Rum Balls Recipe: A Christmas Treat
By LeonJane
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup instant milk powder (Nestle Sunshine)
- 1 packet (250g or 1/2 pound) of plain sweet biscuits (like Arnott's Nice)
- 3-4 tablespoons rum (Bundaberg Rum)
- 1 can 410g (Size 303 Can, 2 cups, 15.5 ounces) of condensed milk (Nestle)
Method
Grind the biscuits in a blender or food processor, then In a mixing bowl add all the dry ingredients and mix well.
Now slowly mix in the condensed milk, do not add all the condensed milk at this stage. Mix these ingredients into a stiff dough, just moistening all the dry ingredients. Now add the tablespoons of rum. Add three tablespoons of rum for a nice flavor or four to five tablespoons of rum for a real kick. I generally add four tablespoons of rum for a nice rum flavor but not too overpowering.
Mix this dough well and add more condensed milk if required to soften the mixture.
Now, depending on the room temperature, you may have to set the mixture in the refrigerator to allow the mixture to harden. After the mixture has hardened, use a tablespoon to scrape the mixture and roll balls of about 2.5 cm (1") into your hand. Then roll this ball into a bowl of desiccated coconut.
You could roll the balls into a bowl of chocolate sprinkles, but this may add an overpowering chocolate flavor to your rum balls.
This mixture makes approximately 25 Rum Balls.
Notes on the ingredients...
Please don't ruin these Rum Balls by adding extra ingredients. These Rum Balls taste awesome in their plain and simple form. Please don't add any dried fruits like raisins, sultanas, orange peel, chopped pineapple and glazed cherries. Please don't add any crushed nuts like walnuts, peanuts, cashew nuts. Please don't change the dried biscuits for oatmeal or crushed cereals. Any variations on this recipe will ruin the taste.
They aren't Fruit Balls, they are Rum Balls.
Please don't mess with my balls!
Notes on the Rum...
Bundaberg Rum is an Australian dark rum with a strong sharp flavor. It is not a smooth rum, which gives it a hell of a flavour in this recipe. I believe it is what make this recipe so great. If you can't get your hands on Bundaberg Rum then try a harsh flavored dark rum. White rums like Bacardi will not work, they will be too sweet. Also dark Caribbean/Jamaican rums (eg Captain Morgan Rum) will probably be too smooth, but I guess that would be an alternative if you can't get or demand Bundaberg Rum.
I myself can't stand the taste of Bundaberg Rum as a drink, I love bourbon, however I love the flavor that Bundaberg Rum gives this recipe.
Oh, and please don't ever use imitation rum flavor, unless you want people to take one bite, spit it out and put the half eaten rum ball back on your serving tray.
Good luck on your quest to demand Bundaberg Rum from your local liquor outlet!
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Comments
Yummy :) Thanks for the recipe, LeonJane!!! I'm going to try it :)
I have been looking for a good rum ball recipe - an old friend used to make them every year and I love them!
This is so fantastic! As a child I used to see the tins of rum balls arrive at my Southern Grandmothers house and when I asked for one, she would look at me funny. "I'm not sure you will like the taste," she would say. Her old friend Myrtle would make them every year and always send them at Christmas. The taste was a bit odd for a child, but in a yummy way. Thanks for the reminder of this great treat! Best, GPAGE
Thank you Carol the Writer, VAMPGYRL420, Patti Ann and GPAGE for your comments. I hope you get a chance to make these Rum Balls and enjoy them over the Christmas period.
I made Rum Balls for parties before but never with the Bundaberg Rum you mentioned. I have to see if I can find that brand. Thanks for a delicious recipe. I can taste it already!
Thanks Glenn Stok, Bundaberg Rum, or Bundy Rum as it is referred to here in Queensland, Australia is probably going to be hard to find all over the world. There are some Aussie bars in Europe, but not sure if you have the same in the USA. That said, Bundy Rum is quite a strong flavored rum, some would say harsh. Therefore maybe a cheaper less mellow rum would do the trick, because when you add it to the mixture you get a hint of the flavour and the 'bite' is taken out.
Your Food looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thanks for your kind comment stars439!
LeonJane, Rum Balls must be an Aussie tradition! It is my task? at Christmas to make the Rum Balls. (Ingredients slightly different). I make some minus the Rum for the Grandkids (of course). You are correct about the Bundy, I have tried other brands but the Bundaberg Rum is the best by far! Great Hub :-)
Thanks for the comment agvulpes, yes Bundy is best rum for this recipe and it is one of the best Christmas treats that I enjoy making as you can clean up the bowl once you have finished!
These look great. When I was young we would go to a restaurant that had rumballs for dessert. I didn't like them at that time, but I like them now.
Yeah they are a great little treat, thanks for the comment Betty Reid!
Carol the Writer 2 years ago
I love rum balls! You crack me up with: "They aren't Fruit Balls, they are Rum Balls." I'll have to try to make these next week. Thanks for posting this!