Measurements [metric]
- 1 c crushed vanilla wafers
- Either:
- 1 c ground pecans
- 1 c ground walnuts
- 1 c confectioners sugar
- 2 Tb cocoa
- 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 Tb corn syrup
- Either:
- 1/4 c rum
- 1/4 c bourbon
- extra confectioners sugar
Grind the nuts in a food processor until very finely chopped. This will take a minute or minute and a half.
Mix crushed (fine, but not to a powder!) cookies, nuts, sugar and cocoa. Add combined syrup and rum. Let sit for a few days in the refrigerator; the dough improves with age.
Shape into 3/4-inch diameter balls and roll in confectioners sugar.
Baking teaches many things. These cookies, for example, taught me to ask every person about food allergies, after poisoning a friend who is allergic to nuts. He's fine, but had an unpleasant after-Christmas party.
These are the most popular cookie every year, and are extremely simple, requiring no baking at all.
Once you've mastered these, try the more sophisticated B-52 Balls.