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German Rum Balls (Rumkugeln) Recipe

German Rum Balls (Rumkugeln) Recipe


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4.7 from 16 reviews

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Rich chocolate rum balls showcase Germany’s beloved holiday treat with delightful hints of cocoa and rum. Sweet spheres blend ground cookies, cocoa, and rum into festive confections you’ll savor during seasonal celebrations.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 13 ounces (368g) semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1 1/2 cups (170g) almond or hazelnut meal
  • 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (195g) unsalted butter
  • 3 3/4 cups (450g) powdered sugar

Liquid Ingredients:

  • 6 tablespoons dark rum
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Coating Ingredients:

  • Chocolate sprinkles
  • Cocoa powder
  • Coconut
  • Nuts

Instructions

  1. Gently melt chocolate using a double boiler or microwave until smooth and glossy.
  2. In a separate pan, warm butter and gradually incorporate powdered sugar, stirring continuously for 1-2 minutes until the mixture becomes uniform and creamy.
  3. Fold nut meal into the melted chocolate, creating a rich base. Introduce the butter mixture, then blend in rum and vanilla extract, ensuring thorough integration of all components.
  4. While the mixture remains warm, carefully craft compact spheres approximately 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter, maintaining consistent size and shape.
  5. Immediately roll each freshly formed ball through selected coating – such as cocoa powder, chopped nuts, or powdered sugar – ensuring complete coverage while the surface remains slightly warm. Allow rumkugeln to rest and solidify at room temperature, enabling the exterior to set and develop a delicate, uniform texture.

Notes

  • Warming the mixture helps create smoother, easier-to-shape rum balls that hold together perfectly without cracking.
  • Substitute rum with strong coffee or orange juice for non-alcoholic version, ensuring family-friendly treat that retains rich flavor profile.
  • Use gluten-free cookie crumbs or ground almonds instead of traditional ingredients to accommodate dietary restrictions while maintaining delicious texture.
  • Chill mixture briefly if too soft, allowing easier handling and preventing sticky hands during ball formation, which ensures consistent size and appearance.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Rolling
  • Cuisine: German

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 223
  • Sugar: 19g
  • Sodium: 3mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Saturated Fat: 7g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 27g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 31mg