Make Rum Balls
This mixture, at first, looks too liquid to succeed as properly solid balls. You may be tempted to add dry ingredients to make it a drier concoction. Never fear. Follow the instructions for perfect rum balls.
Ingredients
- 16 oz (454g) semisweet chocolate chips
- 2/3 cup butter (can substitute margarine if desired)
- 1 egg
- 1 1/4 cup powdered (icing) sugar
- 1 tsp. instant coffee (optional)
- 1/2 cup rum (light or dark)
- For garnish any of the following: dip in melted chocolate chips, chocolate sprinkles, flaked coconut or powdered (icing) sugar mixed with cinnamon. (optional)
Steps
- Assemble the ingredients.
- Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or a microwave on low power. Be very careful if you use a microwave. The chocolate chips tend not to look melted and the tendency is to overheat them. Seven minutes on power level 2 with a stir every few minutes in a standard microwave is sufficient. Cool the chips.
- Cream the margarine or margarine and butter mixture and add to the melted chocolate chips.
- Blend in egg and powdered (icing) sugar, while continually mixing.
- Slowly stir in the rum.
- Pour the mixture into a container with little head space and cover with plastic wrap or a very tight lid. Sealing the container is important if you want to preserve the alcohol. Place the container in the fridge for 3+ hours or until the mixture is solid. You can leave the mixture to chill overnight, if you wish.
- Roll into balls of whatever size you prefer and roll on a plate of garnish to finish them off. You can also serve them plain.
- Store in a closed container in the freezer. You can serve them right from the freezer, since they rarely freeze.
- Finished.
Tips
- If no coating is chosen then it is wise to sit the container of rum balls on some ice or freezer packs to keep them from melting.
- Chocolate sprinkles are a great garnish. You will need 2-3 bags.
- The recipe serves about 10-15 people. The recipe lends itself easily to doubling or tripling for Christmas baking.
- Roll the balls using well-washed hands.
- This Rum ball recipe, a family holiday favorite, was discovered by Paul W. Grignon, who accidentally put too much rum in his time-honored rum ball recipe, very much to the delight of his children.
- Dipping the rum balls in melted unsweetened chocolate creates a hard coating that seals in the rum flavor and prevents them from melting in your hands. The bitterness acts as a wonderful contrast too.
Warnings
- Coddle the egg (put boiling water in a mug and put the egg in it for 5 minutes), if you are worried about the risk of salmonella. It is likely that the amount of alcohol in the recipe should be sufficient to kill any bacteria present.
- A small but rather embarrassing fire can be caused by overheating chocolate chips and may result in hurriedly carrying your smoking microwave to your apartment balcony while you 'entertain' guests.
- You would have to eat many of these to reach the legal blood alcohol limit, but keep moderation in mind if you're mixing your rum balls with other drinks.
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