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Kentucky bourbon balls: round dark chocolate spheres coated in crushed pecans, arranged in a cluster.

Kentucky Bourbon Balls with Pecans and Chocolate

Kentucky bourbon balls pair chopped pecans and Woodford Reserve with butter, powdered sugar, and semi-sweet chocolate. 36 no-bake balls, 140 calories each.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Chill Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 36 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Southern American
Calories: 140
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup pecans chopped (75 g)
  • 3 Tablespoons Woodford Reserve bourbon (45 ml)
  • ¼ cup butter softened (57 g)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar) sifted and measured carefully (360 g)
  • 16 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (Wilton candy melts work best) (454 g)
  • Optional toppings: pecan halves, chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds, cocoa powder, confectioners' sugar, sea salt

Method
 

  1. Place the chopped pecans and bourbon together in a bowl; allow them to steep for 1 hour.
  2. Using an electric mixer, blend the softened butter with the powdered sugar until the mixture becomes smooth.
  3. Fold the steeped pecans and bourbon into the butter-sugar blend and mix until evenly distributed.
  4. Refrigerate the mixture for 1 hour to firm it up.
  5. Shape the chilled mixture into 1-inch balls and arrange them on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
  6. Microwave the chocolate in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until fully melted. Spear each bourbon ball with a fork, submerge it in the melted chocolate to coat entirely. Let the ball hover above the chocolate for a few seconds so excess coating drips away. Return it to the waxed paper to set completely. If adding a pecan half, nuts, or salt, press the garnish onto the ball right away before the chocolate sets and hardens.