Chocolate Covered Cherry Rum Balls

These are now the most asked for dessert EVER! You won't believe how great these are! I was able to recreate a rum ball I had only 1 time many years ago. My nephews buy them at a bakery in Chicago when they can get up there. So I aim to be their favorite aunt by making these for family gatherings from now on. They must be served very cold. Use only good quality rum. I use Tortuga rum 2 shots vanilla and 2 shots white.

• Ready In: 1 hr 13 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12 rum balls

Ingredients

• 1 (18 1/2ounce) box  French vanilla cake mix
• 3  large eggs
• 1⁄2 cup  oil
• 2⁄3 cup water
• 1⁄3 cup cherry juice
• 20  maraschino cherries
• 1  teaspoon  imitation  rum extract
• 1 (12 ounce) package  hershey's  milk chocolate chips
• 1 (1 3/4ounce) container  chocolate sprinkles
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons  lard
• 4 (1 1/2ounce)  shots rum

Directions

1. Bake cake according to directions using the eggs, oil and water listed above in ingredients. EXCEPT: Add the rum extract and cherry juice as well. And then mix in the cherries cut into 1/4's and 1/8's. I bake it usually 28 minutes. I check it at 20 minutes but it always takes a little longer.
2. Finely crumble 1/2 of the cake in a large mixing bowl, drizzle with 2 of the shots of rum. Toss to thoroughly coat cake crumbs.
3. Crumble other 1/2 of cake into the bowl. Drizzle with remaining 2 shots of rum, again toss thoroughly.
4. Form balls with cake about 2" across, press moderately firm into nice round balls. Place on a plate and refrigerate till cold.
5. Spray cookie sheet or cake pan generously with spray Pam.
6. In a double boiler melt the chocolate chips and lard. Roll each ball in chocolate and remove with small tongs and lightly shake off excess chocolate. Don't worry about tong marks. After you put the ball in the pan use the back of a small spoon and smooth over bare spots. Sprinkle generously with chocolate sprinkles. Refrigerate balls immediately for a couple of hours. ENJOY!