Add a fun and festive Christmas cookie to your holiday trays! My Grandmother was famous for her no-bake Bourbon Balls, which look like little snowballs, require only a few simple ingredients, and are spiked with just the right amount of something special!
But before I get to the recipe, I just have to share a book that I recently finished. I included this book on my November list of Stuff We Love, but I wanted to mention it again. It’s just such a fun read — especially if you were raised by a woman from the south!
My mom gave me this book (as a joke), and let’s just say that it hit very close to home. I could relate to so many of the comments in the book, and I often felt like the authors were writing about my life (and about my mom and my grandmother!). For instance, I could check every one of these boxes:
Signs that you are the daughter of a Southern mother:
(1) You are obsessed with who got Aunt Boo Boo’s silver tea service {silver is a huge deal!};
(2) You never leave home without making your bed {and in my case, my kids’ beds};
(3) You know about deviled egg plates, pledge pins, and the importance of middle names {for as long as I can remember};
(4) You know what tomato aspic is {in fact, my grandmother’s recipe will be coming soon to a blog near you!};
(5) You play mahjongg, but you prefer bridge — it’s nicer…”
and the list goes on! Anyone else out there who can relate?!
Since the book is both a commentary on Southern society, as well as a compilation of classic recipes from Southern home cooks, I was inspired to share one of my grandmother’s “classic” recipes as well — just in time for the holiday season!
Not long ago, my brother-in-law and his family, as well as a couple of his high school friends, descended upon our house one Saturday afternoon to have a pre-game “tailgate” before heading over to their former all-boys boarding school (Woodberry Forest School) for the big annual football game. I knew that a couple of Southern “frat guys” would be the perfect audience to enjoy my grandmother’s Bourbon Balls! Let’s just say that these little cookies were a huge hit!!
We had lots of boys running around our property…
Uncle Kevin, Spence, and Keith
Big Hynson and Little Hynson
Aunt Tina and Cousin Michael!
Plenty of cowboy boots,
And a cute pregnant gal…ready to deliver another BOY!
Plus dogs on picnic tables…EW.
While the grown-ups munched on Bourbon Balls,
the little guys stuck to more “responsible” goodies…
And everyone was very happy!
[Tweet “Add My Grandmother’s festive Bourbon Balls to your holiday #cookie trays! #Christmas #Kentucky #yum”]
My Grandmother's Bourbon Balls
Ingredients
- 3 cups finely crushed vanilla wafers I used an entire 11 ounce box
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/3 cup bourbon
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- Combine wafer crumbs and nuts in a large bowl. Add condensed milk and bourbon. Blend well. Chill for about 1 hour.
- Pour about 1 cup of powdered sugar into a shallow dish.
- Dip the palms of your hands into the powdered sugar and shape the “dough” by teaspoonfuls into round balls. Roll in powdered sugar.
- Store bourbon balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Hi Blair- I love good bourbon balls! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Joanne! These are definitely GOOD! 🙂
I want to make these for teacher gifts. I got paper takeout boxes to put them in but I’m worried they will sweat when I take them out of the fridge. Do they have to be refrigerated?
They can stay out of the refrigerator for a short time (like on a holiday cookie platter), but I wouldn’t store them on the counter at room temp. If you’re not actually serving them (or delivering them to teachers), I would keep them in the fridge. They just get a bit too soft when they’re left out. Maybe put a note on the box for the teachers to let them know that the cookies need to be refrigerated? They’re so good — your teachers will love them! 🙂
Love the recipe and how easy it is to make! Oh.. and I also love everything that has condensed milk in it! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Giovanna!
Yumm That is my kind of dessert, my dad and brother will love this recipe! I would love for you to share a post on my Meet Up Monday Blog Party!
Jenny Marie
http://jennymaire.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Jenny Marie!
I need to go buy myself a bottle of bourbon. Wonderful recipe! Pinning
Stephanie
Thank you, Stephanie!! 🙂
YUM!!! These look super awesome!!!! Also, wanted to let you know I have a link party on Wednesday, hope to see you there! Can’t wait to party with you at https://homeschoolapalooza.wordpress.com 🙂
Thanks so much, Coco!
I got a kick out of the mahjong remark…I’m living in China and there are special tables built under outdoor awnings in our residence so that the old people can gather to play all afternoon. Maybe you’d do well here…just bring some of these bourbon balls, please! 😉
Ha! That’s funny, Christine! 🙂
You had me at bourbon! Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!
Thanks, Amanda!
Thanks for the yummy recipe. I love how easy they were to make.
Thanks for stopping by, Laurene! 🙂
I was wondering how long they would last stored in the fridge?
Hey, Christina! These should last at least a few days (but probably closer to a week) in the fridge! 🙂
Oh, those bourbon balls look amazing! They would make perfect afternoon tea accompaniment 🙂
They are such a treat, Margot! I hope that you enjoy!
Bourbon makes me deathly ill so I use Meyer’s dark rum. The hubs was on deployment during Christmas so I sent him bourbon and rum balls in his Christmas box. His fellow officers put them in glasses with a splash of coffee for a holiday treat!! IF you can put them away for a few days they do get more potent~ just sayin’!!
Hi, Judy! Yes! I have also made these with rum! 🙂 They’re delicious either way, and I agree — they get even better with “age.” So glad that your husband and the other officers enjoyed them. That warms my heart!
What brand of bourbon did you use ?
Hi, Courtney! I used Jim Beam, but any similar bourbon will work. Just pick a brand that you like and that tastes good, because you can definitely taste the booze in this dessert! 🙂
Yum to the grandma bourbon balls… no bourbon – needed something without nuts and booze, and chocolate! YIKES – impossible…. Then I found you! Thanks so much for the recipe and also for allowing a glimpse into your wonderful life and family.
Best wishes and as the southerners say down here… have a blessed day. (kinda great, especially being from NYC)
Awe, thanks for your kind note, Becca! Merry Christmas to YOU! 🙂
I just found this recipe and I’m making them for New Year’s Eve dinner tonight. The mix is chilling as I type. Quick question:
How would you transport them to someone else’s home? I doubled the quantities to get around 120 balls. Can I stack them in a plastic container? What do you recommend for transport?
Thanks!
Hi, Matias! That’s wonderful! I know they will be the hit of the party! 🙂
I actually have some in a tupperware container in my refrigerator right now. That’s exactly how I would transport them, unless you want to serve them on a tray. Totally up to you. They’re sturdy, and they will be fine in a container (stacked) or just flat on a tray with plastic wrap or foil over top for transporting. Enjoy, and happy New Year!