Cherry Bourbon Balls
Cherry bourbon balls are a quick, no-bake holiday treat featuring chocolate sandwich cookies, bourbon, and tart cherries. These festive bites are easy to make, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for parties or gifting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 20 balls 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 24 chocolate sandwich cookies (about 240g, e.g., Oreo)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (120g)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (12g, optional)
- 4 tablespoons bourbon (60ml)
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped and patted dry (80g)
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (120ml)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (60g, optional)
- 1/2 cup finely shredded coconut (40g), for rolling
- 1/2 cup additional chopped nuts (60g), for rolling
- Cocoa powder or chocolate sprinkles, for rolling
Instructions
- Place chocolate sandwich cookies in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Alternatively, crush cookies in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin.
- In a large bowl, combine cookie crumbs, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder. Stir until well blended.
- Chop maraschino cherries into small pieces and pat dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, mix bourbon and sweetened condensed milk. Add chopped cherries and nuts (if using), stirring until evenly distributed.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir gently until a thick, slightly sticky dough forms. Adjust with more bourbon or condensed milk if too dry, or more cookie crumbs if too wet.
- Scoop tablespoon portions of dough and roll into smooth balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Chill dough for 10 minutes if too sticky.
- Roll each ball in shredded coconut, chopped nuts, cocoa powder, or sprinkles while still slightly sticky.
- Place coated balls on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or freeze for 20 minutes to set.
- Serve chilled, or store in an airtight container with parchment between layers.
Notes
Chill dough before rolling for easier handling. Use cherry juice instead of bourbon for a kid-friendly version. For gluten-free, substitute cookies with gluten-free chocolate cookies or almond flour. Dairy-free option: use coconut condensed milk. Store in fridge up to 10 days or freeze up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball (about 1 ounc
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 80
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
Keywords: cherry bourbon balls, holiday treats, no-bake dessert, bourbon balls, Christmas cookies, festive snacks, party food, easy recipe