Speculoos Rum Balls Recipe (2024)

Home | Recipe Index | Dessert Recipes | Cookie Recipes | Speculoos Rum Balls Recipe

posted by Chef Lindsey

on Dec 12, 2021, Updated May 01, 2023

5

No Comments

Jump to RecipeRate Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This easy, no-bake Speculoos Rum Balls Recipe is incredibly easy to pull together and delightfully boozy! They have a mix of rum and Grand Marnier for that extra bit of holiday flair!

Speculoos Rum Balls Recipe (2)

The longer they sit, the better they undeniably taste. Don’t you love cookieslike that? Furthermore, this rum balls recipe the easiest addition to a Christmas Cookie tray EVER, along with her friends Holiday Spritz Cookies, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies, and Cranberry orange shortbread cookies.

These are BOOZY. I love it and I am not a straight liquor drinker. Apparently I take my booze with sugar, spices and cookies! If these are your jam, and let’s face it they should be, don’t miss myGingersnap Brandy Balls! In for a penny, in for a pound, amiright?

Table of Contents

  • Does the alcohol evaporate in rum balls?
  • Rum Balls Recipe Ingredients
  • Substitutions
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is the best rum to use for rum balls?
  • No Bake Speculoos Rum Balls Recipe
  • Before You Go!

Does the alcohol evaporate in rum balls?

No. They are not baked, so all the alcohol that goes into the mixture of this rum balls recipe will stay there!

Speculoos Rum Balls Recipe (3)

Speculoos Rum Balls Recipe (4)

Rum Balls Recipe Ingredients

  • Raisins: Raisins add a little sweetness and a wonderful chewy texture to this rum balls recipe. Use any brand of raisins but subsequently be sure to check the ingredients for additional, unnecessary, added sugar.
  • Rum: The rum is here for moisture as well as flavor. You can taste it in the final cookie, so be sure to choose a brand that you like! The surest way to tell is by smell. If it smells good to you, it will taste nice in the cookies. I use dark rum these cookies because I prefer the flavor.
  • Speculoos cookie crumbs: I use my homemade Speculoos cookies for this rum balls recipe, which I have ground fine in the food processor, but you can use a store-bought brand like Biscoff cookies!
  • Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar adds sweetness but it also an essential dry ingredient in this no bake recipe. You cannot reduce it without adjusting the butter.
  • Walnuts: You can finely chop walnuts with a knife or pulse in a food processor until finely ground. I like to toast them for this recipe.
  • Butter: I use unsalted butter for baking, because you want to control the amount of salt you are adding. Every brand is different and it makes adjusting the recipe a challenge.
  • Kosher Salt: Kosher salt is lass salty than table salt and a teaspoon weighs less than other finer ground varieties. It heightens the flavor in this rum balls recipe and will keep your rum balls from tasting dull or flat.

Substitutions

  • Speculoos cookies: I used myhomemade speculoos cookiesto make this rum balls recipe but you could also use store bought Biscoff cookies. They will be a little sweeter but still PHENOMENAL!
  • Non-Alcoholic: You can substitute fruit juice or apple cider for the rum. Consider heating the juice a little before soaking the raisins.
  • Grand Marnier: If you don’t have Grand Marnier, you can use all rum!
  • Rum: You can substitute up to half the rum with water.
  • Walnuts: The walnuts are an essential dry ingredient in this recipe and cannot be eliminated without reducing the butter or rum. You can, however, substitute any other finely chopped nut with no adjustment.
  • Raisins: You can substitute any chopped dried fruit you choose in this rum balls recipe, like dried tart cherries if you would like to add some tartness. Just be sure to check the ingredients and make sure there isn’t added sugar.
Speculoos Rum Balls Recipe (5)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make rum balls without rum?

Yes, you can easily make them non-alcoholic by substituting fruit juice or apple cider for the rum.

How do you store No Bake Rum Balls?

Store these cookies in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container or zip-top plastic baggie for best flavor and texture.

How long will rum balls keep?

No Bake rum balls will keep up to 10 days in the refrigerator. If they are stored in a tightly sealed container, they will keep a little longer because the alcohol inhibits bacteria growth.

Can you freeze these cookies?

These cookies freeze nicely. They will keep frozen for up to 2 months in a well-sealed container. Try to keep it airtight to prevent freezer burn or subtle flavor changes.

Can you make a larger batch of this rum balls recipe?

You can make large batches of this rum balls recipe. Since it all comes together in one bowl, you will just have to break it up into batches that will fit in your largest bowl!

Will these cookies ship?

These cookies are not ideal candidates for shipping. They are best when refrigerated and I would not suggest shipping without temperature controlled packaging.

What is the best rum to use for rum balls?

Dark rums have a more complex flavor and will therefore be the best rum to use in a rum balls recipe. The most important thing to consider when choosing a rum for this rum balls recipe, is whether you like the flavor and aroma of the rum. Pick one that you enjoy and you can’t go wrong!

Speculoos Rum Balls Recipe (6)

If you tried thisrecipeand loved it please leave a 🌟star ratingand let me know how it goes in the commentsbelow. I love hearing from you; your comments make my day!

Speculoos Rum Balls Recipe (7)

5 from 2 ratings

See Also
Rum Balls

No Bake Speculoos Rum Balls

by Chef Lindsey

These easy, no-bake Speculoos Rum Balls are incredibly easy to pull together and delightfully boozy! They have a mix of rum and Grand Marnier for that extra bit of holiday flair!

Prep: 35 minutes mins

Chill Time: 2 hours hrs

Total: 2 hours hrs 35 minutes mins

Servings: 24 Cookies

SavePin RecipeCommentPrint Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small bowl soak the raisins with the alcohol for at least 30 minutes.

  • In a large bowl combine 1 cup confectioner’s sugar, ½ cup walnuts, butter, salt, cookie crumbs, and raisins with booze. Mix with a wooden spoon until combined. Set aside.

  • In a food processor, pulse remaining walnuts and 6 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar until fine. Transfer to a bowl.

  • Roll dough into approximately 1 inch balls and then roll in walnut sugar coating. Set on a baking sheet. Repeat with all the dough. I used a cookie scoop to portion them for speed, but it isn’t necessary.

  • Cover with plastic wrap and allow to chill for 12 hours. The balls will firm up and the flavors will meld the longer they sit! Serve chilled or room temperature. I ate them straight from the fridge!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 112kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 87mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 65IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 112

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Before You Go!

Check out our other delicious, chef-developedcookie recipes or more easy Christmas cookie recipes!

Hi, I’m Chef Lindsey!

I am the baker, recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind Chef Lindsey Farr. I believe in delicious homemade food and the power of dessert!

More About Me

Cookie Recipes

Easy Cookie Icing

Easy Buttercream & Frosting Recipes

Royal Icing with Meringue Powder

Cookie Recipes

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Cookie Recipes

Thumbprint Cookies

Leave a comment

Speculoos Rum Balls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a rum ball and a brigadeiro? ›

Rum balls closely resemble brigadeiros, a Brazilian sweet; however, brigadeiros are made from condensed milk. The world's largest rum ball was created in Mejdal, Denmark on 11 June 2017, weighing 31 kg (68 lb).

Can you get tipsy from rum balls? ›

Can rum balls make you drunk? This is a no bake recipe, which means any alcohol we use in the process won't be cooked away or made less effective. However, we're not using that much of it, so getting drunk isn't something to worry about! After all, there's only ¼ cup of rum divided among 24 individual bites.

What if my rum balls are too dry? ›

If the mixture seems too dry, add an additional small amount of melted butter or more rum. Form small balls about the size of a walnut.

Does alcohol evaporate from rum balls? ›

Does the alcohol evaporate in rum balls? No. They are not baked, so all the alcohol that goes into the mixture of this rum balls recipe will stay there! Get all professional tips you need whether you want to bake thick, thin, chewy or crunchy cookies!

Can rum balls go off? ›

Store rum balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Alternatively, freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months and allow to come to room temperature before eating.

What does brigadeiro mean in English? ›

Translation of brigadeiro – Portuguese–English dictionary

brigadier [noun] in the army, the commander of a brigade.

What is a substitute for Nilla wafers in rum balls? ›

While vanilla wafers are my favorite for their subtle sweetness and vanilla notes, graham crackers, butter cookies, digestive biscuits, or shortbread cookies are all excellent substitutes. For a gluten-free version, opt for gluten-free cookies.

What to replace rum with in rum balls? ›

What can you use instead of rum in rum balls? Of course, a traditional rum ball contains rum, but you can use other types of alcohol, including Baileys or a coffee-flavoured liqueur, for example to flavour the truffles. For a non-alcoholic substitute, you could try using fruit juice (orange works well) instead of rum.

Why do my rum balls go flat? ›

Mixture should be very thick. At this stage it may be a little too soft or sticky because of our summer heat; so just pop in the fridge for a bit to prevent totally flat bottomed balls.

How to thicken rum balls? ›

Add more cocoa powder or ground almonds if the mixture needs thickening. Roll and coat: Bakery rum balls tend to be monstrously huge; I prefer to make them bite-sized at home.

Do rum balls contain rum? ›

Made from pecans, Biscoff cookies, confectioners' sugar, and—yes, rum! —rum balls are a grownup-favorite festive treat that are easy to make and fun to gift. They taste even better after a day or two in the refrigerator, so I recommend making them in advance.

What does adding water to rum do? ›

Maybe you've heard of whiskey fans adding a few drops of water to their neat pours. The same function applies when it comes to rum. Not only does this help high-ABV rum go down a little easier, but a splash of water also opens up the liquor, bringing out the more nuanced idiosyncratic flavor and aromatic notes.

Can toddler eat food cooked with wine? ›

The choice is up to you. You may choose to use cooking methods that help to reduce the alcohol content and use less alcohol in a dish to make it safer for your child. Otherwise the safer option is to choose to leave out alcoholic drinks when preparing food for babies and children.

How long to boil alcohol out of rum? ›

Sorry to spoil the party, but here's the real deal: Simply heating alcohol, or any other cooking liquid, does not make it evaporate as quickly as a child's allowance in a candy store. The longer you cook, the more alcohol cooks out, but you have to cook food for about 3 hours to fully erase all traces of alcohol.

Where did rum balls originate? ›

Rum balls were originally created as a way for Danish bakers to make use of cakes and pastries leftover at the end of the day. They would mix them up with cocoa and rum, and roll the dough into balls, coating with coconut or chocolate sprinkles to sell for a low price the next day.

What is brigadeiro made of? ›

While the original brigadeiro recipe contained eggs, these days the basic brigadeiro is made up of 3 simple ingredients: condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder. The mixture is then rolled and then covered in sprinkles or another topping.

What's the difference between a truffle and a brigadeiro? ›

Brigadeiros are different from chocolate truffles in that they do not contain actual chocolate. These confections are instead made by heating sweetened condensed milk together with cocoa powder, and usually adding butter. Once the mixture thickens, it is then rolled into a ball and coated with a variety of toppings.

What is the Brazilian version of rum? ›

A Brazilian liquor to rival the world's best rums, tequilas and bourbons, cachaça packs an earthy, yet sweet, punch to liven up your co*cktail hour.

What are rum balls made of? ›

Made from pecans, Biscoff cookies, confectioners' sugar, and—yes, rum! —rum balls are a grownup-favorite festive treat that are easy to make and fun to gift. They taste even better after a day or two in the refrigerator, so I recommend making them in advance.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Trent Wehner

Last Updated:

Views: 6342

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Trent Wehner

Birthday: 1993-03-14

Address: 872 Kevin Squares, New Codyville, AK 01785-0416

Phone: +18698800304764

Job: Senior Farming Developer

Hobby: Paintball, Calligraphy, Hunting, Flying disc, Lapidary, Rafting, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.