Save on Pinterest
Sign up for Our Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Newsletters

Dark Chocolate Bourbon Balls

Remember the days at Grandma and Grandpa's house when you made these wonderfully traditional treats? We love these Kentucky Derby bourbon balls—the blended taste of bourbon and pecans is irresistible! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Dark Chocolate Bourbon Balls
Dark Chocolate Bourbon Balls Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Next Recipe
Recommended
60+ Satisfying Low-Carb Breakfast Recipes
Next Recipe
  • Total Time
    Prep: 30 min. + chilling
  • Makes
    4 dozen

Ingredients

  • 1-1/4 cups finely chopped pecans, divided
  • 1/4 cup bourbon
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 pound dark chocolate candy coating, melted

Directions

  • Combine 1 cup pecans and bourbon; let stand, covered, for 8 hours or overnight.
  • Cream butter and confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, until crumbly; stir in pecan mixture. Refrigerate, covered, until firm enough to shape, about 45 minutes. Shape into 1-in. balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
  • Dip in chocolate coating; allow excess to drip off. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup pecans. Let stand until set.

Test Kitchen tips
  • Dark chocolate not only tastes good, it’s good for you, too. It contains iron, fiber, antioxidants and even vitamin C. The higher the cacao content (cocoa bean solids, which may be listed as a percentage on the label), the higher the content of these components in the chocolate.
  • Pecans have a higher fat content than other nuts, so they’re more prone to going rancid. They’ll stay fresh for twice as long in the freezer as they would at room temperature.
  • Check out our top 10 chocolate recipes.
    • Nutrition Facts
    1 bourbon ball: 124 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 15mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
    Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links.

    Recommended Video

    Reviews

    Click stars to rate
    Average Rating:
    • lindalear
      Dec 22, 2020

      This is how we have always made bourbon balls in my family here in Central Kentucky. We never used cookies.

    More from Taste of Home

    Cookie Dough Truffles
    Cookie Dough Truffles
    Chocolate Lebkuchen Cherry Balls
    Chocolate Lebkuchen Cherry Balls
    Bacon-Pecan Chocolate Truffles
    Bacon-Pecan Chocolate Truffles
    Pecan Toffee Fudge
    Pecan Toffee Fudge
    Apricot-Nut White Fudge
    Apricot-Nut White Fudge
    German Chocolate Pecan Truffles
    German Chocolate Pecan Truffles
    Mixed Nut Clusters
    Mixed Nut Clusters
    Creme de Menthe Truffles
    Creme de Menthe Truffles
    Salt & Pepper Caramel Cups
    Salt & Pepper Caramel Cups
    Trio of Chocolate Truffles
    Trio of Chocolate Truffles
    Light Chocolate Truffles
    Light Chocolate Truffles
    Chocolate Mascarpone Truffles
    Chocolate Mascarpone Truffles
    Kahlua Truffles
    Kahlua Truffles
    Cran-Marnier Truffles
    Cran-Marnier Truffles
    Candy-Licious Fudge
    Candy-Licious Fudge
    Chocolate Almond Drops
    Chocolate Almond Drops
    Orange Chocolate Mousse Mirror Cake
    Orange Chocolate Mousse Mirror Cake
    5-Ingredient Fudge
    5-Ingredient Fudge
    Chocolate Pomegranate Candies
    Chocolate Pomegranate Candies
    Easy Holiday Fudge
    Easy Holiday Fudge