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.
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No bake treats
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.
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 [affiliate links] 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.
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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
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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.
Bourbon pecan balls were a hit!