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This recipe for Eggnog Bourbon Balls is easy and extremely addictive. It was hard to eat just one.
My kitchen has been turning out deliciousness like a well oiled machine over the past week or so. Sweet treats, candies & of course cookies. It’s the holiday way, isn’t it? I wish I had the ability to buy my friends and neighbors a special gift, but a plate of homemade goodies is the easiest and most economical way to show them that I care and that they are thought of during the busy holiday season.
Ingredients in Eggnog Bourbon Balls
Vanilla Wafers – crushed up vanilla wafer cookies are the perfect carrier for bourbon and cocoa.
Sugar – powdered confectioners sugar.
Pecans – ground pecans add depth of flavor and texture.
Bourbon – make sure you use a decent quality bourbon for this recipe. You’ll taste it in the candy, so you don’t want to use anything too inexpensive.
Cocoa Powder – adds a touch of chocolatey goodness to these bourbon balls.
Corn Syrup – light corn syrup will help hold the cookie and nut mixture together giving you a truffle-like consistency.
Candy Melts – you can purchase candy melts at stores like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, cake decorating shops, or Amazon.
Spices – ground nutmeg gives the white candy melts the hint of eggnog. You could also add a touch of eggnog flavoring if you want a more intense eggnog flavor.
You know I love my bourbon which is evidenced by some of my favorite recipes like Fresh Peach Old Fashioned, Bacon Bourbon AperitifandPumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta. And what goes better with Bourbon during the holidays than Eggnog? Nothing, if your name is Heather! They are SUPER easy to make and if you let them “marry” for a couple of days you just might get a buzz from eating a couple. So here’s my public service announcement: Don’t eat bourbon balls and drive. The end. 🙂
In a medium bowl, add the ground wafer cookies, powdered sugar, pecans and cocoa powder. Stir to combine well. Add the bourbon and corn syrup and stir until the mixture comes together and is well incorporated.
Using a small hinged scoop or a teaspoon, make balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining mixture and place the baking sheet in the freezer for 20 minutes.
Using a double boiler, add the candy melts to the top and melt slowly. Stir the candy melts just to combine and add 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Drop one chilled bourbon ball in the candy mixture using a fork flip it over to coat. Tap the fork on the side of the double boiler to remove excess candy and place back on the parchment lined baking sheet.
Sprinkle the wet candy with a tiny pinch of ground nutmeg. Repeat with the remaining bourbon balls. Refrigerate or consume immediately.
Heather is a recipe developer and content creator living in Vancouver, Washington. She started Farmgirl Gourmet in 2006, almost 20 years ago, as a way to share recipes with friends and family. Heather is also the co-founder of Spiceology , a unique spice company, which she started in 2013. She shares family friendly recipes for easy everyday meals with a gourmet twist.
While brandy is the most traditional alcohol to pair with eggnog, according to traditional recipes, you can also use a mixture of dark rum and Cognac. If you like your eggnog with more of a kick you can also add bourbon, but we recommend sticking to rum and Cognac to preserve the 'nog's flavors.
Tasting Notes: Bulleit is know for its pronounced caramel, toasted oak, and dried fruit nuances. Why It Pairs Well: Age is everything for Bulleit 10 Year's strengths. The spicy undertones of this aged bourbon add depth, contrasting and enhancing the creaminess of eggnog.
"When choosing a rum, I personally find a spiced rum to be the best for the flavors incorporated in eggnogs," he said. "Chairman's Reserve Spiced Rum is best for its quality and flavor profile.”
For the brandy eggnog, Korbel VS was the brand of choice, and it produced a perfectly balanced drink. This eggnog had a nice sweetness in every sip, which paired admirably with the creamy egg base.
Eggnog: You'll need 6 ounces of eggnog (homemade or store-bought) to make a single serving of bourbon eggnog. Bourbon: Add 1 ½ ounces of bourbon to your nog for a boozy, vanilla, caramel taste. Cinnamon and nutmeg: Add just a pinch of each spice to enhance the flavors already present in the eggnog.
If stored correctly, eggnog liqueur should keep for several months after it is opened. To preserve its quality, it must be kept firmly sealed and chilled. Look for any special instructions from the manufacturer on the label, and pay attention to any changes in flavour or smell since these may be signs of spoiling.
The more liquor you add, the longer it will keep — non-alcoholic eggnog should be consumed within 1 day; eggnog with 1/2 to 1 cup of liquor will keep for several days; and eggnog with 1 1/2 cups of liquor will keep for several weeks and continue aging and thickening quite nicely.
Drizzle a little chocolate sauce into the shaker with the eggnog for a chocolate eggnog. Add a splash of vanilla or almond extract, or turn your eggnog into an iced eggnog latte by pouring a shot of espresso into the shaker. Either way, you'll feel the spirit of the holidays!
If you over-cook the eggnog, it'll thicken too much (like custard). And if you're cooking it to be food-safety conscious, then you'll want to ensure that you reach your desired temperature. Again, I highly recommend using a digital thermometer.
Whiskey and bourbon are also great matches for this subtly spiced sip. Both of these spirits work well with holiday flavors like vanilla and spice, so adding a dram to your mug of eggnog is as natural as pairing peppermint with chocolate. Be sure to use a good whiskey that you enjoy sipping on its own.
If you're looking for a traditional approach, spike store-bought eggnog using your favorite liquor like brandy, bourbon, or rum. This super-simple recipe makes six 6½-ounce servings.
Rum – I like dark rum in eggnog (Myers's is what I usually buy), but spiced rum would also be fabulous. Whiskey – I typically use Crown Royal, but use what you like or keep on hand.
The amount of alcohol put in eggnog has no written rule, but it tastes best with 1 part spirit for every 5 parts eggnog. The alcohol takes away the rich and sweet taste of the eggnog, so if you're looking for a more bitter drink you can add extra alcohol.
Fireball eggnog may become one of your new favorite Christmas drinks. The popular cinnamon whiskey is a fantastic base for this classic holiday co*cktail. It gives eggnog a touch of warm spice, subtle sweetness, and an inviting aroma that's sure to put everyone in a festive mood.
Southern Comfort (often abbreviated SoCo) is an American, naturally fruit-flavored, whiskey liqueur with fruit and spice accents. The brand was created by bartender Martin Wilkes Heron in New Orleans in 1874, using whiskey as the base spirit. Whiskey was replaced by a neutral spirit under the ownership of Brown–Forman.
Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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