Snowball Cookies

Snowball cookies, also known as Russian tea cakes or Mexican wedding cookies, are a beloved holiday treat known for their delicate texture and buttery flavor. These bite-sized cookies are coated in powdered sugar, resembling little snowballs, hence their name. With a simple yet delicious combination of butter, sugar, flour, and nuts, snowball cookies are a delightful addition to any holiday dessert table or cookie exchange.

Ingredients:

• Butter: Provides richness and flavor to the cookies.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and gives them their signature snowy appearance.
• Vanilla: Adds aromatic flavor to the cookies.
• All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the cookie dough.
• Salt: Enhances the flavor of the cookies.
• Pecans: Chopped pecans add a nutty crunch to the cookies and complement the buttery flavor.
• Additional powdered sugar: Used for coating the baked cookies.

How To Make Snowball Cookies:

1. Cream together softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Mix in vanilla extract until well combined.
3. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until a dough forms.
4. Fold in the chopped pecans until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
5. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls or flatten slightly into cookie shapes and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Bake the cookies in a preheated oven at 325°F for about 20 minutes, or until lightly golden.
7. While the cookies are still hot, roll them in powdered sugar to coat them completely.
8. Allow the cookies to cool slightly, then roll them again in powdered sugar for an extra snowy finish.
9. Let the cookies cool completely before serving or storing in an airtight container.

Tips:

• Ensure that the butter is softened but not melted for the best texture in the cookies.
• Toasting the pecans before adding them to the dough can enhance their flavor.
• For a variation, you can use different nuts such as walnuts or almonds, or omit them entirely for nut-free snowball cookies.
• Be generous when rolling the warm cookies in powdered sugar to ensure they are fully coated for a snowy appearance.
• Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week, or freeze them for longer storage.