I come from a long-line of Irish alcoholics. And although I myself hold my liquor like a ten-year-old, I have a special place in my heart for alcohol-flavored sweet things. Indeed, I have had a torrid love affair with the bourbon ball ever since my mom first let me try one during the holidays when I was a kid.See, at my house, bourbon (or rum) balls were holiday fare. But I'm told they're traditional at the Kentucky Derby as well. I've never been to Kentucky, and I know next to nothing about the event, which, I'm told, involves race horses and women in elaborate hats.
But in the spirit of this prestigious event, I offer you my family's decidedly un-traditional recipe for bourbon balls.
One gallon-sized Ziploc bag
One cup chopped nuts
2 cups crushed Vanilla wafers (approx. 4 dozen)
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp. melted butter
1/2 cup bourbon (or rum if preferred)
2 tblsp. corn syrup (lite Karo)
2 tsp cocoa
Put all the 'Nilla wafers into a gallon Ziploc bag and seal it well. Smash them to a fine crumble with a hammer and great satisfaction. Mix ingredients together and roll into little balls. Roll these through a dish of powdered sugar. Refrigerate for one hour or longer.
I suppose you could grind the Vanilla wafers in a food processor, but really, a hammer is more fun, especially if you're nipping the bourbon as you go.
Too funky for you? You could try this recipe, which includes chocolate, from the Washington Post.
If you can't find your hammer, or you're just feeling a smidge more traditional, try and find some Rebecca Ruth bourbon balls. They're hard to find outside of Kentucky, apparently, but in this age of the internets, you might have some luck.
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