These gluten free rum balls are celebration cake balls with rich gluten free chocolate cake with gf rum added, and dipped in a rich chocolate glaze. Make them without the rum for an alcohol free treat, or make it just for the grown ups!
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Gf rum balls are for celebrations
Now I haven't seen midnight on New Year's Eve in approximately 100 years (I was never one for big, splashy parties), but as a dyed in the wool morning person, I do love a fresh start.
So the “eve” isn't really for me, but the day? I'm all for it. Either way, this is a big wide world, filled with all kinds of people.
I submit that these gluten free rum balls are for all sorts, whether you love the “eve,” the “day” or just can't wait for this whole mess to pass so we can get on with it.
They're super easy to make (it's basically a moist brownie baked to be crumbled, kind of like a cake pop), rich and deliciously chocolatey, and undeniably festive. Did I mention that they can be made in stages—and way ahead of time?
What gluten free cake base do you use for making these gf rum balls?
You can really use any of my gluten free brownie recipes for the chocolate-cake base you crumble up (you could even make them grain-free if you use my Super Fudgy Paleo Brownies), but the recipe as written is the way I'd go (well, the way I did go).
It makes for the softest, most moist centers that hold together in rum balls like they were born for it.
Is it easy to make gluten free rum balls?
Yes! The steps are dead simple, but I thought you might like to see what they look like crumbled up, then rolled into balls before they're dipped in chocolate.
Can you make these gluten free rum balls without any alcohol?
Yes! If you would like to try to make these rum balls completely alcohol-free, try using water in place of the rum in equal measure, but try adding alcohol-free rum extract, to taste.
Made as is, these gf rum balls were completely off-limits for my children (pout all you want kids, but I won't budge!), and of course if you're in recovery or making them for someone else who is, these wouldn't be appropriate.
Is rum gluten free?
Yes, pure rum, without flavorings or additives, is gluten free. You can use anything from dark rum to light rum, depending upon your taste preference.
Gluten free rum balls recipe
Gluten Free Rum Balls
These gluten free rum balls are celebration cake balls with rich gluten free chocolate cake with gf rum added, and dipped in a rich chocolate glaze. Make them without the rum for an alcohol free treat, or make it just for the grown ups!
Yield: 24 rum balls
Ingredients
For the rum balls
- 6 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chopped
- 5 tablespoons (70 g) unsalted butter chopped
- 3 ounces sour cream at room temperature (you can try Greek yogurt instead)
- ¾ cup (105 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend (I have both my Better Than Cup4Cup blend once and Better Batter—both worked great)
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs at room temperature, beaten
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- ¼ cup (2 fluid ounces) gluten free rum (See Recipe Notes)
For the chocolate glaze
- 12 ounces dark chocolate chopped
- 3 tablespoons (42 g) virgin coconut oil (or Spectrum nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening)
Instructions
Make the rum balls cake.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a half sheet pan (13-inches x 18-inches x 1-inch) with unbleached parchment paper, and set it aside.
- If you don’t have a half sheet pan, use any shallow baking pan(s) with low sides so you can spread out the batter into a layer about 1/2-inch thick. If the pan is not large enough, try using multiple pans.
- In a small, heat-safe bowl, place the chopped chocolate and butter, and place over a pan of simmering (not boiling) water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water.
- Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove the bowl and set it aside to cool briefly.
- Add the sour cream to the melted chocolate mixture, and mix to combine.
- In a large bowl, place the flour blend, xanthan gum, salt, and granulated sugar, and whisk to combine well.
- Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, add the eggs and vanilla, and mix to combine.
- Add the melted chocolate and butter mixture, and mix again to combine. The batter should be thick but smooth.
- Scrape the batter onto the prepared pan and spread into an even layer about 1/2-inch thick with a wet spatula.
- Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake just until set in the center, about 13 minutes.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes or until no longer hot to the touch.
Make the rum balls.
- Line a separate rimmed baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper and set it aside.
- Crumble the cooled cake into a large bowl. Add the cream cheese and the rum, and mix to combine.
- The mixture should hold together well when squeezed in your hands. Divide it into 24 portions and roll each tightly into a ball between moist palms, each about 1 1/4-inches in diameter.
- Place in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and place in the refrigerator to chill until firm (about 45 minutes—or if you’re in a rush, try the freezer for less than 10 minutes).
Prepare the chocolate glaze.
- In a medium-size bowl with high sides, place the chopped chocolate and coconut oil and place the bowl over a pan of simmering (not boiling) water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water.
- Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and allow to cool until the mixture just begins to thicken.
Dip the rum balls.
- Immerse one rum ball in the chocolate mixture by pressing it down with a dipping tool or fork and flipping it over in the chocolate.
- Remove the rum ball with the utensil by slipping the utensil under it, bobbing the rum ball on the surface of the chocolate a few times, and pulling it along the edge of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate.
- Place the chocolate-covered rum ball back on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining rum balls, and allow to set at room temperature until the chocolate glaze is set.
- Store at room temperature until ready to serve. The chocolate glaze will keep the rum balls fresh for at least 3 days.
Notes
Is rum gluten free?
Yes, pure rum, without flavorings or additives, is gluten free. You can use anything from dark rum to light rum, depending upon your taste preference.
If you would like to try to make these rum balls completely alcohol-free, try using water in place of the rum in equal measure, but add a fair amount of rum extract. As always, feel free to experiment!
Gluten Free Rum Balls
These gluten free rum balls are celebration cake balls with rich gluten free chocolate cake with gf rum added, and dipped in a rich chocolate glaze. Make them without the rum for an alcohol free treat, or make it just for the grown ups!
Yield: 24 rum balls
Ingredients
For the rum balls
- 6 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chopped
- 5 tablespoons (70 g) unsalted butter chopped
- 3 ounces sour cream at room temperature (you can try Greek yogurt instead)
- ¾ cup (105 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend (I have both my Better Than Cup4Cup blend once and Better Batter—both worked great)
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs at room temperature, beaten
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- ¼ cup (2 fluid ounces) gluten free rum (See Recipe Notes)
For the chocolate glaze
- 12 ounces dark chocolate chopped
- 3 tablespoons (42 g) virgin coconut oil (or Spectrum nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening)
Instructions
Make the rum balls cake.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a half sheet pan (13-inches x 18-inches x 1-inch) with unbleached parchment paper, and set it aside.
- If you don’t have a half sheet pan, use any shallow baking pan(s) with low sides so you can spread out the batter into a layer about 1/2-inch thick. If the pan is not large enough, try using multiple pans.
- In a small, heat-safe bowl, place the chopped chocolate and butter, and place over a pan of simmering (not boiling) water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water.
- Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove the bowl and set it aside to cool briefly.
- Add the sour cream to the melted chocolate mixture, and mix to combine.
- In a large bowl, place the flour blend, xanthan gum, salt, and granulated sugar, and whisk to combine well.
- Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, add the eggs and vanilla, and mix to combine.
- Add the melted chocolate and butter mixture, and mix again to combine. The batter should be thick but smooth.
- Scrape the batter onto the prepared pan and spread into an even layer about 1/2-inch thick with a wet spatula.
- Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake just until set in the center, about 13 minutes.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes or until no longer hot to the touch.
Make the rum balls.
- Line a separate rimmed baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper and set it aside.
- Crumble the cooled cake into a large bowl. Add the cream cheese and the rum, and mix to combine.
- The mixture should hold together well when squeezed in your hands. Divide it into 24 portions and roll each tightly into a ball between moist palms, each about 1 1/4-inches in diameter.
- Place in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and place in the refrigerator to chill until firm (about 45 minutes—or if you’re in a rush, try the freezer for less than 10 minutes).
Prepare the chocolate glaze.
- In a medium-size bowl with high sides, place the chopped chocolate and coconut oil and place the bowl over a pan of simmering (not boiling) water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water.
- Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and allow to cool until the mixture just begins to thicken.
Dip the rum balls.
- Immerse one rum ball in the chocolate mixture by pressing it down with a dipping tool or fork and flipping it over in the chocolate.
- Remove the rum ball with the utensil by slipping the utensil under it, bobbing the rum ball on the surface of the chocolate a few times, and pulling it along the edge of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate.
- Place the chocolate-covered rum ball back on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining rum balls, and allow to set at room temperature until the chocolate glaze is set.
- Store at room temperature until ready to serve. The chocolate glaze will keep the rum balls fresh for at least 3 days.
Notes
Is rum gluten free?
Yes, pure rum, without flavorings or additives, is gluten free. You can use anything from dark rum to light rum, depending upon your taste preference.
If you would like to try to make these rum balls completely alcohol-free, try using water in place of the rum in equal measure, but add a fair amount of rum extract. As always, feel free to experiment!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that aren’t good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” just isn’t good enough! Come visit my bio!
Jennifer S. says
I’ve never had a rum ball! Now I can! Happy new year!
Chris says
I have to ask…have you tried these with something other than rum? It’s just that I have this partial bottle of Amaretto on the counter that I’d like to make disappear…and was thinking almond extract instead of vanilla…and perhaps some chopped dried cherries? Inside or out? Wow…..I guess I MUST try this now that you made me daydream! Thanks a lot, Nicole!!!
Judy says
My “pre” gluten-free Rum balls were make with rum and Coke. How changing the liquids to rum extract and the remainder room temperature Coke (or Pepsi – your preference)?
Nicole Hunn says
I don’t see why that wouldn’t work just fine, Judy!
Lucy says
Yum, yum, yum, what more can I say :)
Nicole Hunn says
Nothing more need be said, Lucy! ;)
Lauren Morra says
Mmmm brownies with rummmmm. I love how simple these sound!
Nicole Hunn says
They are definitely simple, Lauren!