Kentucky Bourbon Balls

These bourbon balls are equal parts fudgy, creamy, and so delicious!

Best Bourbon Balls Recipe

Made with heavy cream, chocolate, bourbon (just a little bit!), and vanilla, then rolled in crushed pecans, these truffles are decadent, creamy, and an incredible addition to your next gathering.

While these bourbon balls are fantastic for ANY time of year, they’re especially perfect for holiday celebrations and cookie boxes (hand delivered, not shipped). They’re the perfect decadent treat to snuggle beside an assortment of cookies and other yummy holiday goodies. 

Who invented bourbon balls?

Good question! Ruth Hanly Booe, cofounder of a Kentucky chocolate company called Rebecca Ruth Candy, created bourbon balls in 1938. They’ve been a holiday hit ever since!

Bourbon Ball Recipe Ingredients

• 1 pint of heavy cream
• 16 ounces of chocolate
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons of bourbon
• 3 cups of crushed pecans
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

What can I substitute for bourbon in bourbon balls?

These truffles are very mild in bourbon flavor, but if you want to skip the bourbon, feel free to use an equal amount of water in its place. The key here is really just to get a little bit of extra moisture in the truffle mixture.

How To Make Bourbon Balls

1. Heat the heavy cream – add the heavy cream to a small to medium saucepan and heat until it simmers.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients – add the crushed chocolate, bourbon, sea salt, and vanilla to the pan with the heavy cream, and whisk everything together. The heat from the cream should melt the chocolate, but feel free to put it back on the stove if it needs more heat to melt.
3. Chill – transfer the chocolate mixture to a bowl and chill in the fridge for 3-4 hours to allow the mixture to set and cool.
4. Scoop and roll – use a #40 cookie scoop to scoop some of the mixture and then roll into balls. Roll each truffle ball in the crushed pecans.
5. Refrigerate – refrigerate the bourbon balls for at least 2 hours to set.
6. Serve and enjoy!

Bourbon Ball Toppings

This recipe calls for rolling your bourbon balls in crushed pecans, but if you want to try a different topping, feel free! Here are a few fun options:

• Crushed walnuts
• Cocoa powder
• Powdered sugar
• Crushed toffee
• Sprinkles
• Shredded coconut
• Cinnamon sugar

Chocolate Bourbon Ball Tips and FAQs

Storing Chocolate Bourbon Balls

Do bourbon balls need to be refrigerated?

Yes! We recommend storing your bourbon balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 

How long do bourbon balls last?

Stored in the refrigerator, your bourbon balls will last for 1-2 weeks. Stored in the freezer, they’ll last for a month or more!

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