Pecan Bourbon Balls + Giveaway — No bake Pecan Bourbon Balls are an easy and fun no bake treat. Sweet buttery pecans mingle packed together in a sweet no bake filling, and drenched in melted chocolate. Then topped with a toasted pecan. These easy to make old-fashioned southern-style candy treats will please the pecan lover in you.
Plus I have a great giveaway for you! A snack package from Millican Pecan Company!
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If you’d rather skip my helpful tips, tricks, essential cooking information, and delicious similar recipe ideas – and get straight to this recipe – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card. It’s right there with a pretty bright yellow background.
The giveaway is right above the recipe card. Look for the Rafflecopter widget.
If you have any questions about how to make this recipe, or if you try them, please come back and leave a comment below letting us know how it goes.
Today I’m really excited to announce that I’ve partnered with Millican Pecan Company. I have been sent product to facilitate this post, however, all opinions are my own. #ad Thank you for supporting the brands that help make this blog possible!
I love a good no-bake treat during the summer. And these are a gluten-free treat.
These are also perfect for the holidays and cookie and candy plates for the adults. Santa may even want in on these.
Millican Pecan Company
I’m so excited about today’s giveaway! Have you met Millican Pecan Company yet? They have amazingly tasty goodies and of course, pecans!
Millican Pecan Co. has been harvesting and selling pecans for five generations. “Our great-great grandfather pioneered the pecan industry here in San Saba, Texas (‘The Pecan Capital of the World’), and we are happy to be carrying on the tradition he started over 130 years ago. We are home to Texas’ Mother Pecan Orchard and are often called America’s Pecan Orchard.” Read more on their about page, with some great family pictures!
And, while you’re there, check out all their products!
Millican Pecan Snack Mix Prize Package Giveaway
We have a great sampling today for our giveaway! Many of these items would be great for back to school treats, either after school, or in a lunch box.
And, let me tell you, I got to taste all of these goodies for myself. They are all amazing and delicious. It’s hard for me to say which ones I like the best. Those Sweet & Spicy Pecans are so good! And those Dark Chocolate Pecan Toffee Snacks were the first to disappear. I didn’t even share them with anyone!
Included in the giveaway:
- Dark Chocolate Pecan Toffee Tin
- Chocolate Toffee Pecans
- Salted Caramel Pecan Snack Mix
- Dark Chocolate Caramillican
- Pecan Divinity
- Jar of Creamy Pecan Butter
- Sweet & Spicy Pecans
- Roasted & Salted Pecans
Recipe tips
The finer you chop the pecans, the faster the bourbon will absorb into them. Chop the pecans by hand using a sharp knife, or try chopping them in a food processor. Just be careful to leave them finely chopped and don’t turn them into pecan butter.
Keep some of the rolled pecan bourbon filling balls in the freezer while you dip others into the melted chocolate. If they sit out too long they become soft and difficult to manage while dipping.
The flavors in the pecan bourbon filling mellow and mingle over a day or two. Keep them stored in the fridge, and nibble on them when you want a nice treat.
Makes 30 to 40 candies, depending on how large you scoop them. I made mine fairy small, so they are just a bite of two. I think that’s the perfect size. Of course, you could always make them larger!
Chocolate coating for the Pecan Bourbon Balls treats
My mom always did the trick of adding a little shortening to the chocolate when melting it for a candy coating.
This trick works because the addition of shortening creates a smoother and more manageable consistency for the chocolate, than melted chocolate alone. It allows you to work with the chocolate longer. Which helps create a more evenly coated Pecan Bourbon Ball.
Adding the shortening also makes for a nice shiny chocolate coating.
How to make Pecan Bourbon Balls
Soak the pecans in the bourbon and vanilla.
Cream the butter and sugar together. This will create a dry sugar mixture. That’s ok, there’s more than enough moisture in the bourbon pecans to create the soft filling.
Mix the bourbon soaked pecans into the creamed butter and sugar.
Scoop out the filling to form small rounds. I like using an ice cream/cookie dough scoop like this one (about 1 tablespoon in size) to help scoop and form the balls. Place the filling balls on a parchment lined cookie tray, and freeze or refrigerate.
Dip the cold pecan bourbon filling balls into the melted chocolate mixture. Then cover the hole with a toasted pecan.
Don’t forget to hop over to check out Millican Pecan Company.
Giveaway Rules
Follow the instructions in the giveaway widget below. Open to US residents 18+. One (1) winner will be chosen. Prize will be delivered by Millican Pecan Company.
Winner chosen randomly and announced in this post.
We will email the winner, and if the winner does not respond in 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
The prize will be mailed from the manufacturer to the winner directly, and Life Currents is not responsible for lost mail.
All entries will be verified.
This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Rafflecopter, or any other entity unless otherwise specified. Giveaway ends 8/30/2019.
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Pecan Bourbon Balls Recipe
Pecan Bourbon Balls
Ingredients
Filling:
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup good quality Bourbon
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup butter softened
- pinch salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- pinch salt
Chocolate coating:
- 3 tablespoons shortening
- 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- about 30-40 pecan halves toasted and cooled
Instructions
Make the filling:
- Combine chopped pecans, vanilla, and bourbon in a small bowl. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Mix the softened butter with the powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt, using a sturdy fork, a hand held mixer, or a stand mixer on low speed. The creamed butter and sugar mixture will be dry. Add the soaked pecans to the butter sugar mix, and combine thoroughly.
- Use a small ice cream/cookie dough scoop or a spoon to form balls that are about 1 tablespoon, or 1-inch around. Use your hands to roll them into balls. Place the filling balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper. Place the tray in the freezer for a few minutes while you melt the chocolate, or refrigerate for an hour.
Make chocolate coating:
- Melt chocolate chips and shortening in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Once smooth, let the chocolate cool a bit at room temperature.
- Dip chilled pecan bourbon filling balls into the chocolate mixture using a toothpick. Keep some of the filling balls in the fridge while you work, so they don’t all come to room temperature.
- Hold the chocolate covered bourbon ball upside down over the melted chocolate for about five seconds to let it begin to set. Shaking gently back and forth will also allow some of the excess chocolate to drip off.
- Using a second toothpick, or your finger, push the chocolate coated pecan bourbon ball off of the toothpick, and place it on a parchment lined and chilled baking sheet.
- Top with a toasted pecan to cover the hole from the toothpick. Return bourbon balls to refrigerator to set the chocolate, at least two hours, or overnight. The flavors will mingle and mellow the longer they sit.
Notes
Nutrition
I love to make Praline Pecans!
I am a Southern girl and we make lots of pecan pies. Also salted and roasted pecans are popular.
I am a huge fan of pecan pie!!!!
I like to make pecan pie!
I’m a Texan so we add pecans to basically everything! But nothing beats my pecan pie bar cookies!
Favorite thing to make with Pecans would be cookies.
I love pecans in so many recipes! I especially love candied pecans in salads.
I like to add pecans to my salad.