History

Bourbon balls were created by Ruth Hanly Booe at the Rebecca Ruth Candy shop in Frankfort in 1938, the year before bourbon became the official Derby drink. Booe's original combined chocolate, butter, sugar and a generous splash of Kentucky bourbon with a pecan topping. The candy became a Kentucky Derby gift tradition. Muth's Candies and Cellar Door Chocolates in Louisville both produce hand-rolled bourbon balls each Derby season, with peak production from Thanksgiving through May.

Common allergens: Dairy, Tree nuts

Make it at home

Yield Makes 36 bourbon ballsHands-on 30 minTotal 2 hrDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 200g pecan halves, finely chopped
  • 120ml Kentucky bourbon
  • 115g unsalted butter, softened
  • 450g icing sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 350g semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
  • 36 pecan halves for topping

Method

  1. Combine chopped pecans and bourbon in a bowl. Let soak overnight at room temperature, covered.
  2. Beat the softened butter until fluffy in a stand mixer. Add icing sugar, vanilla and salt; beat until smooth.
  3. Strain the soaked pecans, reserving 2 tbsp of the bourbon. Beat the pecans and reserved bourbon into the butter mixture.
  4. Chill the mixture 30 minutes until firm enough to roll.
  5. Roll into 36 balls (around 2cm each). Place on a parchment-lined tray. Chill 30 more minutes.
  6. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave on low.
  7. Dip each ball into the chocolate, fully coating. Top each with a pecan half.
  8. Return to the parchment tray. Chill 30 minutes until set. Store covered.

Tip from the editors. Use a decent Kentucky bourbon; the flavour comes through. Don't substitute lower-quality whiskey or you'll taste the difference.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat bourbon balls

Bourbon balls in Louisville

Muth's Candies ★ 4.7

Why locals love it: Locals send tourists to Whiskey Row; insiders walk three blocks south to Muth's, the 1921 confectioner where modjeskas are still rolled by hand.

Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Modjeska is the heritage candy: caramel marshmallow.

630 East Market Street, Louisville, KY 40202

More cities are in research. Want bourbon balls covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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