Mint Julep Balls

Name: Mint Julep Balls (No-Bake Bourbon Candy)
Prep time: 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 cup crumbled vanilla wafers; 1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus additional for dusting; 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa; 1 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans; 1/4 cup bourbon (see Note); 1 1/2 tablespoon light corn syrup; 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

Mint Julep Balls are no-bake bourbon-infused candies combining vanilla wafers, walnuts, and peppermint extract into light, sweet truffles. They're ideal for Kentucky Derby celebrations and yield about three dozen pieces per batch.

Total

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$16–$26

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Mrfood

Ingredients

2 cup crumbled vanilla wafers
1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus additional for dusting
2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
1 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans
1/4 cup bourbon (see Note)

1 1/2 tablespoon light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

7 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
In a large bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, 1 cup confectioners' sugar, the cocoa, and nuts until well mixed. Add the bourbon, corn syrup, and peppermint extract and mix with your hands until the mixture holds together.
2
Form the mixture into 1-inch balls then dust with additional confectioners' sugar. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Chill the mixture at least 1 hour before rolling—this prevents stickiness and makes shaping uniform balls easier.
Pulse vanilla wafers in a food processor to ensure fine, even crumbs; overly chunky wafers create loose, crumbly balls.
Dust balls with confectioners' sugar immediately after rolling; the sugar adheres better to slightly tacky surfaces.
Roll balls between your palms quickly to avoid warmth from your hands softening the mixture; work in batches and re-chill if needed.

Substitutions

Vanilla wafers → graham crackers (yields more robust texture; reduce corn syrup by 1/2 tablespoon)
Walnuts or pecans → finely chopped almonds (note: almond flavor will be noticeable; reduces overall richness)
Peppermint extract → 1/2 teaspoon mint liqueur (note: reduces bourbon amount by 1 tablespoon to maintain consistency)