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Classic, melt-in-your-mouth snowball cookies. With just a few simple ingredients, including pecans and a dusting of powdered sugar, this easy holiday recipe is sure to become a favorite.
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Snowball cookies are a must on our holiday dessert table. They look so festive and are incredibly delicious and easy to make. They’re perfect for sharing or enjoying with a warm cup of cocoa.
You might know them as snowballs, Mexican wedding cookies, Russian tea cakes, or sandies. No matter what you call them, they’re a holiday classic.
We include these cookies in our Norwegian collection because our mom always plates them alongside rosettes, krumkake, and fattigman during Christmastime. Plus their simple ingredients and taste are so similar.
Ingredient Notes
Here’s everything you’ll need to whip up these tasty cookies (pictured below). Read on for a few notes.
- Butter – use salted butter for the best flavor.
- Powdered sugar – confectioners sugar.
- Vanilla – pure vanilla extract.
- Water – plain water.
- Flour – all purpose flour.
- Pecans – chopped pecans or the type of nuts you prefer.
- Additional powdered sugar – to roll cookies in.
See the recipe card for full list with amounts
Supplies
- Mixing bowl and spoon or stand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small cookie scoop (1 tbsp)
- Baking sheet, parchment paper optional (we love this Nordic Ware vintage half sheet)
- Small bowl (for powdered sugar to roll the cookies in after baking)
- Serving tray or storage container
Let’s Make Snowball Cookies
Follow these easy steps to make these timeless holiday cookies.
1
Preheat oven to 300°F.
Warm up the oven and preheat it to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
2
Cream butter and sugar.
Blend the softened butter and powdered sugar.
3
Add vanilla and water.
Next, add the vanilla extract and water. Mix well.
4
Add flour.
Fold in the all-purpose flour. Mix until well combined.
5
Mix in nuts.
Finally, add the chopped pecans (or the type of nuts you prefer).
6
Form into balls. Bake.
Form into small balls and arrange on a baking sheet. (We use a small cookie scoop to measure out about a tablespoon of dough and then roll into balls.) Bake for 20 minutes.
7
Cool. roll in powdered sugar.
Allow the cookies to cool for about 5 minutes before rolling them in powdered sugar. Then once they are completely cooled, roll them in powdered sugar again if you’d like a thicker coat of sugar.
More About This Recipe
- Perfect for any occasion: These cookies are ideal for holiday gatherings, cookie swaps, or simply enjoying with a warm drink.
- Simple ingredients: Made with just a few pantry staples, they’re easy to whip up and a great way to introduce baking to kids.
- Customizable: Feel free to switch up the nuts or add chocolate chips for a twist on the classic flavor!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to commonly asked questions about making these delicious cookies.
Can I use different nuts in this recipe?
Yes, you can substitute pecans with other nuts like walnuts or almonds, depending on your preference. Just make sure to chop them finely.
How should I store these cookies?
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks. You can also refrigerate them or freeze them for longer storage.
help! How do i coat the cookies in powdered sugar and prevent them from falling apart?
If your cookies aren’t rolling in powdered sugar well (or falling apart), they might still be too warm. Allow them to cool for about 5 minutes before rolling. And you can roll them again when they are completely cool to fully coat them.
Snowball Cookies
Classic melt-in-your-mouth snowball cookies. An easy holiday cookie recipe with simple ingredients, including pecans and a dusting of powdered sugar.
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 22 Cookies 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp water
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans (or other nuts)
- Powdered sugar (about 3/4 cup for easy rolling)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Cream softened butter and sugar.
- Add vanilla and water.
- Mix in flour until a dough forms.
- Fold in chopped pecans (or the type of nuts you prefer).
- Form into small balls. We use a small cookie scoop to measure out the dough (about 1 tbsp).
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes. Then roll into powdered sugar. If desired, roll in powdered sugar again once the cookies are completely cooled for a thicker coating of sugar.
- Serve immediately or add to a storage container.
Notes
- Storage: store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Freeze for 2 to 3 months.
- Variations: you can use different types of nuts, add mini chocolate chips, or crushed peppermint instead of the pecans.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 172
- Sugar: 5.6 g
- Sodium: 1.5 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 14.9 g
- Protein: 1.7 g
- Cholesterol: 22.2 mg
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