Search
by Ingredient

Irish Cream Balls

StarStarHalf starEmpty starEmpty star

Submitted by Dollface

Irish cream balls combine crushed vanilla wafers, toasted pecans, cocoa, and Irish cream liqueur into no-bake boozy bites rolled in powdered sugar. The grown-up holiday cookie tray staple.

YIELD

24 servings

PREP

20 min

COOK

20 min

READY

80 min

These are the boozy little gems that show up on every Irish-American holiday cookie tray, and they’re a no-bake project that takes 20 minutes plus a one-hour rest. The Irish cream liqueur (Bailey’s is the obvious choice, but any Irish cream works) does the binding and the flavoring at once, while a hit of cocoa powder backs it up with subtle chocolate depth.

Crushed vanilla wafers form the body of these balls, so the texture stays soft and crumbly rather than firm like a truffle. A cup of chopped pecans folded in adds a buttery crunch that keeps each bite from being one-note sweet, and three tablespoons of corn syrup help everything stick together without needing heat.

The 5-minute rest before rolling matters. That brief sit lets the wafers absorb the liqueur evenly, so your balls hold their shape and the flavor doesn’t pool at the bottom of the bowl.

A double roll in powdered sugar is the move. The first coat sticks to wet dough; the second coats the dried-out surface for that snowball look.

Pro Tips

  • Crush the wafers very fine in a food processor or sealed bag with a rolling pin. Big chunks make balls that fall apart.
  • Toast the pecans for 5 minutes before chopping for a deeper, nuttier flavor.
  • Let the rolled balls dry uncovered on a rack so the surface firms before storing. Skipping this step gives you sticky balls.
  • These taste better after 2 to 3 days. The booze mellows and the flavors meld.

Variations

  • Swap Irish cream for bourbon or dark rum for a different boozy profile.
  • Use chocolate wafers instead of vanilla for a deeper, brownie-leaning ball.
  • Roll in cocoa powder, finely chopped pecans, or sprinkles instead of (or in addition to) powdered sugar.

Ingredients

3 710
CUPS ML VANILLA WAFER
finely crushed *
1 237
CUP ML PECANS
chopped
¾ 177
½ 118
CUP ML LIQUEUR
irish cream style *
3 45
TABLESPOONS ML LIGHT CORN SYRUP
1 ½ 7.5
TEASPOONS ML COCOA POWDER
1
X POWDERED SUGAR
for rolling, to taste *

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until well blended.

Allow to stand 5 minutes. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls.

Roll balls in powdered sugar.

Allow to dry on wire rack 1 hour.

Roll in powdered sugar again if desired.

Store in airtight container between layers of wax paper.

* not incl. in nutrient facts Arrow up button

Comments


 

 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 11g (0.4 oz)
Amount per Serving
Calories 323 55% from fat
 % Daily Value *
Total Fat 20g 30%
Saturated Fat 2g 9%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 11mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Sugars g
Protein 5g
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 1%
Calcium 2% Iron 4%
* based on a 2,000 calorie diet How is this calculated?
Low Cholesterol, Cholesterol-Free, Trans-fat Free, Good source of fiber, Very low in sodium, Low Sodium
 

Email this recipe