Hamdi Saidani Pioneer Woman Bourbon Balls are made with vanilla wafer cookies, pecan halves, unsweetened cocoa powder, confectioners’ sugar, bourbon, dark corn syrup, bittersweet chocolate, and coconut oil. This easy Bourbon Balls recipe creates a cold dessert that takes about 45 minutes to prepare and can serve up to 25 people.
Pioneer Woman Bourbon Balls Ingredients
Ingredients For the Bourbon Balls:
- 3 1/2 cups vanilla wafer cookies (about 70-80 cookies), such as Nilla Wafers
- 1 1/4 cups pecan halves
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup dark corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of kosher salt
Ingredients For the Coating:
- 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or vegetable shortening
- 25 pecan halves for topping
How To Make Pioneer Woman Bourbon Balls
- Prepare the Bourbon Ball Mixture: In a food processor, pulse the vanilla wafer cookies and pecan halves until finely crumbled. Add the cocoa powder, confectioners’ sugar, bourbon, corn syrup, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Continue pulsing until the mixture is well combined and sticky enough to hold together when squeezed.
- Shape the Balls: Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll into 1-inch balls. You should have about 25 balls in total. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roll each ball between your palms to achieve a smooth and compact texture. Chill in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to firm up.
- Melt the Chocolate: Combine the chopped chocolate and coconut oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high, stirring halfway through, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes.
- Coat the Balls: Using two forks, dip each chilled bourbon ball into the melted chocolate, ensuring each ball is fully coated. Let any excess chocolate drip off before returning it to the baking sheet. Immediately top each ball with a pecan half.
- Chill the balls: Place the bourbon balls back in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes, or until the chocolate coating is set.
Recipe Tips
- Choose Good Ingredients: Use good-quality bourbon and bittersweet chocolate for the best taste. Pick a bourbon that tastes good to you.
- Get the Right Texture: When you blend the vanilla wafers and pecans, make sure they turn into a fine, even powder. If you blend too much, the mix will be too sticky. If you don’t blend enough, the balls won’t stick together well.
- Chill Before Coating: Make sure the balls are cold and firm before you dip them in chocolate. This helps them stay together and makes the chocolate set faster and smoother.
- Keep the Chocolate Smooth: The chocolate should be completely melted and smooth before you start dipping. If the chocolate gets thick or cools down, heat it up a little again to keep it easy to work with.
- Add the Pecan Right Away: Put a pecan half on each ball right after dipping it in chocolate. This makes sure the pecan sticks before the chocolate hardens.
What To Serve With Bourbon Balls
Pioneer Woman Bourbon Balls pair well with espresso, vanilla ice cream, salted caramel sauce, and raspberry coulis. They also can be served alongside whipped cream, dark roast coffee, spiced rum, and orange juice.
How To Store Bourbon Balls
- Refrigerate: Once the Bourbon Balls are completely set, transfer them to an airtight container. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Freeze: For longer storage, you can freeze the bourbon balls. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze them initially. Once they are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or use a freezer-safe container. The bourbon balls can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Pioneer Woman Bourbon Balls Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 of 25 servings
- Calories: 113
- Total Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Dietary Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 8 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 16 mg
FAQs
Can I Make These Without A Food Processor?
Yes, if you don’t have a food processor, you can put the vanilla wafers and pecans in a sealed bag and crush them with a rolling pin until they are very fine. It takes a bit more work, but it works well.
What Can I Use Instead Of Bourbon For A Non-alcoholic Version?
If you don’t want to use alcohol, you can replace the bourbon with apple juice, grape juice, or non-alcoholic vanilla extract. This changes the flavor but keeps the balls tasty for those who avoid alcohol.
How Do I Know When The Chocolate On The Bourbon Balls Is Set?
The chocolate is set when it doesn’t stick to your finger if you touch it lightly. It usually takes about 5 minutes in the fridge, but sometimes it might take a little longer.
Can I Use Different Nuts Instead Of Pecans?
Yes, you can use other nuts like walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts instead of pecans. Choose what you like or what you have at home.
How Can I Make Sure All The Bourbon Balls Are The Same Size?
To make all the balls the same size, use a cookie scoop or a measuring spoon to scoop the mixture. This helps make sure they’re all equal, which is important for even cooling and chocolate coating.
Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
Pioneer Woman Bourbon Balls
Description
Pioneer Woman Bourbon Balls are made with vanilla wafer cookies, pecan halves, unsweetened cocoa powder, confectioners’ sugar, bourbon, dark corn syrup, bittersweet chocolate, and coconut oil. This easy Bourbon Balls recipe creates a cold dessert that takes about 45 minutes to prepare and can serve up to 25 people.
Ingredients
Ingredients For the Bourbon Balls:
Ingredients For the Coating:
Instructions
- Prepare the Bourbon Ball Mixture: In a food processor, pulse the vanilla wafer cookies and pecan halves until finely crumbled. Add the cocoa powder, confectioners’ sugar, bourbon, corn syrup, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Continue pulsing until the mixture is well combined and sticky enough to hold together when squeezed.
- Shape the Balls:Â Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll into 1-inch balls. You should have about 25 balls in total. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roll each ball between your palms to achieve a smooth and compact texture. Chill in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to firm up.
- Melt the Chocolate:Â Combine the chopped chocolate and coconut oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high, stirring halfway through, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes.
- Coat the Balls:Â Using two forks, dip each chilled bourbon ball into the melted chocolate, ensuring each ball is fully coated. Let any excess chocolate drip off before returning it to the baking sheet. Immediately top each ball with a pecan half.
- Chill the balls:Â Place the bourbon balls back in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes, or until the chocolate coating is set.
Notes
- Choose Good Ingredients:Â Use good-quality bourbon and bittersweet chocolate for the best taste. Pick a bourbon that tastes good to you.
- Get the Right Texture: When you blend the vanilla wafers and pecans, make sure they turn into a fine, even powder. If you blend too much, the mix will be too sticky. If you don’t blend enough, the balls won’t stick together well.
- Chill Before Coating:Â Make sure the balls are cold and firm before you dip them in chocolate. This helps them stay together and makes the chocolate set faster and smoother.
- Keep the Chocolate Smooth:Â The chocolate should be completely melted and smooth before you start dipping. If the chocolate gets thick or cools down, heat it up a little again to keep it easy to work with.
- Add the Pecan Right Away:Â Put a pecan half on each ball right after dipping it in chocolate. This makes sure the pecan sticks before the chocolate hardens.
