These Kid Friendly Rum Balls are made without rum and are so simple to make with only 4 ingredients. A great alternative to traditional rum balls and suitable for the little ones.
If you're getting into the Christmas spirit and want to get ahead and start planning your festive treats, check out these delicious Christmas Chocolate Crinkles Cookies or these incredibly easy Almond Florentines!
Getting the kids to help you make delicious holiday recipes can be fun and easy.
Recipes such as these decorated gingerbread cookies are another great way to get the kids involved as you can bake and they can decorate.
Table of Contents
🍫 What Are Kid Friendly Rum Balls?
Kid friendly rum balls are no-bake chocolate, crushed biscuit and coconut balls made without rum and, in my humble opinion, one of the best-tasting treats, ever!
It’s old school flare of using condensed milk to bind the ingredients together is timeless.
🥥 Why You Will Love This Recipe
- 4 ingredients.
- No-bake recipe.
- Made without rum.
- Kid-friendly.
- Make them ahead of time.
- Freezer-friendly.
These easy rum balls can be enjoyed all year round however, during the holiday season and when traditional rum balls are on your mind, get the kids involved with making their very own version of the classic.
They’re also fabulous to pop in their school lunch boxes and don’t forget the adults, you’ll love these too!
📋 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Sweet plain cookies - store-bought any brand of plain sweet cookies such as arrowroot, Marie, or digestive biscuits. To make gluten-free rum balls, use gluten-free plain sweet cookies such as arrowroot biscuits.
- Regular cocoa powder - use unsweetened cocoa powder for baking or Dutch-process cocoa powder. Can be substituted with cacao powder.
- Finely Shredded or Desiccated coconut - use unsweetened coconut.
- Sweetened condensed milk - to make dairy-free rum balls, use sweetened condensed coconut milk which can be found in the supermarket or online.
🥣 Step By Step Instructions (with photos)
Scroll down to the end for the full and detailed recipe card.
Step one: In a high-speed food processor, crush biscuits into a fine crumb.
Step two: Transfer crumbs into a large mixing bowl.
Step three: Add cocoa and shredded coconut. Mix until well combined.
Step four: Pour in condensed milk and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon, until all dry ingredients are coated well. You may like to use your hands for this step!
Step five: Place extra desiccated coconut for rolling in a small bowl and using your hands, pick up 1 tablespoon of mixture and roll into a ball. Then roll in coconut to coat. Place directly into the container where they will be stored. Repeat process.
Step seven: Pop the lid on the container and transfer to refrigerator to chill for 1 hour or until firm. Enjoy!
💭 Tips For Recipe Success
- Don't have a food processor? No problems! Easily crush your biscuits by placing them in a zip-lock bag take a rolling pin and roll it firmly over the biscuits in the bag until they're crushed to a fine crumb.
- After pouring in your condensed milk, I find it easier to get my hands in there and mix it all together rather than using a wooden spoon, which can be time-consuming.
- When rolling your rum balls, pop them straight into your storage container as opposed to a baking sheet. Then place on the lid and refrigerate right away in the container so you can enjoy your rum balls sooner!
⏲️ Storage Instructions
Store rum balls in an airtight container, refrigerated, for 1 week - 10 days.
Make ahead of time by storing them in an airtight container, refrigerated, for 5-7 days before you need them.
Freeze rum balls in sealed zip-lock bags by removing as much air as possible, seal to close, label with the date and recipe name and freeze for up to 2 months. Alternatively, store in a freezer-friendly sealed container and freeze for up to 2 months.
Thaw from frozen in the refrigerator overnight or for several hours until soft enough to bite into. Alternatively, sit them on the counter at room temperature for several hours until thawed.
💬 Recipe FAQ's
I have not tested this recipe with rum however, you can add a few tablespoons of rum until your desired potency. Keep in mind the texture will change with the addition of the rum. Reduce the quantity of the condensed milk if you're adding rum, to make sure your rum balls aren't too soft. They need to hold their shape.
Easily crush your biscuits by placing them in a zip-lock bag and take a rolling pin and roll it firmly over the biscuits in the bag until they're crushed to a fine crumb.
Yes! Simply use gluten-free plain sweet biscuits, such as gluten-free arrowroot biscuits.
Yes, absolutely! Substitute the sweetened condensed milk with sweetened condensed COCONUT milk. Easy!
If you enjoy this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️ star rating and a comment review below. I love to hear what you think and it's much appreciated. Thank you! Your email address will not be published. Sam x
Recipe Card
Kid Friendly Rum Balls
Ingredients
- 250 g store-bought plain sweet cookies, plain arrowroot, Marie or digestive cookies
- 3 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cup unsweetened finely shredded or desiccated coconut
- ¾ cup (210g) sweetened condensed milk
Coating
- ½ cup unsweetened finely shredded or desiccated coconut
Instructions
- In a high-speed food processor, crush biscuits into a fine crumb.
- Transfer crumbs into a large mixing bowl.
- Add cocoa and shredded coconut. Mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.
- Pour over condensed milk and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon until all dry ingredients are coated. TIP: use your hands for easier mixing!
- Place extra shredded coconut for coating in a small bowl and set aside.
- Using your hands, pick up 1 tablespoon of mixture and roll into a ball.
- Roll in coconut until coated. Place directly into the airtight container where they will be stored.
- Repeat process with remaining mixture.
- Pop the lid on the container and transfer to your refrigerator to chill for 1 hour until firm.
- Enjoy!
- Store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for 1 week.
Notes
- Don't have a food processor? No problems! Easily crush your biscuits by placing them in a zip-lock bag take a rolling pin and roll it firmly over the biscuits in the bag until they're crushed to a fine crumb.
- After pouring in your condensed milk, I find it easier to get my hands in there and mix it all together rather than using a wooden spoon, which can be time-consuming.
- When rolling your rum balls, pop them straight into your storage container as opposed to a baking sheet. Then place on the lid and refrigerate right away in the container so you can enjoy your rum balls sooner!
- For detailed storage instructions, please refer to the blog post.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in January 2018. It was republished in December 2022 with new images and helpful information.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!