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.
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
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!