Easy Snowball Cookies Recipe for the Holidays
My Christmas treat remains incomplete without snowball cookies. I have always made it but today after special requests from my audience I am publishing this recipe on my website. If you’ve never made snowball cookies with pecans before, don’t worry. This easy recipe uses simple ingredients and is delicious to eat. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about these delightful cookies, from their history to a step-by-step guide for baking them yourself.
Snowball cookies recipe:
When it comes to cookies, few recipes evoke the warm, cozy feelings of the holidays like snowball cookies. These buttery, nutty delights, also known as Mexican wedding cookies or Russian tea cakes. They are beloved for their tender crumb and sweet powdered sugar coating that resembles freshly fallen snow. Adding pecans to the mix takes these cookies to another level and bring a rich, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with their soft texture.
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The charm of snowball cookies:
These snowball cookies are more than just a dessert. They’re a tradition. You can call it with different names, like Mexican wedding cookies, Russian tea cakes, or butterballs. These cookies are perfect for celebrations or simply enjoying with a warm cup of tea or coffee. The powdered sugar coating adds a touch of sweetness that perfectly complements the rich and savory pecan dough. Who doesn’t love a cookie that looks as pretty as it tastes? This recipe will quickly become a favorite. So, grab your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and get baking.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
Easy to make: No more equipment, no more fancy ingredients, or no more time is required to make these delicious snowy cookies. Within a 15 minutes you can make these mini delights.
Perfect for holidays: Without snowball cookies, your Christmas party is incomplete. These cookies are perfect for weddings or any festive gatherings. See the variations below for holiday-themed cookies.
Make ahead of time: The dough can be prepared ahead of time, and storing it in a refrigerator makes your task easy. Bake the fresh cookies however you need.
Customize in your own way: This is the best part ever. Customize these snowball cookies with holiday-inspired flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, or almond extract.
The Ingredients You’ll Need to Roll Into Snowy Bliss:
All-purpose flour: It provides perfect texture to your snowball cookies and holds their shape while baking. You can use other flours as well. Choose almond flour, whole wheat pastry flour, coconut flour, or gluten-free flour mix. These all mixes are perfect to make gluten-free cookies. It slightly changes the flavors or texture, but it works well.
Confectioner’s sugar/powdered sugar: Sugar blends smoothly into the dough and adds a sweetness to your cookies. Half of the sugar will be used for the dough, and half will be used for rolling the cookies. You can use coconut sugar or granulated sugar as well.
Pecans: You can also skip it if you want. But they add a rich, nutty flavor and crunchy texture to snowball cookies. It enhances the overall taste and makes it more interesting. Instead of pecans, you can use walnuts, almonds, and cashews.
Vanilla extract: My favorite baking addition. Vanilla extract adds a sweet, warm flavor that enhances the taste of other ingredients. It balanced the richness of cookies.
Butter: It helps the dough hold together and creates a melt-in-your-mouth feel when baked. Butter gives rich, tender texture and delicious flavor to your cookies. For a dairy-free version, you can use vegan butter.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Snowball Cookies from Scratch:
- Imagine you’re building a snowman, and you’ll need the right snow to make it hold together. That’s your butter and flour. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar until they become light and fluffy, just like making the perfect snowball base. Add a splash of vanilla extract for flavor and fold in the finely chopped pecans just like adding glitter to the holiday decoration.
- Gradually add the flour and mix until the dough comes together. Wrap the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 10-15 minutes. Then scoop a small portion of the dough and roll them into balls. Place them on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Just like dusting your snowman with fresh powder for a pristine finish, coat your cookies for that dreamy winter effect with powdered sugar, or you can roll the cookies in sugar. And here your snowball cookies are ready to serve!
Tips for Getting That Perfect Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture:
1) Used softened butter instead of melted. It helps to achieve the perfect texture of cookie dough, which is crumbly but holds together.
2) Don’t forget to use measuring cups for correct measurements of flour and sugar. Too much flour can make the cookies dry and crumbly.
3) Roll the cookies in powdered sugar while they’re still warm. For a snowier appearance, roll them a second time once they’ve cooled.
4) Lightly toast the nuts before chopping to enhance their flavor and let them cool completely before adding to the dough.
5) Don’t overmix the batter; mix the dough until just combined. Overmixing can make the cookies dense and tough instead of light and crunchy.
6) Try stuffing the cookies with a surprise filling, like a chocolate chip, a piece of caramel, or a dollop of Nutella.
Add These To Your Party Platters And I guarantee That You’ll Definately Love These Desserts
Fun Variations to Customize Your Snowball Cookies:
Spiced-up snowballs:
For a spicy kick, add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom to the dough, then roll out and make as usual, and you can sprinkle powdered sugar with spice blend. It gives warm and cozy flavor to your snowball cookies.
Berry bliss:
Wow! This is my favorite twist. Mix some dried cranberries, blueberries, or cherries for a fruity burst. If you want to add surprise, then add a dollop of fruit jam in the center of the snowball. You can try this version on Christmas.
Holiday peppermint crunch:
As simple as that, just add crushed candy canes or peppermint extract to the cookie dough. Then roll the cookies in powdered sugar mixed with peppermint bites for a festive look. cookies are a delightful blend of minty crunch and buttery goodness.
Coffee and mocha infusion:
These cookies are made with instant espresso powder; they’re perfectly paired with chocolate chips to create a mocha-inspired delight. Add the espresso powder to a cookie dough with chocolate chips. These snowball cookies are perfect for coffee lovers.
Coconut snowballs:
Used the blend of flour and shredded coconut in the cookie dough. Roll the cookies in powdered sugar and dessicated coconut mixture for snowy vibes.
Can I freeze these snowball cookies?
Yes, you can freeze the cookies in two ways.
Before dusting the powdered sugar: arrange the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze them until firm, then transfer the cookies into freezer-safe bag or container and store for upto 3 months.
After dusting the powdered sugar: Everyone knows, that sugar absorbs moisture, so re- dust the cookies when you’re ready to eat for a fresh look, and the rest of the freezing process will be the same as before dusting powdered sugar. For reheating, remove the cookies from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature for at least 1-2 hours, then roll them in powdered sugar for a more snowy appearance.
Snowball Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Baking sheet
- 1 Electric mixer
- 1 Mixing Bowl
Ingredients Â
- 1 Cup Butter (Unsalted , Softened)
- 3 Cup Powdered Sugar (1/2 Cup For Dough And Rest For Rolling)
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1/4 Cup Salt
- 1 Cup Pecans
InstructionsÂ
- In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar until it becomes light and fluffy. Add a splash of vanilla extract and fold the chopped pecans into the sugar mixture.
- Then add the all-purpose flour and mix until it forms a dough-like consistency. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 10-15 minutes. It helps to make firm cookies.
- Now you've got to make the balls from the dough. Scoope a small portion of the dough and roll them into balls. Place the cookies on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the cookies and roll them out in powdered sugar. Make sure to double coat your cookies for a snowy look. Your delicious snowball cookies are ready within a minute.
Frequently asked questions:
1) What are snowball cookies made of?
Ans: Snowball cookies are delightful, bite-sized treats made with butter, powdered sugar, all-purpose flour, and chopped pecans. The dough is mixed until soft, rolled into small balls, and baked. Once they cooled, coated in powdered sugar to give them a snowy appearance.
2) Why did my snowball cookies flatten?
Ans: The cookies can flatten if the dough is too warm or soft. It happened when your butter was too melted when you made the dough. Another reason could be not using enough flour, which helps to hold their shape. Make sure to use softened butter instead of melted and chill the dough before baking. Always use the right amount of ingredients to make these cookies.
3) What is the secret to making cookies soft and chewy?
Ans: Using more brown sugar than white sugar to make your cookies chewy also adds moisture. Adding an extra egg yolk helps to make the cookies rich and soft. And don’t overmix the dough to keep them tender. Make sure to bake at the right temperature and avoid overbaking. Then let them cool on a baking sheet for some time; it makes your cookies chewy.
4) Why is my snowball cookie dough crumbly?
Ans: Your snowball cookie dough might be crumbly because of the lack of moisture to hold the ingredients together. This happened when you used an excess amount of flour and didn’t use enough butter. And overmixing can also lead to a crumbly texture. Make sure to accurately measure the ingredients.
5) How do you make cookies fluffy instead of flat?
Ans: There are some small adjustments that make your cookies fluffy instead of flat. Use room-temperature butter and avoid melted one. Melted butter can make cookies spread too much. Always use baking powder instead of baking soda for a softer rise. And chilling the dough before baking helps to prevent spreading. Also, avoid overmixing, as it can break down the dough and make cookies flatter.