boozy brownie balls

December 13, 2011

There is something about spending time in my childhood bedroom that immediately brings be back to being 17 years old. I wear only my high school volleyball sweatshirts, raid my parent’s liquor cabinet – just kidding! Hi mom! I never actually did that! – and my room instantly becomes a complete mess.

Boozy brownie balls are way too easy to make and even easier to eat. Make brownies. Crumble in bowl. Add a hearty pour from the secret stash of bourbon. Boom. Boozy bourbon brownie balls. How is that for some alliteration?!

Look at this awesome plate I found in the stash of dishes that just so happens to be right next to the bottles of cheer.

The pan of bownies get crumbled. Then crumbled again.

Add the not-so-secret ingredient. Shape into balls then roll with festive sprinkles and put each one into a fancy candy cup. Just to keep things extra classy.

Boozy Brownie Balls
Makes about 4 dozen

Inspired by Martha Stewart

1 1/2 sticks butter, cut into pieces
6 ounces finely chopped semisweet chocolate (or about 1/2 bag of chocolate chips)
3 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons bourbon
Coarse sugar, for rolling

Preheat the oven to 350 and butter a 11 x 17 baking dish. Melt the butter and the chocolate together in a small saucepan set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until the mixture is smooth and set aside.

Whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in a medium bowl. Add in the chocolate mixture and beat until smooth. Add in the flour until the batter is smooth and shiny and pour into the prepared pan. Bake for about 10 minutes or until a tester comes out with a few crumbs attached. Cool completely.

Break up the brownie into large chunks then break those bits into really tiny crumbs. Add the bourbon and mix until the brownie crumbs are evenly moistened. Roll into 1-inch balls and coat in the coarse sugar. Store in the refrigerator.


 

Hold up. Quick nostalgia break. This is also what happens when you start to rummage around the house. You find a series of old school gems. How Pacific Northwest is this picture? Just playing a salmon in my elementary school play! No biggie.

From my personal collection of artifacts. This is the world’s smallest personalized coffee mug. Everyone needs one. Man, did I have a good eye when I was a kid.

Okay the overshare is almost over. I have only one word for this treasure. Awesomesauce.

{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

xq December 13, 2011 at 8:17 pm

ooh these look lovely!

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Lillie December 14, 2011 at 1:43 am

thanks! 🙂

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Mary December 13, 2011 at 9:31 pm

You were forever searching the gift shops on family vacations for pens, note pads, mugs, etc. personalized with your name. Amanda, Allison, Nicole-no problem. But rarely, Lillian and never Lillie. So when we saw this tiny mug we had to buy it!

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Lillie December 14, 2011 at 1:47 am

So true! What I think is hilarious is that the only thing I could find that was personalized was a tiny mug – which is probably the least useful item. If only it could have been a pen! 🙂

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Jessica W. December 14, 2011 at 7:42 pm

That’s the most adorable wild salmon I’ve ever seen!

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Lillie December 14, 2011 at 7:56 pm

aw! 🙂 I wish I remembered why I had to don the get-up…

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Vanessa Nash December 15, 2011 at 3:53 pm

Mmmh Mmmh … I will have to get my daughter to make these for me when I get back from Everest Base Camp – they look delish …
from your long lost rellies in UK xxx (ask your father!)

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Lillie December 18, 2011 at 2:52 pm

Thanks so much Vanessa! I look forward to meeting you in person soon! xo

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Elizabeth January 5, 2012 at 3:22 pm

Made these on New Years Eve and they were a huge success. So intense though! Could hardly eat a whole one myself in the afternoon but we saved em for post midnight and sure enough, everyone (me included) was popping them like, well…popcorn 🙂 Great recipe!

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Lillie January 5, 2012 at 6:13 pm

Yes they sure do pack quite a boozy punch! I’m so happy to hear they were a hit on the late night (which is my most favorite hour to enjoy sweets of any kind!)

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Jennifer December 27, 2012 at 11:41 am

A dear friend who died several years ago used to treat us to Bourbon balls every year, so in honor of him, I went searching for a recipe. Yours looked the closest to his, but I followed his path in just microwaving the batter in the bowl I had mixed it, and when it what just starting to look “set”, added the whiskey and went from there. And it worked well– very tasty, but took a little effort in the rolling to get them to hold together. (plus, maybe one uses a little less whiskey?) I’m always a fan of fewer dishes. . .
Thanks for the post!!!

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Lillie December 27, 2012 at 2:57 pm

What a great idea to microwave the batter right in the bowl and glad to hear they were a success!

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