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I love making these Snowball Cookies, especially during the Christmas season! They melt in your mouth with every bite and always disappear fast at holiday gatherings.
“Bite sized cookies that look like little snowballs and taste even better than they look.”
-Becky
These little powdered sugar covered cookies taste like sweet winter magic and come together with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. They are a holiday favorite and are perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or wrap them in cellophane with a bow for gifts!
If you love easy festive treats, you have to try these adorable Christmas Cupcakes, Bugle Elf Hats, or this rich Peanut Butter Fudge. And don’t forget the Homemade Eggnog or Pomegranate Martinis for the holiday table!
Why This Recipe Works
- Classic melt in your mouth texture: Thanks to softened butter and powdered sugar, these cookies just melt with deliciousness.
- Finely ground nuts: When you blend into the dough for a softer, more tender crumb, you get a delicious soft nutty flavor.
- Perfect holiday cookie: These cookies stay fresh for days and freeze beautifully
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Will Need
- butter, softened
- confectioners’ sugar, divided in half.
- vanilla extract- adds extra flavor, especially if using homemade vanilla extract.
- all purpose flour
- finely ground almonds, optional- I like to use my food processor to finely grind them so they add the perfect nutty flavor to my baked cookies!
A full list of ingredients is included in the recipe card below.
Variations
- Swap the nuts: Pecans or walnuts can be finely ground for classic Mexican Wedding Cookies.
- Warm spices: Add a small pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a cozy flavor.
- Chocolate version: Add finely chopped chocolate or mini chips for a fun twist.
How to Make Snowball Cookies
- In a medium bowl, cream the softened butter, vanilla, and half of the powdered sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Slowly add the flour, and ground almonds, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, then roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet about 1-2 inches apart.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes or until the bottoms are light golden and the tops look set.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, use a small shallow bowl filled with the remaining powdered sugar, and roll each cookie until fully coated.
Expert Tips
- Use real butter: It creates the soft, melt in your mouth crumb these cookies are known for.
- Do not overbake: Only the bottoms should turn golden or the cookies will become dry.
- Roll twice: Lightly roll the cookies in powdered sugar while warm, then again after they cool for the perfect finish.
- Finely ground nuts: Using ground nuts instead of chopped helps the dough hold together and gives a smoother texture.
How to Store Snowball Cookies
Store Snowball Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.
They also freeze beautifully for up to three months. Dust with a little extra powdered sugar after thawing if needed.
Snowball Cookie Recipe FAQs
The dough may have softened too much. If your kitchen is warm, chill the dough for a few minutes before rolling to help the cookies keep their shape.
Yes. Freeze them in an airtight container and add a little extra powdered sugar after they thaw if needed.
Yes, simply leave out the almonds. The cookies bake beautifully with or without nuts.
Yes. Snowball Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cookies, and Russian Tea Cakes are all the same cookie with slight variations in the type of nuts or naming tradition.
Finely ground nuts help the dough hold together and create a softer, more tender texture. You can grind almonds, pecans, or walnuts depending on your preference.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
Christmas Recipes
Meringue Christmas Trees
Desserts
White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Desserts
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Holidays
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
If you have tried this recipe or any others from Celebrating Simply, I’d love it if you would leave a ⭐ star rating and share your thoughts in the ✍️ comments below. Your feedback means a lot!
Snowball Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Mixer
- Baking Sheet
- Spoon or scoop
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup confectioners sugar, divided in half
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup finely ground almonds
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, cream the softened butter, vanilla, and half of the powdered sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Slowly add the flour, and ground almonds, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, then roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet with about 1-2 inches space between the cookies.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes or until the bottoms are light golden and the tops look set.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, use a small shallow bowl filled with the remaining powdered sugar, and roll each cookie until fully coated.
Notes
- Use real butter: It creates the soft, melt in your mouth crumb these cookies are known for.
- Do not overbake: Only the bottoms should turn golden or the cookies will become dry.
- Roll twice: Lightly roll the cookies in powdered sugar while warm, then again after they cool for the perfect finish.
- Finely ground nuts: Using ground nuts instead of chopped helps the dough hold together and gives a smoother texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These cookies are so easy to make and melt in your mouth!