies, pecans, cocoa, and salt. Add in the bourbon mixture and stir until a paste forms. If the mixture is too dry, add another tablespoon of bourbon.
- Use a heaping tablespoon to portion the balls and roll into a ball with your hands. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes while you melt the chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between each interval, until fully melted. Using two forks, coat each ball in melted chocolate and let the excess chocolate drip off. Transfer to the parchment paper, then place a pecan on top. Optional: drizzle more melted chocolate on top.
- Let the chocolate set, then enjoy!
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