December 28, 2012

Vegan Rum Balls Recipe


I know that it is a little late to be publishing a recipe for rum balls but I just HAVE to show you my mums amazing creation. I really don't think that it has to be Christmas time for you to indulge in the rummy deliciousness of rum balls and you should make them all year round. On Christmas day my mum brought these AMAZING vegan rum balls for us all to eat and omg they are delicious. I think I ate about 10 of them! We had a really nice and relaxing vegan Christmas at the river and we set up a tent and towels and swam all day, used the bodyboards and played volleyball. The weather was so so so so hot and it was lovely to swim around the cool water with the cute little fishies. Instead of doing a massive Christmas lunch we had a really good idea for each of us to bring one salad and then just eat a little bit of everything... with the hot weather, the salads were nice and light so that we could still run around in the sand. Anyway, these rum balls are absolutely amazing because they are nearly made completely from raw fruits and nuts so they are really filling and really dense. So amazing! The only naughty things are the rum and the dark chocolate, but they aren't too naughty... especially for Christmas day. :) 


makes 40 balls


   3 cups dried dates
   4 tablespoons rum
   1 teaspoon vanilla extract
   1/2 cup raw walnuts
   1/2 cup raw cashews
   1 cup raw brazil nuts
   2 cups desiccated coconut (plus more to roll in)
   100g dark 70% cocoa chocolate. melted



  1. In a food processor, add the dates, rum, vanilla extract, walnuts, cashews and brazil nuts and pulse three times or so until roughly chopped.
  2. Drizzle in the melted chocolate and pulse a few more times until the chocolate is evenly combined throughout the mixture and the nuts and fruit are finely chopped.
  3. Spoon out the mixture into a bowl.
  4. Add the coconut to the bowl and stir or use your hands to incorporate the coconut into the rum ball mixture.
  5. Once combined, dampen your hands if needed and use a heaped-tablespoon measure of the mixture and roll it into balls and then into the desiccated coconut. (It should make approximately 40 rum balls.)
  6. Refrigerate for an hour or so to allow them to harden and then eat immediately.

  • Feel free to use any types of nuts that you have on hand... just make sure you use 2 cups of raw nuts. 
  • If you like a more rum-ish taste, add more rum! 
  • If needed, dampen your hands to help roll the mixture.
  • Use a dark chocolate that has 70% or more cocoa content to ensure that dark chocolatey taste. Feel free to add more chocolate if desired. 
  • I think that they taste even BETTER the next day!

  • These look beautiful served in a nice jar or in a cute little box with a little bit of twine.
  • Serve on a large platter with other truffles for that delicious surprise.


The nutrition information above is an approximate guideline. 

21 comments :

  1. Ahh, I can't get over how freakin' adorable your blog is! For realz. And those rum balls sound great, it's awesome having family who makes you vegan treats - my mom is the same way, I'm so spoiled. :) I bet these would be great with Krakken rum (my ultimate fave)!

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    1. Hello Allysia! Heheh thank you :) I know... we really are spoilt. My whole family is vegan so that is a really big plus for me :D They would be amazing with Krakken rum!! Thanks for your comment :3

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  2. Love date truffles and with rum in it, it'll only taste out of the world!

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    1. Hi Chinmayie! I know... they are so delicious :) Thanks!

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  3. I love your blog! And those guinea pigs make my heart melt. Happy new year!

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    1. Hello Ioana! I know... they are the cutest and most lovely family members hehe :) Happy New Year to you too!

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  4. Made this tonight and OMG AMAZING!

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    1. Hi Emily! Thanks for the feedback... glad you liked them :D

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  5. These look AMAZING! Wondering if you can substitute the rum for a little peppermint essence to make them choc-mint balls. Any thoughts?

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  6. Made these for our open house on boxing day, they were a hit! Thanks for sharing this recipe!!

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    1. Hi Connie! I am really happy that you enjoyed them :) We love them too. Hope you had a lovely Christmas day and Boxing Day!

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  7. Thank you, Madison & Jerome! These are utterly scrumptious & I don't feel guilty scoffing them, even between New Year's resolution runs with the hounds, because there's (practically) no sugar & minimal fat. Frankly, I'm shocked that they taste just as good as my very non-vegan old family recipe from which I (thankfully) evolved. I did add 2 more tbspns of rum and one of vanilla essence. I also had to regularly clear dates. from the food processor blade, where they repeatedly lodged, to avoid burning out the motor. Am now keen to try some of your other recipes, & to recommend the site to other vegans & those on the path to veganism. Your graphic design is really cool, too.

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    1. Hi there!! I know what you mean... there is nothing better than a guilt-free treat that is also delicious!! I know... it is crazy how amazing they are for such a healthy treat. Ha ha you sound like me... the more rum the better in rum balls. I love the kick! Oh really? One of my processors does that with dates and the other is fine. It can be annoying. I am so glad that you like Veggieful. Thank you!

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    2. Sorry, had tried not to be 'anonymous' so not sure what happened but trying again. That last batch went down so well - even my dear friend recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (which removes appetite) is enjoying her jar - that I decided to make a second lot. All good except for the dates getting stuck on the processor blade - had to clear it about 15 times! Please tell me which processor doesn't do this so I can compare the design with mine & maybe (eventually) buy one? I notice mine does the same thing with soaked broadbeans in falafel... Well worth the trouble for these rum balls, though!

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    3. Oh I am so glad that you both enjoyed them... especially your friend. I hope she will get better! I use a small herb blender to blend my date balls... like a herb chopper :)

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  8. These are sooooo good

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  9. That look yum. I have some Raw Brazil Nuts left from my last Christmas desert. This year I will try this. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Such a delicious recipe!! My friends devoured them!

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  11. hi there, what kind of rum would you recommend?

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  12. Hi there, what kind of rum would go with this?

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