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Saturday, December 8, 2012

Amazing Almond Rum Balls



 
Dear Red Couch Readers, it is that wonderful time of year, when your mind turns to dreams of making sweets for your loved ones.  You go through old magazines and recipe files, and with the advent of Pinterest, you pour over the Pinterest boards.  You think of these treats  as you lie in bed, drive in traffic, or take a shower!   Maybe this will be the year that you try making Venetian Bars or Linzer Cookies, or that smashing new fudge?
 
I have a new sweet for your to put on your list and make -- Almond Rum Balls.
 


 These rum balls are really dream-worthy.  Now these rum balls are not just your everyday kind of candy you make at Christmas.  This is the kind of candy that you bring out or give to your "bestest" loved ones and friends.  They have an amazing flavor and I love the crunch of biting into them and breaking the chocolate around the rum center.  The rum center is so addictive.
 
 
 
My favorite candy to make at Christmas is my husband's Grandma Utahna Felix's Vintage Toffee recipe.  I have made up to 24 batches at Christmas before.  You can find the recipe and directions to make this amazing toffee here, but these rum balls are a close second.
 
 
  
I am not a chocolate dipping queen like my sister Jacqueline at Purple Chocolate Home.  If you are like me, a non-chocolate dipping queen,  these are the perfect chocolates for your to make.  This is Jacqueline's recipe, and it is so good!  Thanks for this yummy recipe Jacqueline.  If you are a chocolate dipping queen like Jacqueline, you can find more precise directions for using tempered chocolate in this recipe on her blog.
 



 The recipe for the rum balls is fairly simple.
 
Almond Rum Balls Recipes
 
4 cups confectioner's sugar
1 cup softened butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14-Ounce)
1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1/2 teaspoon rum extract
 
1-2 cups dipping chocolate -- I use good quality milk chocolate chips.
3-4 cups chopped and toasted almonds or pecans -- you can quickly whir them in a food processor or blender. Today I used pecans, other days I have used almonds.  I prefer the taste of pecans.  To toast, spread nuts over a jelly roll pan and bake for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees.  Watch carefully, as they can burn easily.  Cool, then whirl the nuts in a blender.
 
 To make the almond-rum centers, put  the sugar, butter, sweetened condensed milk, and the extracts.in a large bowl in a mixer and mix well.  Store covered in the fridge overnight. 
 
Take the mixture you have refrigerated over night and make into small balls, less than one-inch (1/2-inch to 3/4-inch) in diameter.  Put a bit of flour on your hands to try to control the stickiness of the almond rum mixture.  Store the balls in fridge for an hour or so so that they are firm when you  are dipping them in chocolate.  You could also freeze the rum centers so they are easier to dip.
 
 
In large medium bowl, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, in 10 second increments, being very careful not to burn the chocolate.  After each 10 seconds in the microwave, be sure to stir the chocolate as the chocolate is most likely melted more than you think.  Let the chocolate cool a bit before you dip the rum centers in the chocolate.  Jacqueline says that the chocolate should be cool when you place a tad bit on your bottom lip.  Dip the rum centers, and then try to flick off , with quick switches of your wrist, as much chocolate as you can.  If the chocolate gets hard while you are dipping, just reheat it in the microwave.
 

 
 
The nuts pictured below were hand-cut.  The rum balls pictured above had nuts whirred in the blender. 
  
 
Roll the chocolate-covered rum ball in the chopped nuts.  Then store the chocolate and nut crusted rum ball in the fridge.
 
 
 
This is a picture of the rum balls made with larger nut pieces.
 
 
 
 
Store all of the rum balls in the fridge until you give them away.  You should also give instructions to the happy recipient that the rum balls should be stored in the fridge.  Pack some up in pretty tissue and give them to a loved one.  The silver jingle bells have magnets attached, and are a little "happy" I am including in my Christmas goodies this year. 
 
 
 
On a Christmas side note, we have a huge basket of Christmas books in our Red Room.  I caught my 16 year-old reading a Christmas children's book to my 12-year old today.  As soon as I grabbed my camera, they hid.  Now of course my younger daughter can read, in fact she is a great reader, but since they were little my older daughter has read to her.    Sometimes they switch off reading.  they are just like me; I love children's books. 
 
Don't you just love the Christmas season?
 
 
 
 
I hope you are having fun in all your preparations for Christmas.  Thanks for dropping by the Couch.
 
Posted with the following:
 
 
 
 
 
 

12 comments:

  1. A very tasty treat. (I should know I had five of them.) :)
    The soft, yummy inside mixed with the crunchy, nutty outer area made a good combination and rewarding results!! Good job
    Your daughter,
    Talley
    P.S. I'm hoping for these to be made again in our home. ;)

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  2. Oh, these are tempting, Joni. I don't make candy very often because I can't leave it alone when I do. These rum balls would be such a pretty addition to a cookie tray. I hope you and your family have a very happy holiday.

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  3. Rum Balls are a must have on our Christmas baking list and I usually make a few different varities each year. Your recipe sounds delicious!

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  4. We made a triple batch on Friday and dipped on Saturday! Shaunna came and helped because she wanted some of these. We also dipped 8 other centers. We dipped for 4 hours. My pictures aren't anywhere near as pretty as yours though! These look fabulous!

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  5. Oh my goodness, Joni, these sound amazing! I really want to try the English toffee recipe, too. I love Christmas children's books, too!!

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  6. Oh, yummy! These sound delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe with us. I, also, am not a good chocolate dipper...it looks like you used a spoon to dip the centers in the chocolate. Do you ever stab the centers with a skewer and dip them that way? Just needing tips 'cause I AM planning on making some.

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  7. These look intincing, but given my penchant for all things caramel and toffe, I am on the hunt for your Grandma Utahna Felix's English Toffee recipe! I didn't know you and Jacqueline are sisters! I must be living under a rock. Dianne

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  8. HI Joni, oh boy these look and sound SO good!!! Thanks for the recipe. I am not a chocolate dipping queen either. In fact, not a baker at all:):) XO, Pinky

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  9. I love rum balls, Joni - so I'm definitely going to try out your recipe! Thanks for sharing it! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  10. Hi Joni,
    What a great collection of goodies. Hope you are having a great week and thanks for sharing.
    Miz Helen

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  11. These look delicious! I am going to a nibble type party next week and looking for something different to bring. I think these are a huge contender.

    I was just going down your sideboard looking at your other stuff from posts past. If I can't find something delicious here or at Singing With Birds, I can't find it anywhere.

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  12. I was lucky enough to get a tin full of these delivered to my house while I was away. What a wonderful surprise to come home to! They were so good Joni. I'm glad you posted the recipe because I need to make more. You were right when you said they were addicting. Thanks for sharing them with us!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! I do appreciate your kind words. I am sorry, but I was forced to eliminate anonymous comments.