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No-Bake Cherry Bourbon Balls
John

No-Bake Cherry Bourbon Balls

These decadent No-Bake Cherry Bourbon Balls combine cream cheese, vanilla wafers, pecans, and dried cherries with bourbon, then get coated in rich dark chocolate. Perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges and holiday gifting.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 36 pieces
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 145

Ingredients
  

Base Ingredients
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • 2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
  • 1 cup pecans finely chopped
  • 1 cup dried cherries chopped
  • 3-4 tablespoons bourbon
Chocolate Coating
  • 3 cups dark chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Garnish
  • 36 maraschino cherries whole, for topping

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Microwave-safe bowl
  • Fork for dipping

Method
 

  1. Beat the softened cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
  2. Gradually add vanilla wafer crumbs to the cream cheese, mixing well after each addition to ensure smooth consistency.
  3. Fold in the chopped pecans and dried cherries until evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
  4. Drizzle bourbon over the mixture and stir thoroughly until everything is well combined and holds together when pressed.
  5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of mixture and roll between your palms to form smooth balls.
  6. Place formed balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight for best results.
  7. Combine dark chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
  8. Remove chilled balls from refrigerator. Using a fork, dip each ball into melted chocolate, coating completely. Tap fork gently on bowl edge to remove excess chocolate.
  9. Place chocolate-coated balls back on parchment-lined sheet. Immediately press a whole maraschino cherry on top of each ball while chocolate is still wet.
  10. Allow chocolate coating to set at room temperature for 30 minutes, then refrigerate until serving. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Keep the mixture well chilled between rolling batches for easier handling. The bourbon flavor mellows slightly after a day of storage. For alcohol-free version, substitute bourbon with cherry juice mixed with vanilla extract. These freeze beautifully for up to 3 months.