Bourbon balls took their place as one of the South’s favorite candies shortly after the Second World War and are an extremely popular Christmas treat throughout the region, but especially in Kentucky. They can also be made with rum and called “Tipsy Balls.”

3 cups vanilla wafer crumbs (12-oz. box)
1 cup ground pecans
1 cup powdered sugar or sweetened cocoa
3 tablespoons corn syrup
1/2 cup good quality bourbon

In a 2-quart mixing bowl, blend together cookie crumbs, pecans and sugar. Combine corn syrup and bourbon and add to dry ingredients; mix thoroughly..

Form into balls about an inch in diameter and roll in
powdered sugar.

For variety, use chocolate wafers instead of vanilla wafers or roll in ground pecans instead of powdered sugar. orange juice may be substituted for the bourbon for children and those who can’t or don’t use alcohol. It is best to make several batches instead of multiplying the recipe as the mixture tends to dry out when made in large quantities.

Yield: about 40 pieces

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