If you have a sweet tooth, prepare yourself to fall in love with these easy homemade snowball cookies. They’re made from buttery shortbread and boast a lovely powdered sugar coating. They’re easy and speedy to make and they even freeze well. What’s not to love?
Other names for these sweet little treats include Italian wedding cookies, Russian tea cakes, Mexican wedding cookies, and butter balls. Snowballs are another name for these which is very apt, considering their charming powdered sugar coating!
These are lovely if you’re looking for Christmas cookie ideas but they’re far too good to only make once a year. In fact, one bite and you’ll probably decide to make these a monthly feature on your household menu! They’re easy (almost too easy) to eat, and pair with just about any beverage. So, whip up these easy cookies and get ready to sink your teeth into something blissfully heavenly!
Why You’ll Love the Recipe
These delicious snowball cookies are so good. They’re ideal for any season or occasion and everyone is going to rave about them.
How to Serve Them:
Pair these delicious cookies with any kind of beverage.
Can You Make Them Ahead?
You can bake them ahead and then keep covered at room temperature until serving.
Variations and Substitutions
Sub the pecans for walnuts, pistachios, cashew, or almonds if you prefer. As long as they are finely chopped, they’re good.
Ingredients needed:
- Unsalted butter, at room temperature
- Salt
- Powdered sugar
- Pecans
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
How to make Best Snowball Cookies Recipe:
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Cream ½ cup of powdered sugar with the butter using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment.
Turn the speed down and add the salt, flour, nuts, and vanilla, beating until well combined.
Use a 1-tablespoon scoop to make 30 balls of dough.
Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets a couple inches apart, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly golden.
Take them out of the oven and let them cool just enough to handle.
Roll the cookies in the 1 cup of reserved powdered sugar, using a fork to scoop each one up.
Shake off the excess, then place on wire racks to cool.
Roll again in the powdered sugar, and serve.
You’re going to love these sweet and delicious snowball cookies which are made with indulgent butter and crunchy pecans.
Storage Instructions
Leftovers will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container on the countertop.
Best Snowball Cookies Recipe
These delicious snowball cookies are so good. They’re ideal for any season or occasion and everyone is going to rave about them.
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 30 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- ¾ cup finely chopped pecans
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cream ½ cup of powdered sugar with the butter using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment.
- Turn the speed down and add the salt, flour, nuts, and vanilla, beating until well combined.
- Use a 1-tablespoon scoop to make 30 balls of dough.
- Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets a couple inches apart, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly golden.
- Take them out of the oven and let them cool just enough to handle.
- Roll the cookies in the 1 cup of reserved powdered sugar, using a fork to scoop each one up.
- Shake off the excess, then place on wire racks to cool.
- Roll again in the powdered sugar, and serve.
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
Marie Rayner is a retired Chef, freelance writer, recipe developer, food blogger, and Cookbook author. She makes her home in Chester, UK, where she lives with her husband, Todd, and their much beloved English Cocker, Mitzie. Her motto is “Life is far too short to eat bad food,” and her goal is to share delicious and easy recipes which anyone can enjoy and cook in the comfort of their own home.
