This Is The Most Searched Christmas Candy Recipe In The South
Can you guess what it is?
Southerners are the best Christmas candy makers. When the days turn colder, the candy thermometers come out, and the sweet world of holiday confections comes to life. And while you might think that classic Southern candies like divinity, pralines, or fudge might claim the top spot in the list of sought-after Christmas candies, you may be surprised that the most searched Southern Christmas candy is decidedly more decadent—rum balls!
It doesn’t surprise me, honestly. When I was growing up, there was one particularly kind and gracious lady at our church who made rum balls—and she always let me have one or two! Kaye Schloemer’s rum balls were a big hit at holiday parties and potlucks—sweet, bite-sized, and just a little bit naughty!
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Why Southerners Love Rum Balls
Unlike more complicated recipes that require special equipment like a candy thermometer and being chained to the stove to ensure perfection, rum balls are blissfully easy to prepare. So easy, in fact, that there’s zero cooking involved—just stir the ingredients together, roll the mixture into balls, and coat them with whatever your heart desires.
Our recipe uses a food processor to crush the cookies and finely chop the pecans, but you can easily crush the cookies by popping them in a ziplock bag and bashing them with a rolling pin.
Can You Make Rum Balls Without Alcohol?
Whether you’re being respectful of adults who don’t imbibe or children who shouldn’t, everyone can still enjoy rum balls! Substitute the alcohol with an equal amount of apple cider, plus 2 teaspoons of rum extract or vanilla extract to mimic the classic rum ball flavor.
Can You Get Intoxicated From Eating Rum Balls?
Technically, yes, if you were eating them like you were going for the gold in the National Hot Dog Eating Contest. It’s more likely that you’ll get a tummy ache before you catch a buzz from binging rum balls. We recommend moderation, especially because there are so many other delicious Southern holiday desserts to save room for!
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Read the original article on Southern Living.
