• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Savoring The Good®
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizer Recipes
      • Dip & Salsa Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
      • Ground Beef Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Canning Recipes
      • Pickling Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Cocktails
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Crock-Pot Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Beverages
    • Food Tips
    • How To
    • Low Carb Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Poultry Recipes
    • Recipe Collection
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Soups
    • Turkey Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Sous Vide
    • Sous Vide Dessert
  • Family
    • Technology
    • Crafts
  • Travel
    • Disney
    • Hershey, Pa
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Travel
  • About Me
  • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Travel
    • About Me
    • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home | Dessert Recipes

    Bourbon Balls Recipe

    Dated: December 18, 2021 Last Modified: January 8, 2022 by Sarah Mock 1 Comment. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links.

    109 shares
    • Facebook54
    • Twitter
    This bourbon balls recipe is the Kentucky bourbon balls I learned to make in culinary school.
    Toggle to green to prevent your screen from going dark
    Jump to Recipe
    Bourbon Balls Kentucky version with pecan garnish

    This bourbon balls recipe is the Kentucky bourbon balls I learned to make in culinary school. 5 ingredients are all your need to make hand-made homemade balls for the holiday season.

    bunch of bourbon balls on a piece of parchment

    This holiday treat is something my family makes each year to give out as a homemade holiday food gift. This year we added soft, salted caramels to the cookie.

    Jump to:
    • ✨ Here is why this recipe is amazing:
    • 🥃 Ingredients needed:
    • 📝 Ingredient notes:
    • 🍫 Garnishes
    • 🔄 Substitutions
    • 🥄 How to make Kentucky bourbon balls
    • ❄️ Storage Tips
    • 📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    ✨ Here is why this recipe is amazing:

    • These are sent to the office every year and EVERYONE asks for the recipe.
    • This batch makes a LOT of balls (75 infact!) but this recipe can be halved or doubled.

    🥃 Ingredients needed:

    ingredients for Bourbon Balls on a wooden surface with text overlays

    Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.

    📝 Ingredient notes:

    • Pecans - chopped and toasted to add extra nuttiness flavor. Save some for garnish.
    • Bourbon - use your favorite brand.
    • Powdered sugar - also known as 10x sugar or confectioners sugar. Read up on other Baking definitions.
    • Butter - I use salted butter but you are welcome to use sweet cream butter. I think the touch of salt helps balance the sweetness.
    • Chocolate - I am using chocolate chips to coat the pecan balls. Other coating chocolate or black chocolate can also be used.

    🍫 Garnishes

    • Pecan half - use a pecan half for the garnish if you are feeling extra fancy but a broking pice will work as well.
    • Flake Salt - totally optional but salt is the perfect complement to chocolate.
    • Decorative chocolate transfer sheets - when dipping the balls into chocolate, rest them on the transfer sheet. Once set, the decorative chocolate will adhere to the bottom of the ball.

    🔄 Substitutions

    • Pecans - walnuts
    • Bourbon - rum
    • Chocolate - white chocolate

    🥄 How to make Kentucky bourbon balls

    pecan Bourbon Balls on a parchment paper with garnished of pecans and salt
    1. Chop the pecans and measure out one cup. Toast the pecans for an added layer of flavor.
      pecans soaking in bourbon
    2. Soak the nuts in the bourbon for a minimum of 2 hours. Overnight if you have the time.
      butter and powdered sugar in a stand mixer
    3. Cream together the softened butter and the powdered sugar.
      pecans and borbon in powdered sugar and butter in a stand mixer
    4. Add in the soaked pecans and bourbon.
      Bourbon Ball ingredients mixed in a stand mixer
    5. Mix until combined. Check to make sure the consistency of the dough is not too sticky or too dry.
      showing the texture of the inside of the Bourbon Balls
    6. It should form a ball when squeezed.
      Bourbon Balls scooped on a tray
    7. Using a medium scoop, portion out the dough onto a clean baking sheet.
    8. Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
      Bourbon Balls rolled in balls
    9. Roll the bourbon balls to a smooth ball.
    10. Return to the rrefrigerator for 30 minutes.
    11. Melt chocolate over a double boiler, being sure not to burn the chocolate.
    12. Dip each ball into the chocolate, coating the entire ball, tap to remove excess, and place on parchment paper or the decorative chocolate transfer sheet.
    13. While the chocolate is still soft, garnish with a piece of pecan and a sprinkle of flake salt.
    14. Return to the refrigerator until the chocolate sets.
    15. Store in an air-tight container.

    ❄️ Storage Tips

    Store the finished bourbon balls in an air-tight container. I use the Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers because they truly are air-tight.

    I also store them in the refrigerator. Allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor profile.

    📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:

    Can you get drunk on Bourbon Balls?

    It would take a LOT of bourbon balls to get a grown adult drunk. The ratio of alcohol to other ingredients will not get you intoxicated. You probably would get throw up sick before you got drunk.

    Is the alcohol cooked out of bourbon balls?

    This recipe for bourbon balls is a no-bake recipe. There is no heat and the alcohol is not cooked out of the balls.

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    Recipe

    Bourbon Balls Kentucky version with pecan garnish

    Bourbon Balls

    Sarah Mock
    This bourbon balls recipe is the Kentucky bourbon balls I learned to make in culinary school.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe
    Note From Sarah

    There is more to a recipe than just the recipe card. Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

    Prep Time 2 hrs
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 2 hrs 30 mins
    Prevent your screen from going dark, toggle to button to the right to turn GREEN
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 75 Balls
    Calories 165 kcal

    EQUIPMENT

    sheet pan
    Chocolate Transfer Sheets
    Medium scoop

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 pounds powdered sugar
    • ¾ cup butter
    • 1 cup chopped pecans
    • 1 cup bourbon
    • 32 oz chocolate chips

    Instructions
     

    • Chop the pecans and measure out one cup. Toast the pecans for an added layer of flavor.
    • Soak the nuts in the bourbon for a minimum of 2 hours. Overnight if you have the time.
    • Cream together the softened butter and the powdered sugar.
    • Add in the soaked pecans and bourbon.
    • Mix until combined. Check to make sure the consistency of the dough is not too sticky or too dry.
    • It should form a ball when squeezed.
    • Using a medium scoop, portion out the dough onto a clean baking sheet.
    • Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
    • Roll the bourbon balls to a smooth ball. Return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
    • Melt chocolate over a double boiler, being sure not to burn the chocolate.
    • Dip each ball into the chocolate, coating the entire ball, tap to remove excess, and place on parchment paper or the decorative chocolate transfer sheet.
    • While the chocolate is still soft, garnish with a piece of pecan and a sprinkle of flake salt.
    • Return to the refrigerator until the chocolate sets.
    • Store in an air-tight container.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2ballCalories: 165kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 25mgPotassium: 7mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 85IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition Disclosure

    Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Sharing of this recipe to social media is both encouraged and appreciated. Please share the direct link back to the recipe. Copy/Pasting and/or screenshots of the recipe to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected. SavoringTheGood®

    More Dessert Recipes

    • 20 + Cookie Cups Recipes
    • Soft, Salted Caramels
    • 15 Christmas Desserts 2021 Edition
    • Peach Crumble Recipe With Oats
    109 shares
    • Facebook54
    • Twitter

    About Sarah Mock

    Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 13 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sharon Garofalow

      December 19, 2021 at 1:05 pm

      I want theses. Yum.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Sarah Mock

    Sarah Mock Headshot 2022 SavoringTheGood.com

    Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 13 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.
    Learn More about me!

    Popular Posts

    • Rhubarb Dump Cake Recipe Without Jello
    • Boat Dip Recipe (Tiktok Famous)
    • How To Make Jam: Strawberry
    • Tomato Paste Recipe

    Most Recent

    • 43 Best Tailgating Recipes - Game Day Food
    • Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookies
    • Pumpkin Muffins with Cake Mix Recipe
    • Smoked Pineapple Recipe (5 Flavor Options)

    Seasonal Favorites

    • Black Raspberry Pie Recipe
    • Blueberry Syrup Recipe with Canning Instructions
    • Pickling Beets (Easy Refrigerator Pickled Beet Recipe)
    • Pork Shoulder In Crock Pot (Recipe)
    Savoring The Good, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Savoring The Good, LLC makes no claims of expert status and the owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of the information found on this website.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Media Kit

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Savoring The Good®