Bourbon balls have long been a signifier of family gatherings for me, ever since I was a small child and they were placed on a counter just out of my reach. (Because the alcohol doesn’t cook off, you may want to do the same for the cookie-grabbing small children in your household.) This is a no-bake recipe, so it’s easy to whip up at short notice, and the bittersweet blend of cocoa, bourbon, and sugar makes for a wonderful welcome to your visitors, especially if you pair it with tea, coffee, or even a cocktail. For a black licorice twist, try adding a pinch of freshly milled Star Anise.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 cup + ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup bourbon
- 2 tbsp light corn syrup
- 2 ½ cups crushed vanilla wafers
- 1 cup broken pecans
Preparation:
- In medium bowl, sift together 2 tbsp cocoa and 1 cup powdered sugar. In small bowl, combine bourbon and corn syrup.
- Mix together sugar and bourbon mixtures.
- Add vanilla wafers and pecans to sugar/bourbon mixture and mix thoroughly. Roll the mixture into small balls and dredge in the remaining ½ cup powdered sugar.
