Pecan Snowball Cookies Recipe (2024)

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Pecan Snowball Cookies are a holiday classic made with basic pantry ingredients and just a few simple steps. These melt-in-your-mouth buttery pecan shortbread cookies are baked to perfection and rolled in powdered sugar.

Pecan Snowball Cookies

A cookie by many names.... Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Pecan Snowball Cookies.

While no one knows why this little cookie has so many names or how it came from so many cultures, one thing is for certain. Pecan Snowball Cookies have stood the test of time and deserve a place on your holiday cookie tray.

Every bite of these cute little snowball cookies is buttery and melts in your mouth, with just a slight nuttiness from the pecans and a little burst of sweet from the powdered sugar coating.

Pecan Snowball Cookies are easy to make with just basic pantry ingredients and a few simple steps. Kids will love helping to roll the dough into balls and dip into powdered sugar.

What Are Pecan Snowball Cookies?

Pecan snowball cookies are round, buttery cookies with the texture of shortbread with finely chopped pecans in the dough. They are rolled in powdered sugar after baking so that they're white and powdery, like snowballs!

Why is My Dough Crumbly?

The dough will be slightly dry as it's a shortbread-type cookie. If it's too crumbly and not holding shape at all, use warm hands to roll the dough into balls. The warmth will help keep dough together.

Why Did My Snowball Cookies Flatten?

This recipe should not flatten. They should be little balls. If your cookies have flattened, it's likely that you measured the flour or powdered sugar incorrectly as there are no other leavening agents. Double check your measurements.

Do You Have to Use Pecans for Snowball Cookies?

Nope, you can use any nut you want including walnuts, almonds, pistachios, or cashews. Just make sure the nuts are shelled, roasted, and finely chopped. Each nut gives the cookie a different unique flavor. You can even avoid nuts altogether and use the same amount of mini chocolate chips!

Pecan Snowball Cookie Variations

Whether you're looking to up the flavor factor or make them pretty, here are some variations to try!

  • Nuts - Try other nuts, as mentioned above, such as walnuts, almonds, pistachios, or cashews.
  • Cinnamon - Add about 1 tablespoon cinnamon to the powdered sugar before rolling for a cinnamon-sugar flavor.
  • Sprinkles - Mix ½ cup rainbow or festive rainbow sprinkles into the dough. You can use them with the pecans or instead of the pecans.
  • Chocolate Chips - Use 1 cup mini chocolate chips instead of pecans for a version the kids will love.
  • Mint Chips - Use 1 cup peppermint or mint chips for a holiday festive version.
  • Almond Extract - Sometimes I like to add just ¼ teaspoon almond extract to enhance the nutty flavor.
  • Eggnog flavor - Add 1 teaspoon nutmeg to the cookie dough, along with ½ teaspoon rum extract.

Storing and Freezing Pecan Snowball Cookies

Cookies can be stored in an airtight container on the counter. Cookies stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Baked cookies freeze well for up to three months in a freezer bag.

Unbaked cookie dough freezes well also, up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then allow to come to room temperature and continue with step 5.

More Cookie Recipes You'll Love

  • Peanut Butter Blossoms - these cute cookies feature a soft peanut butter cookie base adorned with a Hershey's kiss.
  • Toffee Pretzel Cookies - soft, chewy cookies loaded with crunchy, salty pretzel pieces and sweet toffee bits.
  • Gingersnaps - perfectly spiced with ginger and cinnamon with just the right amount of crisp edges and chewy center.
  • Classic Snickerdoodles - soft cinnamon-sugar cookies that are a holiday classic and have a special place in my family's heart and our Christmas cookie tray.
  • Hot Cocoa Cookies - rich cocoa cookies topped with a gooey melted marshmallow.

Pecan Snowball Cookies Video

Pecan Snowball Cookies Recipe (3)

Pecan Snowball Cookies

Pecan Snowball Cookies are a holiday classic made with basic pantry ingredients and just a few simple steps. These melt-in-your-mouth buttery pecan shortbread cookies are baked to perfection and rolled in powdered sugar.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Pecan Snowball Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes minutes

Servings: 36 cookies

Calories: 112kcal

Author: Michelle

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 1 cup powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper. Set aside.

  • In a large mixing bowl, add butter and sugar, and cream until light and fluffy.

  • Add salt and vanilla, and mix again to combine.

  • Add flour and pecans, and mix until incorporated.

  • Roll into one inch balls (about a teaspoon). Place on lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart.

  • Bake for 11-13 minutes or until very lightly browned.

  • Remove from oven and allow to cool until just cool enough to handle.

  • Pour 1 cup powdered sugar. Gently roll cookies in sugar to coat and place on a cooling rack or piece of parchment paper.

  • Once completely cooled, roll in powdered sugar once more.

Notes

  • Storage: Cookies stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 1 week.
  • Freezer Directions: Baked cookies freeze well tightly wrapped for up to 3 months. Unbaked cookie dough will also freeze well for up to 3 months. To bake, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then allow to come to room temperature and continue with step 5.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 112kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 17mg | Potassium: 21mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 159IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

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Pecan Snowball Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my snowball cookies going flat? ›

Why do my snowball cookies go flat? These snowball cookies should not flatten. If they do it's likely the dough wasn't chilled long enough and the ingredients were too warm to begin with so they spread. It's also possible you accidentally measured the ingredients incorrectly!

Why didn't my snowball cookies stay round? ›

Too much flour causes the dough to become dry and crumbly, which prevents it from flattening out during baking. As a result, your cookies will stay in their original shape instead of spreading out into nice circles.

What is the origin of snowball cookies? ›

The origin for pecan snowball cookies is unknown. Beloved in many parts of the world, these cookies may have traveled to the U.S. by way of immigrants from Eastern Europe or Mexico. Since the 20th century, they've become part of traditional American offerings for weddings and holidays, including Christmas and Easter.

How far ahead should I be to make Christmas cookies? ›

If you want to make Christmas cookies in advance, make sure that you are timing them so they won't go stale. Aim to make them about two weeks in advance if you keep them at room temperature.

Why aren't my cookies flattening in the oven? ›

too much of certain ingredients relative to others: too much flour. too many inclusions or add-ins (especially chopped chocolate and nuts in cookies can stop cookies from spreading)

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter? ›

Adjust Salt

Next, if you're swapping unsalted for salted butter, reduce the amount of salt listed in the recipe to adjust for the salt in the butter. Take ¼ teaspoon of salt away for every stick of butter used*. Do the opposite if you're swapping salted for unsalted butter.

Is confectioners sugar the same as powdered sugar? ›

Although the terms are often colloquially used interchangeably, they are not the same. Powdered sugar is similar to confectioners' sugar but without the cornstarch. Because the words are often mistaken for each other, you will even find "powdered sugar" in the grocery store that is actually confectioners' sugar.

How do you fix cookies that didn't flatten? ›

If you reduce the amount of butter or oil in a recipe, your cookies won't spread as much. If you add too much flour, your cookies won't spread as much. If your cookies have more brown sugar than white sugar, they won't spread as much.

Why do they call them Mexican wedding cookies? ›

It could be a coincidence, but no one knows for sure," Parra explains. Most assume the cookie's name is due to its occasional appearance at some Mexican weddings.

Is there a difference between Russian Tea Cakes and Mexican wedding cakes? ›

Epicurious has two recipes for these cookies, one labeled “Russian” one labeled “Mexican” and they are exactly the same except for two things: the Russian ones have a quarter-cup of additional nuts replacing a quarter-cup of flour, and the Mexican ones suggest you add an eighth of a teaspoon of cinnamon to the powdered ...

What is the difference between Italian and Mexican wedding cookies? ›

Italian wedding cookies typically contain almonds or hazelnuts and are flavored with almond extract, vanilla extracts and spices like cinnamon or anise. Mexican wedding cookies, on the other hand, use a combination of ground nuts such as pecans and walnuts, as well as butter, sugar and sometimes chocolate chips.

Can you leave Christmas cookies out overnight? ›

Curious how long cookies last at room temperature? Most homemade cookies will maintain their taste and texture for up to 3 days. If you leave them out for too long, the cookies begin to harden or dry out. To prevent cookies from becoming stale, cover them with plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container.

How do you keep Christmas cookies fresh for 2 weeks? ›

The USDA website says that generally, cookies can be stored at room temperature for two to three weeks or refrigerated for two months. If you find yourself with more cookies than you can eat in that time frame, consider putting the baked cookies in a sealed container in the freezer.

Is it better to freeze or refrigerate Christmas cookies? ›

While cookies can last in the fridge for two weeks, eating them sooner is better. (We recommend storing a few in the refrigerator for eating in a few days and freezing the rest if eating more than four days after baking.)

Why don't my cookies stay puffy? ›

Try decreasing the number of eggs in your recipe, or use egg yolks in place of whole eggs. Too much sugar, not enough flour. Using too little flour will prevent rising, and too much sugar will result in more spreading since sugar liquefies when heated. The baking sheet was too warm or greasy.

How do you make cookies puffy not flat? ›

We get that you're anxious, but if you want fluffy cookies, you seriously need to chill… the dough. Why? Because of that whole issue with butter melting prematurely. Refrigerate your batter for at least 10 minutes before scooping it onto a baking sheet.

Why do my cookies stay in a ball? ›

Well, since baking powder serves as the primary leavening agent in most cookie recipes, expired baking powder can cause the cookie dough to become more compact and dense, making it difficult for it to spread out. Instead of expanding and flattening, the cookie dough will retain its tight and dense ball-like shape.

How to make cookies thick and not flat? ›

Increase the Flour: Adding more flour to the recipe will help create a thicker and denser cookie. Gradually add a little extra flour to the dough, about 1-2 tablespoons at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. Be cautious not to add too much flour, as it can make the cookies dry and crumbly.

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