Description
These cookies are a delightful treat made with butter, powdered sugar, flour, and nuts, rolled in extra powdered sugar for a snowy finish. They are often called Russian Tea Cakes or Mexican Wedding Cookies.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus more for rolling
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, chopped nuts, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined and a dough forms.
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until firm enough to handle.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls.
- Place the balls 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden. Do not let them brown too much.
- While the cookies are still warm, roll them generously in additional powdered sugar.
- Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack. Roll them in powdered sugar again once cooled for an extra snowy coating.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature butter.
- Finely chop the nuts to ensure they incorporate well into the dough.
- Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Do not overbake these cookies; they should remain pale.
- Store snowball cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- These cookies freeze well for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and re-roll in powdered sugar if desired.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg