Also known as Russian Tea Cakes or Mexican Wedding Cookies, these delicate cookies are rich, nutty, and crumble beautifully with every bite.
🧾 Ingredients (Makes about 20–24 cookies)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar (plus extra for rolling)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat & Prep
Preheat oven to 175°C / 350°F.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2️⃣ Cream Butter & Sugar
In a bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
Mix in vanilla.
3️⃣ Add Dry Ingredients
Gradually mix in flour and salt until a soft dough forms.
Fold in chopped nuts.
4️⃣ Shape Cookies
Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on the tray, spaced slightly apart.
5️⃣ Bake
Bake for 12–15 minutes until bottoms are lightly golden (tops stay pale).
6️⃣ Coat in Sugar
Let cookies cool for 5 minutes.
Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar.
Once fully cooled, roll again for a snowy finish.
⭐ Tips for Perfect Snowballs
- Don’t overbake—these should stay pale
- Finely chopped nuts give the best texture
- Double sugar coating = classic look
- Store airtight to keep tender
🔁 Variations
- Chocolate Snowballs: add 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- Almond Snowballs: use almond extract + almonds
- Coconut Snowballs: add shredded coconut
🎄 Perfect For
- Holidays & Christmas cookie trays
- Tea time
- Gift boxes
- Anytime sweet cravings
🏁 Final Thoughts
Snowball Cookies are timeless—simple, elegant, and irresistibly buttery. One bite and they literally melt away.