These are some of my earliest Christmas memories…  Aunt Dolores made these every year, and we’ve taken over the tradition. I think she added a *bit* more rum in them than the recipe calls. They’re great made with Meyer’s Rum or Jack Daniel’s.

You can also use different cookies other than vanilla wafers.  We’ve used ginger snaps, chocolate cookies, graham crackers… It’s pretty limitless, and each one creates its own special flavor!

Quite a while back, we went full-on chocolate cookies with some dark chocolate and lots of cocoa. We also process the nuts almost to a nut butter consistency and then dip in chocolate – they are a Rum Ball Truffle!

Here’s auntie’s original recipe. Have fun with it!

• 1 cup ground vanilla wafers
• 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
• 1 cup chopped nuts – pecans or walnuts
• 2 tbsp cocoa
• 1 1/2 tbsp white corn syrup
• 1/4 cup rum or bourbon

Mix all ingredients. Mix syrup with bourbon.  Mix with fork. Roll into ball – then roll in powdered sugar. Store in tight container. Put wax paper in between layers.