Walnut Bourbon Balls

This recipe is directly from the pages of a Good Housekeeping Cook Book copyright 1942. It is very must like one on the Food Network that they call Kentucky Bourbon Balls, which is a candy. These are cookies. How can you make candy with vanilla wafers? That is only one of many reasons I don't use many Food Network recipes.

These would make a perfect Valentine gift, packaged in a pretty heart shaped cookie box. Quick and easy, no baking. Just remember to make them 2 or 3 days ahead to ripen.

Walnut Bourbon Balls
Makes 3 1/2 dozen

2 1/2 cups finely crushed packaged vanilla wafers (about 5 dozen)
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 cup confectioners' sugar sifted
1 cup toasted walnuts, finely chopped, or walnuts and shredded coconut
3 tablespoons corn syrup, white or dark
1/4 cup good bourbon
Confectioners' sugar

Mix well wafer crumbs, cocoa, 1 cup sugar, nuts. Add corn syrup, bourbon; mix well. Form into 1-inch balls; then roll in sugar. Store in covered container a day or so to ripen.

COOK'S NOTE: We have so many more products to chose from than in 1942. I like the dark chocolate cocoa . Usually I use Black Walnuts, if you like English Walnuts better use those. Sometimes I use the mixture of coconut and walnuts, sometimes just walnuts. They really are wonderful no matter what you do.