Clementine Rum Balls
These No-Bake Clementine Rum Balls are the perfect easy and unexpected addition to your Christmas cookie collection this holiday season. They take just minutes to make and can be frozen too. Not to mention they’re plant-based so everyone can enjoy them.
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Our Favorite Rum Balls Recipe With Clementines
I make these Clementine Rum Balls almost every year at Christmas time, and have since I first shared them here on the blog back in 2010. They are so easy to make, and they are so different from everything else on the cookie platter, you really get a lot of bang for your effort.
Here are three reasons to add these fabulous Clementine Rum Balls to your cookie collection this holiday season.
Recipe Highlights
- They are different from any old rum ball recipes that have been passed around since the ’60s because these are flavored with clementines and toasted pecans.
- They’re no-bake so they are simple as can be.
- I roll half of them in unsweetened coconut and the other half in cocoa powder. So you can easily vary the way they look on your cookie platterwith one simple step.
Ingredients Used in Rum Balls
- Graham Crackers: These are made with graham crackers, instead of “Nilla Wafers.”Try to find a brand that doesn’t have trans fat.]
- Confectioners sugar: This adds additional sweetness to the cookie with the inherently sweet graham crackers and give it the right texture.
- Toasted pecans: These get ground up and add flavor and texture to the rum ball “dough”.
- Cocoa powder: This goes in the mix and issued to roll on the outside of the rum balls.
- Dark or black rum: to give these rum balls a traditional boozy kick we prefer dark or black rum over white rum. Our favorite is Gosselins Black Seal Rum (we keep it on hand for our favorite Dark Rum cocktails.
- Clementine zest plus 1/2 cup clementine juice: This is the key to making these stand out in a crowd, though of course orange zest would be fine too.
- Vanilla extract
- Finely shredded unsweetened coconut: For coating the outside. Use all cocoa if you do not care for coconut.
How To Make Clementine Rum Balls
Step 1: Grind Crackers and Nuts For Dry Mix
Break graham crackers into pieces and process in two batches in food processor until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a large bowl.
Place confectioners sugar and pecans in the food processor and process until the nuts are finely ground. Transfer to the bowl with the graham crumbs. Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder and stir thoroughly.
Step 2: Make Wet Mix and Combine With Dry
Mix rum, clementine zest, clementine juice and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Pour over the crumb mixture and stir to form a sticky dough. Let sit 10 minutes in the fridge to firm up.
Meanwhile, place the remaining 1/4 cup cocoa powder on a plate or shallow dish. Place the coconut on another plate or dish.
Step 3: Roll Dough Into Balls And Add Coating
Roll 1 tablespoon of portions of the crumb dough into balls. Roll half of the balls, one at a time, into the cocoa powder. Roll the other half of the balls into the coconut. [You may need to put a little coconut into your hands to press the coconut into the dough as you roll to get it to stick.]
Storage Tip
Before storage it is best to chill the rum balls for 15 to 20 minutes to firm them up and make sure they are not sticky at all. Then package them up into cookie tins or resealable containers. Layer the tins with parchment paper, wax paper or tissue paper.
Freeze for one month or longer.
More Christmas Treats and Cookies
These goodies and sweet treats would be great paired with Clementine Rum Balls on a holiday cookie platter!
- Here is a Dairy-Free Fudge without marshmallows.
- These Paleo Snack Bites are a grain-free ball to consider for GF or dairy-free cookie lovers.
- Don’t miss checking out these awesome Coconut Flour Cookies by Flippin’ Delicious. Sub maple for the honey to keep them vegan.
- Our Dark Chocolate Vegan Nut Balls are another cute addition to a cookie tray for the holidays.
At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie
Print
Holiday Rum Ball Recipe with Clementines
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 60 1x
Description
Clementine Rum Balls. These Vegan and No-Bake Christmas cookies are such a yummy and unexpected addition to your holiday cookie collection!
Ingredients
- 1 14.5– ounce box graham crackers makes about 3 1/2 cups crumbs
- 1 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 cup pecans toasted and cooled (4 ounces)
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder sifted and divided
- 1/2 cup dark or black rum
- 1 tablespoon clementine zest plus 1/2 cup clementine juice
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup finely shredded unsweetened coconut
Instructions
- Break grahams into pieces and process in two batches in food processor until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a large bowl. Place confectioners sugar and pecans in the food processor and process until the nuts are finely ground. Transfer to the bowl with the graham crumbs. Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder and stir thouroughly. Mix rum, clementine zest, clementine juice and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Pour over the crumb mixture and stir to form a sticky dough. Let sit 10 minutes in the fridge to firm up.
- Meanwhile, place the remaining 1/4 cup cocoa powder on a plate or shallow dish. Place the coconut on another plate or dish.
- Roll 1 tablespoon portions of the crumb dough into balls. Roll half of the balls, one at a time, into the cocoa powder. Roll the other half of the balls into the coconut. [You may need to put a little coconut into your hands to press the coconut into the dough as you roll to get it to stick.]
Notes
Store in the freezer for up to one month.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 17 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
This is such a delicious no bake treat! Perfect for entertaining and when you want something no bake!
I couldn’t stop eating these! They were so good!
So easy and delicious! These are always the first to go! They are great for parties all year long!
Yummy! These looks so scrumptious and tasty! Can’t wait to make these. My family will love these!
These are so delicious! It’s time to make these again!
Wonderful and awesome for holidays.Thanks for Sharing
These sound so fun and different Katie! Perfect for Christmas!
They really are quite a (happy) surprise to bite into. Thanks so much for coming by Karen. Hope you’re well.
This post made me laugh and remember a charming Second Grader at Christmas! Was Christy in your class? I cannot remember her last name but can see her so clearly – she had pale, straight blonde hair and bangs. Anyway, she came into class just before Christmas with a brown paper bag in hand. She sidled up to me and whispered that her mother had made these cookies and they had RUM in them and I wasn’t to share them with anyone at school! (I’d never had them before and quite enjoyed them and only shared them with Peter…) I just loved teaching Second Grade in those days. You all were so sweet and earnest and a treat to be with each day.
No but there was a Christina in our class that looked like that. Probably a different child. Anyway, that is such a cute story. My little one is in second grade this year, and she is just amazing. What a fun age.
these will disappear so quickly in my house
Ha ha! They do here, that’s for sure!
Rum Balls are one of my grandmother’s favorite desserts…thanks for sharing this! I can’t wait to make these for her 🙂
If you do, please let me know!
These are great for the holidays! So easy, too. I love the flavor combos.
Thanks so much! Have a great day!
Oh, perfect timing! I am looking for lots of delicious treats like this to make as edible gifts this Christmas, and I know just who would love these. Great idea to mix up the presentation with cocoa and coconut too, they look so festive! 🙂
Hope you enjoy them and they make a splash on your cookie platter Laura!
These would make a great hostess gift!!
That’s a great idea Mindy! I am going to a friends house this weekend, I should whip some up to bring to her.
These sound like the perfect addition to a holiday gift basket! I love the combination of orange and chocolate together!
The cocoa and clementine together are a great combo indeed! Thanks for coming by Cynthia.