Kentucky Bourbon Balls Recipe
These delicious Kentucky Bourbon Balls are a classic treat! Sweet, boozy, and easy to make!
Kentucky Bourbon Balls
Bourbon balls are a must at any holiday gathering in the South — and if you’ve ever tried them you’ll know why! They are my Mother-in-Law’s favorite Christmas treat!
As the name implies, bourbon balls are a boozy cookie. There’s no baking, so the liquor doesn’t cook off like it might in some other desserts. This one is definitely for grown-ups only!
Just like other classic recipes, like Texas Sheet Cake cookies, it seems every family has their own recipe for Kentucky Bourbon Balls. (Or just Bourbon Balls if you use a different type of bourbon).
Sometimes bourbon balls are coated in chocolate, sometimes they are rolled in powdered sugar (like ours). Most recipes do have the following ingredients:
- Crushed vanilla wafers
- Chopped pecans
- Cocoa powder
- Bourbon, of course!
Keep reading to learn our favorite way to make bourbon balls!
Related: Click here to see ALL of our favorite Christmas cookies! There’s over 75 recipes!
Kentucky Bourbon Balls Ingredients
I’ve provided this quick list of shop-able ingredients for your convenience; disclosure policy here.
- 1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
- 1 cup pecans (chopped)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for the dough)
- 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup bourbon (we used Jim Beam)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon light corn syrup
- 1/3 cup confectioners sugar (for rolling)
Makes: 48 balls
Kitchen Supplies Used:
- Non-stick silicone baking mat — we use these reusable baking mats in almost all of our recipes! They are washable so you can use them again and again and you don’t need cooking spray.
- Cookie scooper — this handy gadget helps create more uniform cookie sizes for more even baking.
- Non-slip mixing bowls — definitely helpful when you’re cooking with kids!
- Cookie Sheets
How to Make Kentucky Bourbon Balls
Besides the fact that they taste delicious, one of the reasons bourbon balls might be one of the most popular holiday treats is that they are so easy to make!
- Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another bowl.
- Slowly add dry ingredients to bowl of wet ingredients, stirring until well combined.
- Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place in a small bowl of powdered sugar.
- Roll the ball in the powdered sugar until surface is coated.
Finish your bourbon balls by placing them on a baking sheet in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour. Store them in an airtight container for up to a week.
More Christmas Recipes
- Christmas Puppy Chow
- Christmas Wreath Cupcakes
- Christmas Tree Oreos
- Mini Santa Belly Cakes
- Kid-Made Mini Gingerbread House Cakes
- Oreo Gingerbread Truffles
- Rudolph Cupcakes
- Copycat Starbuck Cranberry Bliss Bread
- Grinch Jello Shots
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Kentucky Bourbon Balls Recipe
Equipment
- Medium bowl
- Small bowl
- Spoon
- Mini cookie scoop
- Baking pan
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Vanilla Wafer crumbs
- 1 Cup Pecans chopped
- 1 Cup Powdered sugar for the dough
- 2 teaspoon Unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 Cup Bourbon
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Light corn syrup
- 1/3 Cup Powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Combine wafer crumbs, pecans, cocoa, and 1 cup of powdered sugar together in a medium bowl.
- Pour the corn syrup and bourbon together in a small bowl and mix with a spoon.
- Slowly add the crumb mixture to bowl of wet ingredients and mix well.
- Form dough into 1" balls and place in a bowl of powdered sugar.
- Roll balls in powdered sugar until coated.
- Put the dough balls on the baking pan and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin this Kentucky Bourbon Balls recipe on Pinterest:
More of our favorite Christmas cookies:
White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
- Air Fryer Fried Ice Cream - June 10, 2025
- Easy Sidewalk Paint for Kids - June 5, 2025
- State Fair Lemonade Recipe - June 4, 2025
FAKE, these aren’t Kentucky Bourbon Balls! KY Bourbon balls are made with bourbon, Butter, confection Sugar & pecans dipped in chocolate. Call them Houston Balls or what ever. In Kentucky corn syrup belongs in Pecan Pie and vanilla wafers in banana pudding.
Hi Jana — It seems that there are two camps when it comes to making bourbon balls, the recipe you described and the one on my site. Doesn’t make either fake or wrong. PS- I was born and raised in WV, so I’m pretty familiar with food from the region 😉
I love these. So easy and very popular in my family at Christmas time. Sometimes I will make a variety of flavors. Irish cream or Kaluaha. Great at an adult party!!!
I just got done making these and I only got 20 balls using I 1inch scoop not 48. First time making them so I hope they are good.