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Close-up of delicious, powdered sugar-covered Snowball Cookies, perfect for the holidays.
Lady Maria

Perfect Snowball Cookies

These melt-in-your-mouth snowball cookies are a classic holiday treat. Made with simple ingredients like butter, powdered sugar, nuts, and vanilla, they are surprisingly easy to make and are perfect for beginner bakers. The double coating of powdered sugar gives them a signature snowy sweetness.
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 57 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus more for coating
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Electric mixer or whisk
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • Plastic wrap
  • baking sheet
  • parchment paper
  • Cookie scoop (optional)
  • wire rack

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. Add the vanilla extract and salt. Mix until well combined.
  3. Gradually add the flour to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix.
  4. Gently fold in the finely chopped nuts, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
  5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  7. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it into 1-inch balls. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each cookie.
  8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are set but not browned. They should be pale in color.
  9. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
  10. While they're still warm, roll them generously in powdered sugar.
  11. Let them cool completely on the wire rack, and then roll them in powdered sugar again.

Notes

For best results, use softened but not melted butter. Chilling the dough is crucial to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or freeze for up to 2 months. Variations: Try using different nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, or macadamia nuts. Add a handful of mini chocolate chips to the dough. Add a teaspoon of lemon or orange zest to the dough. Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom to the dough. Experiment with different extracts like almond extract or peppermint extract.