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Bourbon Balls

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With only four ingredients, these Bourbon Balls are a family favorite recipe for not only the holidays, but also for your Derby party, too!

With only four ingredients, these Bourbon Balls are a family favorite recipe for not only the holidays, but also for your Derby party, too! #ChristmasSweetsWeek

 

I don’t remember making these for the holidays. Maybe we did, but I don’t remember. I only remember peanut brittle. And the only reason I remember that is because we had to get a certain kind of peanuts that came from Southern States. They had to be raw peanuts, for whatever reason. I guess because they cook in the brittle?

 

Either way, I only remember making these for Derby parties. Because, well, bourbon. It’s almost synonymous with Kentucky. And there are some recipes that call these Kentucky Bourbon Balls. To me, they’re just bourbon balls. I didn’t even know there was another kind until I started looking for the recipe.

 

With only four ingredients, these Bourbon Balls are a family favorite recipe for not only the holidays, but also for your Derby party, too! #ChristmasSweetsWeek

 

Granted I could just get off my lazy butt and look at the cookbook I made when my sister got married. That would be idea, but I knew it had paraffin in it and I wasn’t keen on buying a whole bunch for just a little batch of bourbon balls. However, I wish I had bought the paraffin and I just might get some for the next time I make these. It serves a purpose.

 

What does paraffin wax do in bourbon balls?

 

Yes, I know that the recipe I’ve listed doesn’t call for paraffin wax. But, like I said, it serves a purpose. Not only does it give them a glossy finish when it’s finished, but it keeps the chocolate solid at room temperature. Meaning, it won’t melt in your hand. Which I had an issue with that when I was trying to photograph them.

 

With only four ingredients, these Bourbon Balls are a family favorite recipe for not only the holidays, but also for your Derby party, too! #ChristmasSweetsWeek

 

If you’re lucky, I’ll share that recipe at some point. It’s a family recipe passed down from Nana to us. Along with quite a few of my favorite family recipes like Hot Browns, and Derby Pie. And Pimento Cheese, Beer Cheese, etc.

 

I have had bourbon balls in the list to make for a while now. They’re irresistible. And that’s not just me saying. Because the people at KO Distillery said the same thing.

 

With only four ingredients, these Bourbon Balls are a family favorite recipe for not only the holidays, but also for your Derby party, too! #ChristmasSweetsWeek

 

When I decided to make bourbon balls, I knew I was using KO Distilling bourbon. I bought like 3 bottles with the intent to make them. No not three bottles at the same time. Three bottles over a month or three. Every time, I managed to just drink it. No shame. But, this last time, I planned it all out and only opened it to add it to these bourbon balls.

 

And it was important this time, because I signed up to head to KO Distillery for the Black Friday event. I sampled three delicious drinks on their menu. Their eggnog was AWESOME! And the spiced apple cider was so good garnished with homemade dried apple slicers from one of the employees. It was festive and packed with people. A great event for them! And, for all their hard work, I brought them some bourbon balls.

 

With only four ingredients, these Bourbon Balls are a family favorite recipe for not only the holidays, but also for your Derby party, too! #ChristmasSweetsWeek

 

I really wish Instagram would save pics!!

 

After the event was over, they cracked open the box of bourbon balls I dropped off. I got rave reviews from the people that worked that day. I know how hard it is to put on events like that and work events like that.

 

Granted a glass show isn’t quite a distillery even, but it can be a busy day and you’re tired. I wanted them to know I appreciate everything they do for the distiller, and for me! They do share whatever I post and their social media person is totally adorable. And so fun to chat with!

 

With only four ingredients, these Bourbon Balls are a family favorite recipe for not only the holidays, but also for your Derby party, too! #ChristmasSweetsWeek

 

I know. This post is about the bourbon balls, but you can’t talk about them without talking about the bourbon! And KO Distilling has really good bourbon. And gin, and whiskey, and rye. Just sayin. Every time they have an event, I am there to promote and share whatever I have there. If you’re following my IG then I’m sure you saw my story or post about the drink I had there.

 

I feel the need to clarify that these bourbon balls do not, I repeat DO NOT have cookies in them. They are straight up powdered sugar, butter, bourbon, and chocolate. That’s it. These are not cookie truffles. In fact, I got disappointed when I saw some bourbon balls touted as bourbons balls with the cookie truffle center. That’s not a bourbon ball. I don’t care who you are, that IS NOT a bourbon ball!

 

With only four ingredients, these Bourbon Balls are a family favorite recipe for not only the holidays, but also for your Derby party, too! #ChristmasSweetsWeek

 

See what I mean? Pure powdered sugar goodness with bourbon and butter to make them creamy and delicious. That’s all you need to make these decadently rich, and totally indulgent bourbon balls. I’m tempted to take some to work. But probably not. I’m sure I’ll just nibble on them myself until they’re all gone. Because they’re irresistible and complete comfort food to me.

AKHA Signature

With only four ingredients, these Bourbon Balls are a family favorite recipe for not only the holidays, but also for your Derby party, too! #ChristmasSweetsWeek
Yield: 30 pieces

Bourbon Balls

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

With only four ingredients, these Bourbon Balls are a family favorite recipe for not only the holidays, but also for your Derby party, too!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound powdered sugar
  • 3/4 cup softened butter
  • 1/4 cup KO Distilling bourbon
  • 30 ounces Ghirardelli melting wafers

Instructions

  1. Combine the powdered sugar with the butter in a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, beat on low speed until a coarse meal forms.
  2. Switch to the paddle attachment and add the bourbon one tablespoon at a time.
  3. Beat on medium speed until the ingredients come together to form a ball.
  4. Using a small cookie cook (1 1/2 teaspoons) or a spoon form the dough into 1 inch balls. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
  5. Melt the chocolate according to package directions.
  6. Dip the balls into the chocolate and place on parchment to cool. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Nutrition Information

Yield

30

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 262Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 14mgSodium 48mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 2gSugar 29gProtein 1g

Did you make this recipe?

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Welcome to #ChristmasSweetsWeek 2019! Co-hosted by Terri from Love and Confections and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures! What better way to celebrate the holidays than with food and fun? 25 bloggers from around the country have come together to share some of their favorite sweet Christmas recipes!! Deck the halls and get ready for very merry sweet treats, like fudge, cookies, Christmas morning breakfasts, layer cakes, cocoa, and more! Follow along on social media with our #ChristmasSweetsWeek hashtag. Happy Holidays!

Enjoy these #ChristmasSweetsWeek recipes from our bloggers:

Christmas Beverages:
Hansel and Gretel Gingerbread Latte from Blogghetti
S’mores Hot Chocolate from For the Love of Food

Christmas Breakfasts:
Flaky Nutella Christmas Tree from Shockingly Delicious

Christmas Pastries and Desserts:
Angel Sugar Crisps from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
Peppermint Chunk Cookies from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Snowman Cupcakes from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

Christmas Candies:
Bourbon Balls from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Christmas Crack (Saltine Toffee) from Palatable Pastime
Gingerbread Fudge from Love and Confections
Slow Cooker Chocolate Peanut Candy from Cheese Curd In Paradise
Spiced Pecans with a Rum Glaze from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Star Crunch Inspired Bars from Our Good Life

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4 Comments

  1. My mama used the freezer to chill the balls prior to dipping and the chocolate set up quickly. And then they were stored in the freezer – so yummy!

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