Snowball Cookies Recipe

Have you ever dreamed of baking the perfect snowball cookies? The delightful buttery cookies melt in your mouth and transport you instantly to the heart of the Christmas season? This classic Christmas cookie recipe (also known as Russian Tea Cakes, Butter Balls, Mexican Wedding Cookies or Mexican wedding cakes) is perfect for both beginners and experienced bakers. I'll guide you step-by-step to creating the most delightful snowball cookies (aka Russian Tea Cakes) ever.

How to Make Snowball Cookies: Method and Tips

Mastering the art of snowball cookie making can be an exciting journey. Imagine combining butter, sugar, and a delightful mixture of eggs and vanilla extract to form a creamy delight. Picture the mixture being combined with finely chopped pecans, flour, and a pinch of salt, all mixed together with a zesty twist of lemon.

Finally, the dough is chilled, shaped into balls of dough, and baked until they are lightly browned and absolutely delicious. This is the essence of the best snowball cookie recipe.

The recipe makes about 18 cookies.

Prep Time: 15 mins Chill Time: 30 mins Baking Time: 15 mins Cooling: 15 mins

Ingredients for Snowball Cookies

Everything you need to make pecan snowball cookies.

• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup pecans
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 2 eggs
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or almond extract if you prefer
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• powdered sugar for rolling

Preparation

Here are the steps to make these delicious cookies.

The Creaming Process

The creaming process is key to the light and fluffy texture of snowball cookies. Softened butter and powdered sugar are mixed together until they form small air pockets, resulting in a light and fluffy texture.

This creaming process contributes greatly to the melt-in-your-mouth texture of these delightful cookies.

Incorporating the Eggs and Vanilla Extract

The process of integrating egg and vanilla extract into the dough requires finesse. The eggs, which bring moisture and richness to the dough, should be added one at a time. This ensures a smooth consistency in the dough, adding an extra layer of flavor.

The vanilla extract, adds balance and sweetness.

Add Dry Ingredients and Lemon Zest

The final mix brings everything together. It includes:

Flour

• Finely chopped nuts, such as chopped pecans and chopped walnuts
• Salt
• Lemon zest

The lemon zest adds a refreshing element to the cookies, while the dry ingredients provide structure, texture, and flavor to the final product.

The result is a delightful dough that is ready to be transformed into delicious snowball cookies.

Preparing Your Pecans

The use of pecans in snowball cookies can significantly elevate their flavor and texture. Here are some ways you can incorporate pecans into your cookies:

• Chop them finely with a knife
• Pulse them in a food processor
• For an extra depth of flavor, consider toasting the pecans before adding them to the dough.

Whether you choose to use raw or toasted pecans, they are sure to add a wonderful flavor to your cookies.

Chilling and Shaping Your Snowball Cookies

With the cookie dough ready, the next step is to chill and shape your pecan snowball cookies. Here’s how:

1. Wrap the dough  in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes ensures the perfect texture.
2. The dough is then portioned using a tablespoon measure.
3. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls.

These little dough balls are then arranged on a prepared pan, ready to be transformed into delicious snowball cookies, also known as Russian tea cakes.

Baking the Cookies

Baking snowball cookies to perfection requires a balance between temperature and time. Here’s the recipe:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the cookie dough balls on a baking sheet, leaving space between each one.
3. Bake for 14-15 minutes.
4. Remove from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes.

After baking, the warm cookies are rolled in confectioners’ sugar for a delightful finish.

The Double Roll Technique

For a dense and even powdered sugar coating, the double roll technique is unbeatable. This method involves:

1. Rolling the warm cookies in powdered sugar once.
2. Allowing the cookies to cool completely.
3. Rolling the cooled cookies in powdered sugar again, giving them a beautiful dusting of snowy sweetness.

This double roll technique ensures that every bite of your snowball cookies is a delightful sweet treat.

Storing Snowball Cookies

Proper storage is key to maintaining the freshness and taste of your snowball cookies once they are ready. Snowball cookies can last for up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. This ensures the cookies stay fresh for a longer period of time. For longer storage, they can be frozen for up to six months, ensuring you have a ready supply of these delightful treats.

Personalizing Your Snowball Cookies

While snowball cookies are delightful as they are, adding a personal touch can make them even more special. Here are some ideas to experiment with:

• Different types of nuts like macadamia nuts, pistachios, or even cashews
• Mini chocolate chips to the dough for a chocolatey twist
• A bit of orange zest or extra lemon for a citrusy flavor

Another way to personalize your snowball cookies is by experimenting with different extracts. While vanilla extract is a classic choice, almond extract can add a delightful nutty flavor. And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you could even try an extract like peppermint for a festive twist.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Adaptations

Snowball cookies can be enjoyed by everyone, not just those following a conventional diet. With a few tweaks, they can be enjoyed by those following vegan or gluten-free diets as well.

Vegan Snowball Cookies

For a vegan adaptation, you could use vegan butter or margarine in place of regular butter. Commercial vegan substitutes for eggs are a great choice or make your own with 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal or chia seeds mixed with ⅓ cup of water (allow a few minutes to thicken before adding).

Gluten-free Snowball Cookies

For those on a gluten-free diet, all-purpose flour can be replaced with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend. There are no other swaps necessary in this recipe.

Danish Wedding Cookies

For those seeking a nut-free variation of snowball cookies, Danish wedding cookies are an excellent alternative. Inspired by the Keebler Danish wedding cookies, this version skips the nuts but still delivers a delightful taste and texture. These cookies are a perfect choice for those with nut allergies or for anyone simply looking for a variation on the classic snowball cookie.

Simply skip the nuts in the recipe to make these cookies.

Tips for the Best Snowball Cookies

Though the making of snowball cookies is straightforward, following a few expert tips can lead to even better results. When it comes to managing butter consistency, it is recommended to use unsalted butter for greater control over the salt content in the recipe. If you’re using salted butter, you may need to adjust the amount of salt added. It’s also important to chill the dough before baking to firm up the softened butter and ensure your cookies turn out perfectly.

When creaming the butter and sugar, here are some tips to make the process more effortless:

• Use room temperature butter
• Cream the butter and sugar together until it’s light and fluffy
• Use a hand mixer or stand mixer for ease and speed
• Use powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) instead of granulated sugar for a silky texture.

The final mix of dry ingredients and lemon zest is an important step, and the right technique can make all the difference. Here’s how to do it:

1. Cream together butter, sugar, salt, and lemon zest.
2. Fold in the flour.
3. Make sure everything is well combined and ready to be transformed into delicious snowball cookies.

Summary

I hope you enjoyed the process of making the perfect snowball cookies and tips for achieving the ideal texture and color when baking, as well as the double roll technique for a dense powdered sugar coating.

Baking snowball cookies is a delightful experience, and the end result is a treat that will melt in your mouth. Whether you’re baking them for a Christmas cookie tray or simply as a sweet treat, these cookies are sure to be a hit. So why not give this recipe a try and experience the joy of baking the perfect snowball cookies?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are snow cookies made of?

Snow Cookies are a holiday favorite made of simple baking ingredients like butter, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, flour, nuts and powdered sugar. Roll the warm cookies in the powdered sugar for a snow-like appearance, and enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth texture of these festive treats.

How long do snowballs last?

Snowballs can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, and will last up to 3 days if kept at room temperature. For longer storage times, pop them in the refrigerator where they'll keep for two weeks!

Can I use other types of nuts in the snowball cookie recipe?

Yes, you can certainly use other types of nuts in the snowball cookie recipe - like macadamia, pistachios, or cashews - to experiment with different flavor combinations.

How can I make my snowball cookies vegan or gluten-free?

To make your snowball cookies vegan or gluten-free, simply replace the butter with a vegan margarine and eggs with vegan substitutes, or swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend.

If you are looking for more classic Christmas cookie recipes be sure to check out my Chocolate Shortbread Cookie Recipe, Traditional Swedish Christmas Thumbprint Cookies, Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies Recipe and Sour Cream Cookies Recipe.