These Christmas Snowball Cookies are a timeless holiday favorite with a rich, buttery flavor that melts in your mouth. Coated in a soft blanket of powdered sugar, they’re lightly sweet, tender, and perfectly festive for cookie trays and gift boxes.
Made with just five simple ingredients, this classic Christmas cookie comes together quickly with no chilling required, making it an easy go-to recipe during the busy holiday season.
Whether you call them snowballs, Mexican wedding cookies, Pecan snowball cookies, or Russian tea cakes, their simplicity and nostalgic flavor make them a must-bake every Christmas.
Jump to:
- What Are Snowball Cookies?
- Why Snowball Cookies Are a Cookie Tray Classic
- More Ideas for these Holiday Cookies
- Ingredient Notes
- Snowball Cookie Step-By-Step Instructions
- Substitutions & Variations
- Baking Tips & Notes
- Snowball Cookie FAQs
- Check Out These Favorite Recipes
- Christmas Snowball Cookie Recipe
- Christmas Snowball Cookies
What Are Snowball Cookies?
Snowball cookies get their name from their round shape and generous coating of powdered sugar, which makes them look like little freshly fallen snowballs. Once baked, the cookies are rolled in sugar while still warm, creating that signature white, snowy finish.
They’ve become a Christmas classic because they’re simple, comforting, and tied to holiday traditions passed down through generations. Their buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture and festive appearance make them a staple on Christmas cookie trays, at holiday gatherings, and in gift tins year after year.
Why Snowball Cookies Are a Cookie Tray Classic
Snowball cookies are the buttery, powdered sugar rolled classic every Christmas tray needs. This recipe uses six ingredients, three quarters of a cup of butter, chopped pecans, and vanilla, and makes a dozen cookies in about 40 minutes with no chilling required.
More Ideas for these Holiday Cookies
These Christmas Snowball Cookies pair beautifully with other holiday favorites like Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies, Cranberry Orange Loaf, and mini cheesecake bites for a festive dessert spread. Serve them alongside a pot of hot tea or coffee for a cozy holiday treat, or add them to a Christmas cookie tray for gifting.
For a fun holiday idea, create a “Snow Day Cookie Bar”—pile snowball cookies on a white platter, dust with extra powdered sugar, and let guests add chocolate drizzle, sprinkles, or crushed peppermint for a playful and interactive dessert experience.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter: Creates a rich, buttery flavor and gives the cookies their tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Powdered Sugar): Sweetens gently while keeping the cookies soft and delicate, not crisp.
- Pecans: Add a subtle nutty flavor and light crunch that balances the buttery dough.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure so the cookies hold their shape while staying tender.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor and adds warm, classic holiday notes.
Snowball Cookie Step-By-Step Instructions
1: In a large bowl, beat the butter with the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until you have a smooth, creamy mixture.
2: Add the flour and chopped pecans directly to the bowl. Mix with a spatula until all the ingredients are well combined.
Step 3: Place the balls on a baking sheet, leaving a little space between them, and Bake in the preheated oven.
Step 4: Once cool, roll the cookies in powdered sugar until completely coated.
Substitutions & Variations
Here are some ways to substitute each ingredient to that keeps the integrity of these classic snowball cookies when you might not have the exact ingredient called for.
Butter: Use unsalted or salted butter (reduce added salt if using salted). Plant-based butter sticks can work for a dairy-free option—choose one made for baking.
Powdered Sugar: You can make your own by blending granulated sugar until very fine, or use organic powdered sugar if preferred.
Pecans: Swap with walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, or finely chopped pistachios for a slightly different nutty flavor.
All-Purpose Flour: Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour to keep the cookies tender and structurally similar.
Vanilla Extract: Substitute with almond extract (use ½ teaspoon) for a classic bakery-style flavor, or use vanilla bean paste for a richer vanilla note. I love using almond extract for this cookie.
Baking Tips & Notes
● Measuring the flour: Measure the flour accurately using the spoon and level method.
● Ball size: Use a measuring spoon to form uniform-sized balls. This ensures the cookies bake evenly.
● Cooling: Let the cookies cool completely before rolling them in powdered sugar. If they are still warm, the sugar will become soggy.
● Double coating: You can roll the cookies in powdered sugar a second time after they have rested for a few minutes following the first coating, ensuring they are well coated.
● Storage: Store the cookies at room temperature; they will keep fresh for up to a week. They can also be frozen for up to three months.
● Variations: You can use different nuts, such as almonds, pistachios, or hazelnuts.
Snowball Cookie FAQs
The usual culprit is butter that got too warm. The dough should feel like a soft shortbread when you roll it. If your kitchen is warm or the dough feels greasy, chill the shaped balls for 10 to 15 minutes before baking, and make sure the oven is fully preheated before the tray goes in.
Roll them once while they are still warm so the first coat melts in slightly, then again once they have cooled for that snowy white finish.
Check Out These Favorite Recipes
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Christmas Snowball Cookie Recipe
Christmas Snowball Cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup salted butter
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup pecans chopped
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F
- In a large bowl, beat the butter with the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until you have a smooth, creamy mixture.
- Add the flour and chopped pecans directly to the bowl. Mix with a spatula until all the ingredients are well combined.
- There's no need to refrigerate the dough. Form walnut-sized balls, about 2 tablespoons each.
- Place the balls on a baking sheet, leaving a little space between them.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden brown on the bottoms.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Once cool, roll the cookies in powdered sugar until completely coated.
