Easy Vegan Rum Balls
This Vegan Rum Balls recipe helps bring on some old-fashioned nostalgia that you’re whole family will love. The rum gives a strong bite, but the edges quickly get tamed by a nutty sweetness. No bake, ready in 20 minutes making it an easy, fun dessert for the holidays.
Introducing a classic Christmas dessert with a healthy twist! This original recipe combines the sweetness of finely crushed vanilla wafers with light corn syrup and spiced dark rum, then adds a hint of cacao powder and the crunch of walnuts.
The sticky dough is then rolled into little balls of little balls of delight (similar to my Vegan Cookie Dough Bites) for a healthier take on traditional rum balls.
Said to be originally created as a way for Danish bakers to utilize leftover cakes and pastries, no holiday cookie plate should be without them.
Ingredients for Vegan Rum Balls (With Substitutions)
- Vanilla Wafers – these can be bought on Amazon, and yes, there is a vegan version. You can also use plain wafers or biscuits and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Powdered Sugar – I use Florida Crystals, which are vegan. But you can use any confectioner’s sugar you have on hand.
- Walnuts – pecans or any other nuts would work. You can substitute with 2 tablespoons of almond butter.
- Spiced Rum – remember, not all rum is vegan. To see if your favorite brand is, check out Barnivore.com.
- Cocoa Powder – rum balls aren’t rum balls without a hint of dark chocolate. If you prefer melted chocolate, just melt a little in a non-stick pan to equal 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder.
- Light Corn Syrup – you can substitute with equal amount of dark maple syrup.
- Sea Salt – a little sprinkle of sea salt enhances the flavor, but if you prefer, you can omit.
- Optional Garnishes – include finely chopped walnut or pecans, a sprinkle of cocoa powder and powdered sugar and some finely crushed vanilla wafers.
How to Make Vegan Rum Balls
Before you begin, line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Step 1: in a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients, including crushed vanilla wafers, salt and finely chopped walnuts.
Step 2: sift powdered sugar and cocoa powder into the walnut mixture. Stir until thoroughly combined.
Step 3: in a small mixing bowl, combine corn syrup and rum. Mix until syrup is dissolved.
Step 4: pour over the vanilla wafer mixture and mix until you start to get a thick consistency.
Step 5: grab your rubber gloves and, without too much smashing, finish combining the mixture with your hands. It will be similar to cookie dough.
Step 6: using a 1-inch cookie scoop, scoop into hands and roll the mixture into 1-inch small balls. Then, place them on your prepared baking sheet.
Step 7: choose your toppings and place in small bowls. Once you’re ready to coat them, gently re-roll the balls to make sure they are smooth before rolling them in the toppings.
Step 8: alternate dipping into plain powdered sugar and a cocoa powder mixture (think mixing cocoa powder and powdered sugar together or whatever you desire). Place them back on the cookie sheet and enjoy.
Recommended Equipment Needed
- 1-Inch Cookie Scoop
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Small Mixing Bowl
- Rubber Spatula
- Food-Safe Gloves
- Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons
- Small Bowls for Dipping
- Parchment Paper
- 9×13 Baking Sheet
Tips for Making Vegan Rum Balls
- It’s a good idea to make sure your cookie crumbs and chopped walnuts are of a fine crumb consistency. You want them to be similar to dry sand so they mix into your ingredients effortlessly. You can also add them in the bowl of a food processor and pulse for a few seconds to achieve this.
- As the rum balls sit, the bottoms will flatten a bit. This is ok because they won’t roll around all over the place when serving them.
- If you’re mixture is dry before rolling into balls, add about 1/2 teaspoon of rum at a time until it reaches the right consistency. Don’t want to add more rum? Simply substitute with a little bit of hot water.
- If you roll a ball and hold it in your hand and it seems to slowly melt, your mixture is too soft. Simply add more crushed cookies, 1/4 cup at a time until a sandy mixture is reached.
- It’s important to note these don’t go into the oven for baking, which means the alcohol is not reduced in any manner. These are best for the 21 and over crowd, or whatever age is the legal drinking age in your area.
- You can make without rum, simply substitute with 1-2 teaspoons of rum extract or rum essence. That way you maintain that rum flavour, with less alcohol.
- Add extra protein to vegan rum balls by adding a couple tablespoons of plant-based protein powder. You may have to adjust the amount of liquid you use, like the rum or water, to make sure your dough isn’t too dry.
- To make this NON-ALCOHOLIC and safe for kids, simply omit the alcohol altogether and/or substitute with this non-alcoholic rum.
Frequently Asked Questions
I suggest using either dark rum, spiced rum or gold rum. Remember, not all brands of rum are vegan. Check out Barnivore.com to get an idea of some vegan options to choose from.
Because the recipe has healthy fats, it has fewer calories ; a two ball serving contains only 184 calories. For more nutrition information, check out the recipe card below.
The beauty of this simple recipe is that you have a wide variety of choices for dipping. I use one bowl filled with a powdered sugar mixture (think cookie crumbs, coconut flakes, etc.) and the other, with a mixture of cocoa powder and finely chopped nuts or chocolate chips.
You sure can. Simply omit the alcohol and substitute with this non-alcoholic rum.
What To Serve with Vegan Rum Balls
- Non-Alcoholic Vegan Eggnog
- Spiced Cranberry Spritzers (Non-Alcoholic)
- Christmas Old Fashioned Cocktail
- Vegan Eggnog Espresso Martini
Storage and Freezing
Vegan rum balls are best served the same day they’re made. However; If you have left overs, the easiest way to store them is in the refrigerator in an airtight container until the next day or when you need a quick snack. For best results, don’t store at room temperature.
I do not recommend freezing them.
More Holiday Desserts
Have you tried this? Why not leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, and sign up for my newsletter!
No-Bake Vegan Rum Balls Recipe
Equipment
- 1-inch cookie scoop
- 3 small mixing bowls
- rubber spatula
- food-safe gloves
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Baking sheet 9×13 inch
Ingredients
- 5 cups vanilla wafers finely crushed
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup walnuts finely chopped
- 1/2 cup spiced rum
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp light corn syrup
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Toppings
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup vanilla wafers finely crushed
- 1/2 cup walnuts
Instructions
- Before you begin, line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients, including crushed vanilla wafers, salt and finely chopped walnuts.
- Sift powdered sugar and cocoa powder into the walnut mixture. Stir until thoroughly combined.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine corn syrup and rum. Mix until syrup is dissolved.
- Pour over the vanilla wafer mixture and mix until you start to get a thick consistency.
- Grab your rubber gloves and, without too much smashing, finish combining the mixture with your hands. It will be similar to cookie dough.
- Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, scoop into hands and roll the mixture into 1-inch small balls. Then, place them on your prepared baking sheet.
- Choose your toppings and place in small bowls. Once you’re ready to coat them, gently re-roll the balls to make sure they are smooth before rolling them in the toppings.
- Alternate dipping into plain powdered sugar and a cocoa powder mixture (think mixing cocoa powder and powdered sugar together or whatever you desire). Place them back on the cookie sheet and enjoy.
Notes
- It’s a good idea to make sure your cookie crumbs and chopped walnuts are of a fine crumb consistency. You want them to be similar to dry sand so they mix into your ingredients effortlessly. You can also add them in the bowl of a food processor and pulse for a few seconds to achieve this.
- As the rum balls sit, the bottoms will flatten a bit. This is ok because they won’t roll around all over the place when serving them.
- If you’re mixture is dry before rolling into balls, add about 1/2 teaspoon of rum at a time until it reaches the right consistency. Don’t want to add more rum? Simply substitute with a little bit of hot water.
- If you roll a ball and hold it in your hand and it seems to slowly melt, your mixture is too soft. Simply add more crushed cookies, 1/4 cup at a time until a sandy mixture is reached.
- It’s important to note these don’t go into the oven for baking, which means the alcohol is not reduced in any manner. These are best for the 21 and over crowd, or whatever age is the legal drinking age in your area.
- You can make without rum, simply substitute with 1-2 teaspoons of rum extract or rum essence. That way you maintain that rum flavour, with less alcohol.
- Add extra protein to vegan rum balls by adding a couple tablespoons of plant-based protein powder. You may have to adjust the amount of liquid you use, like the rum or water, to make sure your dough isn’t too dry.
- To make this NON-ALCOHOLIC and safe for kids, simply omit the alcohol altogether and/or substitute with this non-alcoholic rum.
Made these kids & adults all agreed we like this recipe & it’s results. I’ll cook on !
Nice, Thank you Maria.
These easy vegan rum balls are such a simple and tasty treat! Perfect for sharing during the holidays or any special occasion.
THe vegan rum balls looks fabulous. I’m going to try these with non-alcoholic rum for my kids and their friends.
They will love them. Thanks Lathiya.
These no-bake vegan rum balls are so delicious!! They are so easy to make and are the perfect treat for the holidays.
Happy to hear that. Thanks, Nicole.
I tried this recipe, and the rum balls were delicious! So easy to make and perfect for a quick treat.
Vegan rum balls look delicious great idea for a Christmas cookie tray.
Such yummy rum balls!! They’re so easy to make and they’re irresistible.
Mmmmhhhhh Rumkugeln! That’s the German name anyway. They were my alltime favourite bakery treat when I still lived in Germany and I’ve missed them ever since. Thanks for this much healthier version, I really loved them!
So easy to make, yummy and they’re perfect for holiday gifts!!