Classic Pecan Snowball Cookies: An Essential Holiday Baking Tradition
Making Christmas cookies is a time-honored tradition, bringing warmth and joy to holiday seasons. Among the most cherished treats are these delightful Snowball Cookies, a true classic that embodies festive cheer. Bursting with the rich, buttery flavor of pecans and coated in a delicate dusting of powdered sugar, these cookies truly melt in your mouth. Their simple, elegant appearance and incredibly straightforward recipe make them an absolute must-bake for anyone looking to add a touch of magic to their holiday spread or create thoughtful edible gifts.
Why This Snowball Cookie Recipe is a Holiday Favorite
This Snowball Cookie recipe is more than just easy; it’s a testament to how a few simple ingredients can create something truly extraordinary. We absolutely adore it for several key reasons, making it a staple in our holiday baking:
- Minimal Ingredients, Maximum Flavor: Requiring only six core ingredients, this recipe proves that you don’t need a lengthy shopping list to achieve outstanding results. Each component plays a crucial role in creating the signature taste and texture that sets these cookies apart from others.
- Effortlessly Festive Appearance: These cookies, with their perfectly round shape and generous coating of powdered sugar, naturally evoke the image of freshly fallen snow. This makes them incredibly festive and appealing for any holiday occasion, from a casual family gathering to an elegant Christmas party. They fit perfectly into mini paper baking cups and look absolutely charming when arranged in edible gift boxes.
- Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture: Thanks to the generous amount of butter and finely chopped pecans, these cookies boast an incredibly tender, crumbly texture that truly lives up to their “melt-in-your-mouth” reputation. They are not overly sweet, allowing the rich nuttiness of the pecans to shine through, creating a balanced and satisfying flavor experience.
- Perfect for Gifting and Sharing: Their delightful appearance and universally loved flavor make them an ideal candidate for holiday cookie exchanges, thoughtful hostess gifts, or simply arranged on your own holiday dessert platters. They’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a beautiful addition to any festive spread.
- Beginner-Friendly: The steps are straightforward and forgiving, with no complex techniques required. This makes it an excellent recipe for bakers of all skill levels, even those who are new to the wonderful traditions of Christmas cookie baking.
Key Ingredients for Perfect Snowball Cookies
The beauty of this recipe lies in its elegant simplicity. You’ll only need a handful of common pantry staples to create these delectable treats, proving that sometimes less is truly more. Here’s a closer look at what goes into our perfect snowball cookies and why each component is essential:
- Unsalted Butter (Softened): The foundation of these rich, tender cookies is high-quality unsalted butter. Using unsalted butter gives you precise control over the salt content in your recipe. It’s crucial that the butter is softened to room temperature, which allows it to cream properly with the sugar, incorporating air into the dough. This aeration is vital for achieving the light, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth texture that snowball cookies are famous for.
- Granulated Sugar: While powdered sugar is the star coating, granulated sugar is used in a smaller quantity within the dough. It adds a foundational sweetness and aids in the creaming process with the butter, further contributing to the cookie’s structure and delicate crumb.
- Vanilla Extract: A generous splash of pure vanilla extract is indispensable for enhancing the overall flavor profile of these cookies. It imparts a warm, aromatic depth that complements the nutty pecans and sweet butter, giving the cookies that classic, comforting bakery taste. Don’t be tempted to skip it!
- All-Purpose Flour: Standard all-purpose flour provides the necessary structure and body for the cookies. Accurate measurement is key here: always spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge to avoid packing too much flour, which can result in dense or dry cookies.
- Finely Chopped Pecans: After the buttery dough, the pecans are undoubtedly the star of the show. They contribute a rich, inherently buttery, and nutty flavor that is characteristic of traditional snowball cookies. Finely chopping the pecans is important as it ensures they are evenly distributed throughout the dough, contributing to the melt-in-your-mouth quality without creating large, crunchy chunks that might detract from the tender texture. For an even deeper, more complex flavor, you can lightly toast the pecans before chopping, though this is an optional step.
- Powdered Sugar (for coating): This is the ingredient that gives snowball cookies their iconic “snowy” appearance and a delightful extra layer of sweetness. The magic happens with two rolls: once while the cookies are still warm, and again when they are completely cool. This double coating creates that beautiful, thick, opaque, and irresistible white exterior.
To ensure your baking process is as smooth and enjoyable as possible, make sure to gather all your ingredients and have them ready before you begin. You can find all precise measurements and detailed step-by-step instructions in the comprehensive printable recipe card located conveniently at the end of this post.
2020: 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES
12 Christmas cookies you will love, PLUS bonus baking tips and TWO extra recipes you will not find on this blog! See ALL my cookbooks here!
Get the Christmas cookies cookbook! ONLY $9.97!!
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Irresistible Snowball Cookies
Follow these detailed step-by-step photos and instructions to perfectly visualize the process of making these delicious snowball cookies. For a printable version of this recipe, complete with precise measurements and instructions, simply Jump to the Recipe Card at the bottom of this post.
- Prepare Your Baking Station: Begin by preheating your oven to 325°F (160°C). This ensures your oven is at the correct temperature when your dough is ready, promoting even baking. Line insulated baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. This thoughtful preparation prevents sticking and helps the cookies bake uniformly without scorching the bottoms, leading to a perfect golden-brown base.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar. Using an electric mixer, cream these two ingredients together on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This process is crucial as it incorporates air, which is essential for the tender and delicate texture of snowball cookies. Once the butter and sugar are perfectly creamy, add the vanilla extract and continue to beat until it’s fully incorporated, filling your kitchen with its sweet, inviting fragrance.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Pecans: Reduce your mixer speed to low. Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet mixture, mixing only until just combined and no streaks of dry flour remain. It’s important not to overmix the flour, as this can overdevelop the gluten, resulting in tougher rather than tender cookies. Next, gently fold in the finely chopped pecans. Continue to beat at low speed until the dough comes together into a cohesive mass and all ingredients are evenly incorporated. The dough should be thick and slightly crumbly, but easily hold its shape when pressed.
- Shape the Cookies: Take small, consistent portions of the dough and roll them between your palms to form smooth, uniform 1-inch balls. Each ball should be approximately a level tablespoon in size. For perfectly consistent results, you might find a cookie scoop incredibly helpful. Place the shaped dough balls approximately 1 inch apart on your prepared baking sheets. This spacing is vital for adequate air circulation, preventing the cookies from merging together during baking.
- Bake to Perfection: Transfer the baking sheets to your preheated oven and bake for 16-18 minutes. It’s crucial to keep a close eye on them; traditional snowball cookies should be very lightly browned only around the edges. The centers will still appear quite pale. Avoid overbaking at all costs, as this will lead to dry, crumbly cookies rather than the desired melt-in-your-mouth texture. The bottoms should be just barely golden.
- First Powdered Sugar Roll (Warm): Once baked, carefully remove the cookies from the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for approximately 5 minutes. This brief cooling period allows them to firm up slightly without becoming completely cold. While still warm, carefully roll each cookie generously in a bowl of powdered sugar. The warmth helps this first layer of sugar to melt ever so slightly and adhere beautifully to the surface, creating that initial, fundamental snowy coating.
- Cool Completely: After their first roll in powdered sugar, transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely to room temperature. This step is essential for their final delicate texture and also helps the initial sugar coating to fully set and create a stable base for the second layer.
- Second Powdered Sugar Roll (Cool): Once the cookies are entirely cool, roll them thoroughly in powdered sugar again. This second coating is the key to achieving that iconic, thick, opaque, and irresistibly prominent “snowball” appearance. It also adds an extra layer of sweetness that makes these cookies truly delightful. Serve and enjoy your perfectly festive snowball cookies!
Frequently Asked Questions About Snowball Cookies
Here are some common questions and helpful tips to ensure your snowball cookies turn out perfectly every time, along with advice on preparation and storage.
Absolutely! Snowball cookies are an excellent candidate for making ahead, which is a huge convenience during the busy holiday season. You have a couple of options for preparing them in advance. You can prepare the cookie dough up to three months ahead of when you plan to bake. Simply follow the recipe up to the step right before rolling out the dough balls. Once the dough is mixed, wrap it very tightly in plastic wrap, then wrap it again in freezer paper or place it in a heavy-duty freezer bag to prevent any freezer burn. Store it in the freezer until you’re ready to bake. When you’re prepared to make fresh cookies, transfer the frozen dough to the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Once thawed, roll the dough into balls and proceed with the baking and sugar-coating steps as directed in the recipe. Alternatively, you can bake and sugar-coat the cookies completely, then freeze the finished cookies for up to 2-3 months in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers.
Proper storage is essential to maintain the delicate texture and fresh taste of your homemade snowball cookies. Once the cookies are completely cooled after their double sugar coating, place them in an airtight container. At room temperature, they will stay wonderfully fresh for about a day. If you need to extend their freshness a bit longer, storing them in the refrigerator will keep them delicious for 3-4 days. For optimal long-term storage, I highly recommend freezing them. Place the completely cooled, sugared cookies in a single layer in an airtight freezer-safe container. If stacking, separate the layers with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together. They can be safely frozen for up to 2-3 months. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature before serving.
Yes, you absolutely can! While pecans offer a distinctively rich and buttery flavor that pairs wonderfully with these cookies and is traditional for many “Mexican Wedding Cookies” or “Russian Tea Cakes” (other names for snowball cookies), you can certainly experiment with other nuts. Finely chopped walnuts or almonds are excellent and very common substitutes. They will yield equally delicious results with a similar delightful texture and nutty undertone. Just ensure that whichever nut you choose, it is finely chopped to integrate smoothly into the dough and contribute to that signature melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
Rolling the cookies in powdered sugar twice is a classic technique for snowball cookies, and it serves a couple of important purposes to achieve their signature look and taste. The first roll, which is done while the cookies are still warm from the oven, allows the powdered sugar to slightly melt onto the surface. This creates a thin, almost glaze-like, foundational layer that adheres firmly to the cookie as it cools. This base prevents the cookie from becoming overly dry and helps seal in moisture. The second roll, performed after the cookies have completely cooled to room temperature, adds a fresh, thicker, and opaque layer of powdered sugar. This final coating gives them that beautiful, prominent white “snowball” appearance and a perfect extra burst of sweetness, making them visually stunning and irresistibly delicious.
These delightful Pecan Snowball Cookies are truly a joy to behold and an even greater joy to eat. Imagine them beautifully presented in a festive holiday tin or a charming mailbox-shaped cookie canister – they make the perfect edible gift that everyone will appreciate! Whether you’re carefully preparing them for your bustling holiday trays, thoughtfully sharing them with cherished loved ones, or setting them out for Santa on Christmas Eve, these easy-to-make, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are absolutely sure to bring countless smiles and create sweet, lasting memories. Embrace the wonderful spirit of holiday baking with this timeless and beloved recipe!
Discover More Festive Christmas Cookie Recipes
If you’re looking to expand your holiday baking repertoire and explore new flavors, check out these other fantastic Christmas cookie recipes. Each one offers unique tastes and textures, perfect for adding variety to your festive spread or for your next holiday cookie exchange!
- Classic Thumbprint Cookies – Sweet and buttery shortbread cookies with a delicious, colorful jam center, a true holiday delight.
- Spicy Homemade Gingersnaps – Chewy on the inside with a delightful crisp edge, bursting with a warm kick of ginger and traditional holiday spices.
- Zesty Orange Crinkle Cookies – Soft, chewy, and wonderfully festive, these cookies offer a refreshing citrus burst with a beautiful powdered sugar “crackle.”
- Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies – A timeless favorite that delivers rich, comforting peanut butter flavor in every delightful bite, perfect for any occasion.
- Fun Cornflake Christmas Wreaths – These adorable, no-bake wreaths are incredibly easy to make, festive to look at, and a wonderful activity for bakers of all ages.
- Colorful Reese’s Pieces Cookies – Packed with delicious peanut butter candies, these cookies are chewy, vibrant, and a delightful treat for chocolate and peanut butter lovers.
- Chocolaty Christmas Kiss Cookies – A classic peanut butter cookie topped with a perfectly melted Hershey’s Kiss, combining two beloved flavors into one festive treat.
- Charming Cherry Wink Cookies – A delightful vintage recipe featuring a unique blend of candied cherries, dates, and nuts, all rolled in crispy cornflakes for an unforgettable texture.
I absolutely love to bake and cook, and my greatest pleasure is sharing my kitchen experiences and tested recipes with all of you! Remembering to come back each day for new culinary inspiration can sometimes be a challenge, which is why I offer a convenient newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every time a new recipe posts. Simply subscribe here and start receiving your free daily recipes, tips, and inspiration!
Classic Pecan Snowball Cookies
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It