Happy Valentine's Day. Celebrate With A Bourbon Ball

Have a Kentucky Bourbon Ball.

I have been making bourbon balls for probably 40+ years.  They are my favorite sweet treat.  I only make them once a year because it is so difficult for me to resist these little treats.

Here is a link to an online recipe that is very similar to the way  that I have been making my bourbon balls.  I really don't have a particular recipe that I follow.  It's just a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I usually add more Bourbon for soaking the pecans than the 5 tablespoons called for in the online recipe.  I like mine heavy on the Bourbon. I use the same ingredients as the online recipe, just different amounts.  I think the secret to good bourbon balls is to let the chopped pecans soak overnight in the bourbon.  I don't really care to drink Bourbon but I do like it in certain foods.  I do love it in Kentucky Bourbon Balls and Derby Day Pie.  When I was very young my Mother would make a concoction of bourbon, honey, and lemon for us to drink if we had colds and congestions.  Oh, how I hated the taste and still do.

I add approx. 1/2 cup of bourbon to the cup of chopped pecans.  Seal in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator overnight.
Next day, mix the powdered sugar, pecans, butter and nuts.  I do use real butter.  It would be insulting to use margarine in the bourbon balls ;)

I also like to use Kentucky bourbon.  In my case I use Makers Mark.

After mixing, I roll the concoction into little balls, seal in an air tight container and store overnight in the refrigerator.

Now for the dipping and in my case the least favorite and most difficult part of this recipe.  I like to use a mixture of  18 - 20 ounces of Ghirardelli Premium Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips and Ghiradelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Chips.  Melt over a double boiler.

Once the chocolate is melted, dip your rolled balls into the chocolate and place onto a plate and top with a pecan half.

For those of you who don't want to make your own I can vouch for Ruth Hunt Bourbon Balls.  They are delicous.

Happy Valentine's Day