Vegan Rum Balls
Rum balls would have to be one of my favourite desserts of all time. If a cafe offers rum balls, I will always pick them.
However not many cafes or restaurants do them anymore, or they have something in them that’s not vegan-friendly— it’s usually butter or milk biscuits.
When we were in Zagreb last year in a vegan cafe, they had rum balls in their display window. My jaw just dropped, they looked mouthwatering. They were pretty massive, they looked like a big scoop of ice cream—they called them a choco-rum bomb. It was so rich and so amazing that I came back again to order it the next day. It has inspired me to make a slightly healthier version of the ones that I ate and others that you can find around.
I would struggle to create a recipe for you that uses ingredients that at my core, I don’t agree with or want to encourage you to use in your kitchen.
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While travelling, I’ve also been inspired to recreate a few old classics like tiramisu, sacher torte, vanilla slice and strudel with cherries and cream cheese (which can also be with either poppy seeds or walnuts).
Hope you enjoy this recipe and that it takes you back to a nice warm fuzzy feeling like it did for me.
Rum balls with a healthy twist
These are date rum balls that have had a healthy twist as most rum ball recipes would have condensed milk, biscuits that are full of butter and refined sugar and milk chocolate.
I’ve decided to make these using ingredients like:
- Coconut
- Almonds
- Medjool dates
- Coconut oil
- Cacao powder
- Maple syrup
And of course, like every other rum ball recipe, these have that delicious rum extract added to them.
Can you freeze rum balls?
Yes, you certainly can! If you need it for a gathering, you can make plenty ahead of time and freeze them. Just take them out of the freezer and pop them in your fridge about half an hour to an hour before serving. They are even nice straight from the freezer.
I find that the dates give it that beautiful fudgy consistency and the flavours even intensify. Give it a try if you don’t eat them before they make it to the freezer.
Other vegan sweets, you’ll love:
- Decadent Vegan Chocolate Truffles | 4 Easy Recipes
- No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Mousse Cake
- Thick Italian Vegan Hot Chocolate
- Vegan Baklava
- Easy Vegan Tiramisu
If you try this recipe, let me know! Would love for you to leave a comment and rating below. If you want to go that extra mile, tag us on Instagram or share your photo of the recipe on Pinterest.
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Rum Balls
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 22 balls
Description
These vegan rum balls are decadent and very easy to make that everyone will enjoy as a treat.
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup / 55g shredded or desiccated coconut
- 1 cup / 150g raw almonds
- 10 Medjool dates, pitted
- ¼ cup / 55g coconut oil, melted (measured while solid)
- ½ cup / 50g cacao powder, (extra for rolling)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 ½ tablepoons rum extract
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in food processor using and S blade and blend until the mixture come together. It should stick together well when you pinch it between your fingers.
- Roll into 22 bite sized balls coating with raw cacao powder.
- I like mine after they’ve been in the freezer and sat out for about 5 minutes. They are nice and chewy.
- Diet: Vegan
Hi! I love your recipes! Can I use almond flour instead of whole almonds? Thanks.
Hi Karen, thank you! You certainly can, just add a little less at the beginning as it might be drier. I hope you enjoy them!
Hi, looking forward to making these! Could I make them with normal rum rather than rum extract? I can’t find rum extract anywhere!
That would be fine 🙂 You will, however, need to add more (normal) rum to it. This will make the mix softer (as there is more liquid in it) so just add more desiccated coconut and almonds. Let me know how they turn out!
Hi,
These look delicious ! And I can’t wait to try them for the holidays.
This recipe calls for “10 medjool dates”.
If I used regular pitted dates how much would I need measured by a cup ?
And thanks for this great recipe. ?
I haven’t personally tried it with normal pitted dates but you will need to soften them a little. I would start with about 15-20. To soften them, pour boiling water over them and let them sit for about 10 minutes and drain them really well before use. If the mixture is too wet, add in a little more of the almonds or coconut to absorb the moisture. Let me know how it turns out!
Hi. I was just wondering if I use almonds with the skin on?
Yes you do 🙂
Love Love Love These!
Have made them many times….. always a hit. I’ve been using good quality cocoa powder to finish it up then will switch to cacao powder. Also use real rum! Yum Yum !
Glad you love them! Thanks for leaving a comment 🙂
I tried these at a Christmas gathering recently when you brought them along Ruth, and they were really yummy, thanks for the recipe! These are nicer than traditional rumballs, and more healthy. I was actually a bit surprised to find how good they are!
Sorry only seeing this now! Glad you enjoyed them Leonie 🙂
Thank you so much! My son and I made these for our family Christmas party and they were a huge hit! I’ll definitely be making these again ????
YAY! That’s awesome Sharon! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi,
Just wondering how much cacao to use as it just 1/2, it doesn’t say cup or tbs etc.
Many thanks
Sharon
Hi Sharon, Sorry about that! It’s ½ cup 🙂