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Coconut Rum Balls

By Morgan Bolling

Published on October 12, 2017

Time

30 minutes, plus 1 hour chilling

Yield

Makes about 48 balls

Coconut Rum Balls

Ingredients

1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus ½ cup for rolling5 cups (12 ounces/340 grams) vanilla wafer cookies1 ½ cups (4 ½ ounces/128 grams) sweetened shredded coconut 6 tablespoons coconut rum ¼ cup light corn syrup ⅛ teaspoon salt

Before You Begin

We developed this recipe using a 12-ounce box of vanilla wafers, but the cookies are also available in 11-ounce boxes. If all you can find is an 11-ounce box, there’s no need to buy a second box to make up the extra ounce; just make the balls with 11 ounces of cookies. We prefer the bold flavor of dark rum here, but you can substitute golden or spiced rum, if desired.

Instructions

  1. Place 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar in shallow dish. Process cookies and coconut in food processor until finely ground, about 20 seconds. Transfer to large bowl. Stir in rum, corn syrup, salt, and remaining 1 cup confectioners’ sugar until fully combined.
  2. Working with 1 tablespoon at a time, shape mixture into balls. Transfer balls to dish with confectioners’ sugar and roll to evenly coat; transfer to large plate. Refrigerate rum balls until firm, at least 1 hour. Serve. (Rum balls can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.)
Coconut Rum Balls
Photography by Keller + Keller. Styling by Catrine Kelty.

Coconut Rum Balls

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Time

30 minutes, plus 1 hour chilling

Yield

Makes about 48 balls

Ingredients

1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus ½ cup for rolling
5 cups (12 ounces/340 grams) vanilla wafer cookies
1 ½ cups (4 ½ ounces/128 grams) sweetened shredded coconut
6 tablespoons coconut rum
¼ cup light corn syrup
⅛ teaspoon salt

Ingredients

1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus ½ cup for rolling
5 cups (12 ounces/340 grams) vanilla wafer cookies
1 ½ cups (4 ½ ounces/128 grams) sweetened shredded coconut
6 tablespoons coconut rum
¼ cup light corn syrup
⅛ teaspoon salt

Ingredients

1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus ½ cup for rolling
5 cups (12 ounces/340 grams) vanilla wafer cookies
1 ½ cups (4 ½ ounces/128 grams) sweetened shredded coconut
6 tablespoons coconut rum
¼ cup light corn syrup
⅛ teaspoon salt

Why This Recipe Works

Rum balls are boozy no-bake confections made by combining crushed cookies with rum and a binder. For the cookie base, we chose ground vanilla wafers for their straightforward sweet flavor. Light corn syrup was our favorite binder: It held the treats together without adding unwanted flavors. Stirring some sweetened coconut and coconut rum into the base gave these balls a tropical flair.

Before You Begin

We developed this recipe using a 12-ounce box of vanilla wafers, but the cookies are also available in 11-ounce boxes. If all you can find is an 11-ounce box, there’s no need to buy a second box to make up the extra ounce; just make the balls with 11 ounces of cookies. We prefer the bold flavor of dark rum here, but you can substitute golden or spiced rum, if desired.

Instructions

  1. Place 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar in shallow dish. Process cookies and coconut in food processor until finely ground, about 20 seconds. Transfer to large bowl. Stir in rum, corn syrup, salt, and remaining 1 cup confectioners’ sugar until fully combined.
  2. Working with 1 tablespoon at a time, shape mixture into balls. Transfer balls to dish with confectioners’ sugar and roll to evenly coat; transfer to large plate. Refrigerate rum balls until firm, at least 1 hour. Serve. (Rum balls can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.)

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