Pecan Pie Balls – dangerously delicious!! I could eat the whole batch! Great for parties, tailgating, and homemade gifts! Pecans, graham crackers, brown sugar, maple syrup, butter, vanilla, and chocolate candy coating. Can add bourbon to the pecan mixture for a boozy treat. A MUST for your holiday cookie tray! #candy #pecans #dessert #truffles
No-Bake Pecan Pie Truffles
Now that we got Thanksgiving out of the way we can move on to Christmas! These Pecan Pie Balls are a MUST for your holiday cookie tray. These things are SOOOO good! They taste just like pecan pie. The chocolate candy coating really puts these Pecan Balls over the top!
How to Make Maple Pecan Balls
These candy balls are very easy to make. Start with chopping the pecans. Once you have the pecans chopped, mix the pecans with some graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, maple syrup, melted butter, and vanilla. Form the pecan mixture into balls and place them in the freezer. Freezing the balls will make them easier to dip in the chocolate.
- I put my pecans in a food processor and pulsed them a couple of times. You want the pecans in very small pieces.
- If you want to make Bourbon Pecan Balls, swap some of the maple syrup for bourbon.
- For the chocolate coating, I used chocolate almond bark. Feel free to swap the almond bark for melted chocolate chips or chocolate bars. Add some shortening to the chips or chocolate bars to make the chocolate mixture smoother.
- You can also dip the balls in white almond bark or melted white chocolate.
- If you don’t have maple syrup, you can substitute Karo Syrup.
- Decorate the balls with any color sprinkles – Christmas, Valentine’s, birthday sprinkles, or your favorite team colors.
- This recipe makes about 3 or 4 dozen, depending on how big you make the balls.
- Store the candy in an air-tight container.
- This candy can be easily frozen, stored in the refrigerator, or at room temperature if you’ll be eating them within a day or two.
- The candy balls will last about a month in an air-tight container stored in the refrigerator.
Please continue to Next Page (>) for the full list of ingredients and complete cooking instructions.
Serves: 24 balls
Ingredients
2 1/2 c pecans, toasted and chopped
1 c graham crackers, crushed (vanilla wafers, Oreos can be subbed if you do not like graham crackers)
1 c brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 tsp salt (if you can not handle the sodium, don’t use it!)
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1/4 c bourbon, brandy or spiced rum. non alcoholic version: use almond extract, rum extract, or any other that may suit your taste. add a little water/juice to equal the liquid amount.
1 tsp vanilla
7 oz dark chocolate bark. If you prefer white chocolate…go for it!
1 tsp coarse sea salt (optional)
Directions
1. Combine first four ingredients in large bowl.
2. Add maple syrup, bourbon, and vanilla.
3. Use your hands to make sure all the ingredients are mixed thoroughly. Almond extract can be subbed for non-alcohol version… add water to equal liquid amount. You can also try non-alcohol rum flavoring.
4. Form balls by scooping a tablespoon size amount of mixture.
5. Roll in hands to form balls.
6. Place balls on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place cookie sheet in the freezer for 2 hrs. Tip: After all balls are made, roll balls again with slightly water damped hands. This will make balls smooth before dipping in chocolate.
7. Melt chocolate bark in a double boiler or microwave per directions on package.
8. Dip frozen balls into chocolate.
Pecan Pie Balls
9. Then place on the parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
10. Optional: Sprinkle a few grains of coarse sea salt on balls before the chocolate sets.
11. These freeze well. Take out of the freezer and let sit for 15 minutes. They are also good frozen!
Last Step: Don’t forget to share!