Bourbon Balls for Derby Day

We had no real vested interested in the Kentucky Derby held this evening, certainly no money on any horse, but it's always fun to watch and to live vicariously through the partiers who are there in person.

 I made a batch of Bourbon Balls to help celebrate. They are traditionally a Christmas treat, but because they are so delicious, and since bourbon is the best known Kentucky beverage, why not enjoy them on Derby Day...chewy, sweet, and with just a little bite from good Kentucky bourbon. I used some good Wild Turkey American Honey.

The base of bourbon balls is almost always crushed vanilla wafers. I didn't really use a recipe and it's not rocket science, so just estimate until you get a mixture that holds together when you squeeze it in your hands. You can roll them in powdered sugar like I did, or crushed nuts, cocoa, or dip them in melted chocolate. We have a nut allergy in our home, so I substitute additional vanilla wafers for the chopped nuts.

 Bourbon Balls 

makes about 20

 3 cups crushed vanilla wafers (I just poured the entire box into the food processor -- you can substitute one cup finely chopped nuts -- pecans or walnuts -- for one cup of cookie crumbs)

1/2 cup powdered sugar

3 T. cocoa

2 T. light Karo syrup

5 T. bourbon (more if needed to get the right consistency)

After processing the cookies, add powdered sugar and cocoa to cookies in bowl of food processor. Pulse a few times. Add Karo syrup and pulse a few times. Drizzle in bourbon and pulse until mixture sticks together. Form into balls about the size of cherries. Roll in powdered sugar like I did, or crushed nuts, cocoa,or melted chocolate.




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