Updated: December 2016
These intensely boozy, fudgy, chocolate rum balls (or rum truffles) are the perfect indulgent treat for the holidays! They are easy, no-bake, vegan-friendly and dairy free-friendly, and perfect for gift giving too!
(PIN IT FOR LATER)
December has always been about the holidays for me – Christmas lights, decorations, New Year traditions, the presents, the food, the sense of family and love.
Since I was raised a Buddhist, we didn’t celebrate Christmas, but we sure enjoyed the holiday spirit! We grew up with Christmas trees and Christmas celebrations all around us. Plus it was the only time of the year that we were allowed to drink a little wine as kids. Ha!

Boozy truffles
One of my favorite indulgent treats during the holidays was Chocolate Rum Truffles (Chocolate Rum Balls) – not too sweet but insanely fudgy, intensely flavored with rum, chocolate truffles from this particular supermarket. They were so boozy they made me lightheaded after eating just one! And now that I’m an adult, I need no invitation to make my own! 🙂 And boy, do I make ’em.
The best thing about these rum balls is that they are vegan-friendly and dairy-free friendly and of course no-bake too! My sister made these truffles following this recipe, but used vegan products to make it dairy free and vegan. And they came out perfectly!
What’s great about these rum truffles
Super chocolatey,
Super boozy,
With a very fudgy texture,
And super easy to make.
And that’s exactly what you get with these deliciously and intensely flavored Dark Chocolate Rum Balls!
These chocolate rum balls are made with digestive cookies (or digestive biscuits) but you can easily substitute them with graham crackers if you like. Remember to process the dry ingredients together. The desiccated coconut needs to be chopped up along with the cookies.
Then process it with cocoa powder and sugar (if you like to add a touch of sweetness), and then pour in the melted chocolate, rum, butter (or coconut oil) and mix to form a soft “dough”.
The texture of the truffle “dough” is quite sticky, soft and fudgy. When it cools down it becomes less sticky and soft, and it’ll actually harden slightly too, but will still be quite fudgy.
Knead the dough slightly to make it malleable and then roll portions of it into bite sized balls.
Coating the rum truffles
Now you can be a little creative at this point.
Roll it in tempered chocolate (or melted vegan chocolate) to form chocolate coated rum truffles.
Then top these with a white chocolate drizzle or nuts or coconut.
OR just roll the rum balls in cocoa powder, chocolate sprinkles or desiccated coconut (easy and quicker option) and serve ’em just like that.
I used milk chocolate because that sweetness was a nice contrast against the bitter-sweet, boozy dark chocolate rum balls.
Tempering chocolate
Tempering chocolate isn’t technically difficult, just a little more involved. For these rum balls, I chose the easiest way to temper by using “seeding chocolate”, where I first melt about 2/3 of the chocolate in the microwave in bursts until its just melted. This will bring the temperature of the chocolate up to 105°F (for me this is usually 95-105°F)
Next, the chocolate needs to be tempered and cooled down, to avoid blooming. To do this, I add “seeding chocolate” – the remaining 1/3 of the chocolate and mix it well, vigorously, to bring down the temperature of the chocolate to 84 – 86°F. Then leave this melted chocolate in a water bath (that’s around 88-90°F) to keep it at a constant optimum temperature.
Then these rum truffles were dipped in the tempered milk chocolate with a truffle dipping fork, and kept on parchment paper to set.
If you are adding any chopped nuts or desiccated coconut, you should add them at this point, while the chocolate is still wet.
Another way you can coat the truffle is by pouring the chocolate onto a marble slab, and then rolling the rum balls in the chocolate until completely coated. As the finishing touch, you can drizzle white chocolate over the dark chocolate rum balls and let it set completely.
Final notes
These dark chocolate rum truffles are not for the faint of heart! They have an intense chocolate flavor from the bitter-sweet chocolate and cocoa powder. And as soon as you get past that, you’re hit with the warm, intense, boozy flavor of rum! 🙂
If you don’t have rum, you can even make these with bourbon for bourbon truffles too.
These would be the perfect after-dinner treat for adults during holiday gatherings. Little bite-sized morsels of rich indulgence. These rum balls are like a digestif, a dessert and a coffee accompaniment all in one. They make excellent gifts during the holiday season too. These truly are “amaze-balls”!
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Ingredients:
Rum Truffles
- 14.2 oz / 400g cookies I prefer using Digestive cookies but vanilla wafers or even graham crackers will work too
- 1/3 cup of unsweetened desiccated coconut
- 3 tbsp natural cocoa Dutch processed will work too
- 2 tbsp melted butter or coconut oil
- 6 oz / 170g bittersweet chocolate chips or chopped from a block - Vegan for DF version
- 3/4 cup plus 1 tbsp rum
- 1-2 tbsp white sugar
To Coat
- 1 lb / 450g melted and tempered chocolate optional
- plus extra chocolate if needed
- Desiccated coconut
- Chocolate sprinkles
- Melted White chocolate - to drizzle
Instructions:
- Melt the bittersweet chocolate and butter and 1/4 cup rum in a heatproof bowl in the microwave (in 30 sec bursts) till nice and smooth. Let it cool slightly.
- In a food processor, process the cookies, coconut and cocoa powder and sugar till it's completely crushed and is in fine crumbs
- Add the melted chocolate and butter mix, to the cookie base while running the food processor until it's mixed through. Scrape the sides in between to ensure that it mixes evenly.
- Add the remaining rum and mix it through until you get a slightly sticky ball of "dough".
- Place the truffle "dough" in a bowl and knead for a few seconds until completely mixed through, and smooth.
- Let the dough rest and cool down. It should become less sticky and less soft but still fudgy.
- Make 1 - 1 1/2 inch balls from the dough and place them on a parchment paper.
- You can roll these in coconut or chocolate sprinkles and serve them just like that if you prefer.
- If you're coating the rum ball truffles in chocolate - you can melt candy coating wafers or temper the chocolate according to the following directions.
- Pour half of the chocolate on a cool marble slate or kitchen counter top and roll each of the rum balls in the melted chocolate OR dip the truffles in the melted chocolate.
- Shake off the excess gently and place them back on the parchment paper.
- Before the chocolate coating sets - sprinkle some nuts, coconut or sprinkles. Or drizzle some white chocolate once it sets.
- Serve at room temperature or cold. Enjoy!
- You can store these in the fridge for at least a week in an airtight container.
Tips & Tricks
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
If you love cookie truffles, then you will LOVE these Bourbon Gingerbread Truffles too. Deliciously spiced gingerbread truffles, spiked with bourbon and coated in chocolate! Plus there are Vegan and GF options too.
Here’s ANOTHER yummy truffle recipe. It’s got Chocolate, Beer, Pretzels AND Caramel – Chocolate Beer Truffles with Beer infused Pretzel Praline. Need I say more?
Or how about some gingerbread cupcakes with Santa Claus Frosting?
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Rathina says
Hi Dini, I made these for a little Christmas get together this weekend and they were fantastic. I’ve never made rum balls before or tempered chocolate or dipped anything in chocolate so it was all very new. But your instructions were very clear and they turned out amazing.
I used 2 forks to dip and it got a bit messy and I had weird discs at the bottom of each ball where the extra chocolate pooled. But Everyone commented how fudgy and tasty they were and quite unique compared to traditional rumballs.
Thanks for sharing such a great recipe!
Deborah Sessions says
This is my second time making these. This time I am tripling the recipe.
My question is – can I store the truffle dough in the refrigerator or, should I keep it at room temperature to make balls the next day?
Dini says
Hi Deborah
I usually make the balls before refrigerating the rum balls (I let it cool at room temperature). The chocolate in the mix will harden in the fridge and make it harder to roll into balls.
I also allow the rolled truffles to come to room temperature before dipping them in chocolate to prevent cracking in the chocolate shell.
Hope that helps.
Stella says
Hi Dini, I tried to recreate this recipe woth 1/2 amount of biscuit, so I used 1/2 portion of each ingredient, but the dough turned out to be quite dry, not fudgy, So I ended up melting more chocolate and butter and adding more rum, but after chilling in the fridge, it becomes very chocolate-like texture instead of cake-y. Any tips? Thanks
Laurel says
Great recipe! When mixing in the rum, I did it bit by bit till the bough formed a moist ball in my food processor. In the end it only took 1/2 cup of rum. Nice texture, good flavour. A keeper of a recipe. Well done!
Mona says
I’m going to make these and wondered if you can freeze them until Christmas?
Dini says
Hi Mona
They do keep in the freezer very well. However, due to the filling contracting and expanding as they freeze and thaw out, it is possible that the chocolate coating may crack as they thaw out before serving.
Doreen says
The reviews are confusing. I agree they look great but did anyone else actually make them?
Dini says
Hi Doreen,
I can assure you these rum balls really are decadent and addictive! 🙂 These get really popular during the holidays and around Christmas time, and I’ve gotten a number of messages on facebook from readers who enjoyed them. They are easy too, so I encourage you to go ahead and make them. And if you do, I’d love to hear back from you to see how they turned out for you.
Cheers,
Dini
Bella says
Hi! Is coconut a vital part of the recipe? I have some people with allergies I know I have something to sub the coconut oil but I was wondering ab the desiccated coconut?
Thanks!
Dini says
Hi Bella, I use desiccated coconut here because I really like the coconut flavor, but it’s not crucial to the recipe, so you can leave it out if you like. Hope you enjoy the rum balls! 🙂
Angela says
I made these Rum truffles to gift my brother and he and his family enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
I wanted to share the pics with you but uncertain how to do so here.
Dini says
Thank you so much Angela!
I am so happy that your brother’s family enjoyed it! I would love to see a photo too, and I will try to look into adding that feature on my blog in the future. But in the meantime, you can still share photos with me on the facebook page of my blog 🙂
Dini
Lou Lou Girls says
Hello cute lady! I bet these little gems made a lot of people happy! Pinned and tweeted. Thank you for being a part of our party. I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm. We love to party with you! Lou Lou Girls
Ganu says
I can’t believe how easy and delicious these are!!! 🙂 thank you so much for the recipe
Dini says
Your very welcome!! Im so glad they come out well! 🙂
Justine says
I made these, oh my I am so not skilled, these though taste good lol, look awful haha, oh my, but me and the kids had great fun. Do you mind me using your pic in a post at some stage when I post my own experience today, of how they ‘should’ and ‘shouldn’t’ look lol? xx
Dini says
Hi Justine! I am so glad you made them and you and your kids liked them!! The beauty of truffles is that they CAN look messy! 😀 But I would love to see your post 🙂 you can definitely use a picture that you like, would it be ok to have a link back to this post? or my blog? if that’s ok with you? Can’t wait to see it!
Jen says
Oh my goodness those look to die for!!
Dini says
Thank you Jen!! 🙂
Sarah @ Sarah's Kitchen says
Oh yumm! That looks great!
Dini says
Thank you Sarah! 🙂
Mila says
They look so good!!! It can be a lovely gift for the holidays!
Dini says
Thank you Mila! 🙂 I’ve given homemade truffles as gifts before and people usually love them (even if it is messy looking!)
Hilda says
Those truffles look amazing – the perfect thing to fend off the cold in a North American winter. It looks to me as if you are set to do quite well in this tough climate!
Dini says
Thank you Hilda! I hope so… Ive got Rum, Brandy and work stocked up especially because I think I might be getting the cold already (again)!!
Indu says
Your truffles look amazing! 🙂
Dini says
Thank you Indu! 🙂
Sadia says
These truffles look soo good. Very appealing. 🙂
Dini says
Thank you Sadia! 🙂
Sandhya says
Dini,
I cannot stop drooling looking at these truffles. I have to make these! Thank you for the recipe.
They look gorgeous too. Would be great to give as gifts but very hard to part with them:)
Dini says
Thank you Sandhya! I found it very hard to part with them too… I had to hide them away so I wouldn’t eat what I wanted to give as gifts… 🙂
Wendy says
The flavors in your truffles sound fabulous, Dini! I am extremely impressed with your chocolate tempering! I have tried and tried, but it is just not in my skill set. I even had a chocolate making friend try to help me, but I ended up with “blooming” cookies the next day. Happily, there is a tasty and easy way for the tempering inept, like me to still enjoy your truffles. When I make your recipe, I will be covering the truffles in Chocoley compound dipping chocolate instead (unless you offer tempering lessons with a money back guarantee 🙂 ). Thank you for sharing your international experiences. I enjoyed reading about the pieces of different cultures you have incorporated into your life. 🙂
Dini says
Thank you Wendy! 🙂 I love chocolate tempering but it gets so messy and it goes wrong often too! usually what goes wrong is used as ganache or chocolate sauce! 🙂 Compound chocolate is much easier I have to agree! I just wanted to get messy with chocolate (although I hate having to clean up afterwards!!) Maybe one day we can temper chocolate together! (no charge if you can bring cookies and you don’t mind if it goes horribly wrong!) 🙂
Michelle says
These look gorgeous oh my gosh! Tempering chocolate is one thing I can’t do though, I don’t know what it is but I always mess it up!
Dini says
Thank you Michelle!! I used to hate tempering but I love it now (though it’s messy!) but you can roll it in cocoa, coconut or sprinkles too! I did a few with chocolate sprinkles and it was still yum!
sue obryan says
I forced myself to read the tempered chocolate link and now I think I can make these! They look soooo decadent!
Dini says
oooh please let me know how it goes!! I have been horrible with tempering so many times! The good thing is that even if you mess it up you can start over (provided you don’t burn or sieze the chocolate (which I’ve done!)
Loretta says
I’ll take half a dozen please, especially since they have a good “glug” of rum 🙂
Dini says
hahaha!!! Not a problem Loretta! I am slowly but surely demolishing the rest of them! I will be happy to share them with you!!
apsara says
Very gorgeous looking truffles! Just looking at them makes me happy. 🙂
Dini says
Aw thank you Apsara! 🙂 They make me happy too!!
Naina says
These look really delicious!
Dini says
Thank you Naina!
Jhuls says
I never really had experienced preparing for Christmas as I don’t observe the holiday. The preparations must be fun and crazy. I am happy to see people preparing for such occasion. 🙂 The year is soon to end and I am sad as well… and happy, too, for the new year coming. Thank you for sharing these at FF, Dini. They look gorgeous. Enjoy the party.
Dini says
Thank you Jhuls! We don’t observe the holiday either, but we celebrate it in our own way as a family! 🙂 It’s become a day about family (sort of like our Thanksgiving!)
I am very excited about the new year too! It’s been a fantastic year, and I can’t wait to see what 2015 will bring! Thank you for hosting the pa rty!!
CakeSpy says
Sounds just perfect – deep, dark, decadent little morsels!
Dini says
Thank you Jessie! They were all of that! (I’m actually having one now…)
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
Oh Dini, these look absolutely amazing! Beyond amazing!! Pinning and sharing…I so want to make these!
Dini says
Thank you Michelle! This has quickly become my favourite! You definitely need to try it 🙂