In my final post for Zack Tremaine’s Whiskey Challenge, I mentioned that Allison Pinckney (Zack’s fiancee and one of the women who judged Zack’s cooking contest) made Bacon Pecan Brownies and that Carina Prioleau brought Chocolate Kentucky Bourbon Balls.
In that final post I included Allison’s Bacon Pecan Brownie recipe. But I didn’t include a recipe for Carina’s dessert since she doesn’t cook and bought the Bourbon Balls at a fancy pastry shop. Still, I wanted to include a recipe for the Bourbon Balls since I had so many readers ask me for one.
So here it is: Carina Prioleau’s (really, the recipe is my dad’s) Chocolate Kentucky Bourbon Balls.
Chocolate Kentucky Bourbon Balls
This dessert is easy to make and full of flavor. But they don't last long before they go stale. So I recommend making them for a party or to share with friends so there are no leftovers.
Ingredients
Bourbon Balls
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup bourbon
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
- 2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
Topping
- ½ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder divided
- ½ cup confectioners sugar divided
- 1 cup Granulated sugar optional topping
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 325 ℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment and spread out the pecans on top. Bake them for 10-14 minutes, until lightly toasted but not burned. When finished take them out of the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
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In a small bowl, stir together the toasted pecans and the bourbon. Cover the bowl with plastic and let it sit for 2-3 hours. After the sitting time, drain the pecans but save the bourbon. You'll use it later.
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In a large bowl, stir together the bourbon-soaked pecans, the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cocoa powder, and 1/4 cup confectioners sugar. Once that is all combined, stir in the reserved bourbon, corn syrup, and pure maple syrup. Mix until it resembles a crumbly dough.
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In a small bowl stir together the remaining cocoa powder and confectioners sugar. Set aside.
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Roll the dough into 3/4" balls. Then roll them in the sugar/cocoa mixture. Or you could roll them in regular granulated sugar. When they are all rolled into balls and covered with sugar, place on a baking tray and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
They will stay fresh in a closed container in the fridge for up to five days. But I doubt they'll last that long!
