Rum Balls, called Rumkugeln in German, come in two variations. The smaller ones wich are like rum truffles, known everywhere in Germany and the large ones, known in the North. Rumkugeln are a very delicious treat and once you had one, you always want more!
My mum could never resist those large rum balls from the bakery and that’s no surprise. While being so large that one can barely handle to eat it all, they are the perfect mix of sweet, chocolate, and alcohol. The same applies to the smaller version. They are just sooooo gooood!!!
How to make Rum Truffles & Rum Balls Video
Two Kinds of Rum Balls
The small version is like rum truffles. They are mostly made with butter, sugar, chocolate, and rum. The larger rum balls are quite different. Besides having the size of a snowball, they are usually made from leftover cake. Now, you probably know cake pops and might think “I know that!” but still there is a difference. The large version from the bakery is made with cake – usually leftover cake.
The Cake for large Rum Balls
You can either wait until you have a leftover chocolate cake or simply bake one. I actually used a cake mix. Then, if possible, let the cake be one or two days old so it will better soak in the liquid. If you can’t wait, cut the cake into slices and let those dry out for some hours.
Cooling Times
Both versions have cooling times. Please stick to those times so the mass can settle. I actually also keep the finished rum balls in the fridge since I like them cool.
The Booze
As mentioned in the recipe details, the rum should have 40%, that’s when it tastes best. If you can’t get a 40% rum, use what you can get or what you usually have.
Which Chocolate to use
Use a good brand of chocolate to have the balls taste best! Also, don’t use the chocolate bark stuff that they sell here in the US, that is not really chocolate. I like to use chocolate from Lindt for this recipe.
Word of Warning
There are four tablespoons of rum in each of both recipes. That sounds like “not much”. That said, please keep in mind that even a small amount of alcohol can have effects on your body. It might influence your judgment or ability to drive etc.. Also, don’t let these delicious sweets get into your kid’s mouth! Though my mom gave me a bite of it, I recommend not doing so. After all, you might not want to share it anyway!
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Rum Balls – small
Ingredients
- 100 g Butter unsalted, soft
- 100 g Confectioners Sugar
- 200 g Milkchocolate choose good brand
- 100 g dark Chocolate choose good brand
- 4 tbsp. Rum 40% or some Rum Extract
- 1 package Chocolate Sprinkles
Instructions
- Whipp the butter until fluffy.
- Sift the confectioners sugar and add it to the butter and mix.
- Put both chocolates into a bowl, set the bowl on top of a saucepan with very hot water (without bowl touching the water) and let it melt.
- Let the molten chocolate cool to room temperature.
- Add the chocolate to the butter and mix well.
- Add the rum to the mass.
- Put it into the fridge for 1 to 2 hours.
- Use a small spoon to scoop portions and shape balls of the size of a hazlenut.
- Roll each ball in the chocolate sprinkles, then put back into the fridge for another hour.
- Enjoy!
Bakery Rum Balls
Ingredients
- 400 g Chocolate Cake not fresh
- 4 tbsp. Rum 40%, or some Rum Extract
- 2 tbsp. Orange Juice
- 100 g Chocolate chose a good brand
- 100 g Chocolate Sprinkles
Instructions
- Crumble the Cake into a bowl.
- Add the Rum and Orange Juice, mix well and let sit for ½ hour or overnight.
- Melt the chocolate in a bowl, placed above a saucepan with hot water, without the bowl touching the water.
- Add the molten chocolate to the cake-rum mass and mix well.
- Shape snowball sized balls and roll them in the chocolate sprinkles until completely covered.
- Let cool in the fridge for another 2 hours.
- Enjoy!
Can’t wait to try both versions! Thanks for including the options for US or metric and for changing quantities!!
Hi, thank you for sharing this recipe. i have been looking for one that uses cakes and melted chocolates instead of wafer or biscuits and cocoa powder cos i am clearing my near expiring chocolates ?. For the bakery version, instead of orange juice, can i use milk? If not, what else can i substitute it with? How about apple juice? Thank you.
I think the acid in the orange juice helps a little with keeping the rum balls fresh and from molding, so milk or apple juice don’t have that benefit. But if you are eating it very soon anyway, maybe give it a shot?
I’ve made both the bakery version and the little ones. They are absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for sharing these recipes. They are addictive, once you try one you can’t stop eating them. I’m making another batch this weekend! ??
Yes, I hear you! Can’t stop once you had one :-)
Can you please do chocolate cake recipe and thanks for all your recipes i enjoy trying them easy to understand
Sara, there are so many different chocolate cakes, is there a specific one you are referring to? Did you already check out the chocolate cake recipes that are already on the blog?
Hey!
Thanks for sharing this recipe, I am so excited to try it! For the truffle/chocolate style rum balls, that call for 100g of Milk Chocolate and 50g of Dark Chocolate, can I just use 150g semi-sweet chocolate? It is good quality, I use it for all of my baking, and I already have some but I don’t have the milk/dark.
Thanks for your help! I’ll let you know how it turns out!
It could work. I think it’s important that the chocolate will not be soft after it has cooled. Often, chocolate has too much cocoabutter in it and will be too soft but if your chocolate is of good quality, I think it will work.
I grew up and lived in Hamburg and loved Rumkugeln as a child and adult.
Thanks so much for the recipe, cannot wait to make it.
Yet I know how important the delicious chocolate streusels are. Where can you find it here in the States ?
Thanks and I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying your recipes.
Wie ein Gruss aus der Heimat !!!
Tschuess
Renate
Moin Renate,
I usually get the chocolate sprinkles at my grocery but I know that Walmart carries them and you might also get them at Michaels or Jo-Anns in the cake decoration section. I hope you’ll find them so you can enjoy the Rumkugeln soon!
Liebe Grüße aus Houston,
Barbara
Yummy. Sharing this with my sister who has a German husband, who still prefers the peanut flips so much so his brother ships it to him. She will enjoy preparing this dessert, as sis is a good home chef. Thank you Mam.
I love peanut flips, too! ?
I will definitely make these. They look delicious and don’t seem to be too hard to make. I love your recipes. Please keep making them. Sabine
Thank you very much for this recipe! My grandmother sent me a package of these every Christmas… my own special treat. ❤️❤️❤️