Sweet and nutty pecan snowball cookies (also known as Russian tea cakes or Mexican wedding cookies) are little balls of buttery shortbread packed with finely chopped nuts that literally melt-in-your-mouth. This classic holiday cookie is coated with powdered sugar to make them even more festive and irresistible. Add them to your holiday baking list today.
Every holiday baking list needs some shortbread. These pecan snowball cookies are the most classic shortbread-type Christmas cookie. Some other festive shortbread cookies that you can include in a holiday cookie box or cookie exchange are cranberry orange shortbread cookies, jam-filled thumbprint cookies, linzer cookies, Christmas shortbread cookie bites, slice and bake pecan shortbread cookies and chocolate dipped shortbread cookies.
Ingredients in Snowball Cookies
To make pecan snowball cookies, you will need the following ingredients:
- butter
- Confectioner's sugar - this is the key ingredient for melt-in-your-mouth cookie bites. Granulated sugar works to get the same taste, but the texture won't be the same.
- pure vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
- pecans - finely chopped, either by hand or throw it into a heavy duty blender or food processor and pulse mix until fine, but not yet powdery. You can feel free to substitute the pecans with any other nuts such as walnuts or almonds.
- more confectioners' sugar - for rolling and coating the snowball cookies to give it that iconic snowball look.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, large half sheet baking pan, and wire cooling rack.
How to Make the Best Pecan Snowball Cookies
- Make the shortbread dough: Cream the butter and sugar together using a stand mixer or hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla and beat on medium until incorporated. Gradually add the flour and beat on low speed until combined. Add pecans and beat until incorporated. The dough will look very dry at this point. Turn the mixer to high speed and beat for 2 minutes until dough starts to clump together becomes more breadcrumb-like and less dry (You should be able to easily shape the dough into a ball using your hands).
- Shape the dough into balls: Line two half sheet baking pans with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Scoop out a tablespoon of dough and roll into a 1-inch ball with your hands and place an inch apart on the baking sheet.
- Chill: Once the baking sheet is full, transfer to the refrigerator and chill for one hour.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake the cookies for 15-18 minutes, until they are golden brown on the bottom edges.
- Coat with powdered sugar: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then roll them in a bowl of confectioners' sugar while still warm, until completely coated. Transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. The sugar at this first stage will melt and be slightly sticky. Roll them again in confectioners' sugar once completely cooled.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long do snowball cookies last? You can store snowball cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. I suggest storing each in a mini cupcake liners so that they don't smudge into each other.
- Can you freeze snowball cookies? Yes, snowball cookies freeze beautifully. Arrange them in an airtight container, in single layers layered in between pieces of parchment paper. I also like to store each cookie in a mini cupcake liner so that they don't smudge into each other. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Can I substitute the pecans? Absolutely, you can substitute the pecans with any other nuts. Try walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts.
More Cookie Recipes
- Christmas Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Linzer Cookies
- White Chocolate Peppermint Gingerbread Cookies
- Soft and Chewy Ginger Cookies
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Soft and Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
- Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies
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Recipe
Pecan Snowball Cookies
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 34 cookies
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Sweet and nutty pecan snowball cookies (Russian tea cakes or Mexican wedding cookies) are little melt-in-your-mouth balls of buttery shortbread with nuts.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup pecans, finely chopped
For rolling:
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
Instructions
- Cream the butter and sugar together using a stand mixer or hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add vanilla and beat on medium until incorporated. Gradually add the flour and beat on low speed until combined. Add pecans and beat until incorporated. Turn the mixer to high speed and beat for 2 minutes until dough becomes more breadcrumb like and less dry (You should be able to easily shape the dough into a ball using your hands).
- Line two half sheet baking pans with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Scoop out a tablespoon of dough and roll into a 1-inch ball with your hands and place an inch apart on the baking sheet. Once the baking sheet is full, transfer to the refrigerator and chill for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake the cookies for 15-18 minutes, until they are golden brown on the bottom edges.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then roll them in a bowl of confectioners' sugar while still warm, until completely coated. Transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. The sugar at this stage will melt and be slightly sticky. Roll them again in confectioners' sugar once completely cooled.
Notes
How to store: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. I suggest storing each in a mini cupcake liners so that they don't smudge into each other.
How to freeze: Arrange snowball cookies in an airtight container, in single layers layered in between pieces of parchment paper. I also like to store each cookie in a mini cupcake liner so that they don't smudge into each other. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Pecan substitutes: If you are not a fan of pecan, substitute it with any other type of nut. Try walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chill Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
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Noel Goodwin says
These turned out great! Thank you for the recipe!
Jason D says
My Mom used to use hazelnuts, so that's what I used. They turned out perfect and really bring back good memories of Christmas as a kid. Thank you! 5 stars!
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Wow thank you so much! I love comments like this!!
Ashley says
Very tasty and super easy to make.
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you Ashley!
Kay Kaye says
Despite measuring and following this recipe to the letter, my cookies turned into domed cookies with flat bottoms, not the balls shown in your pics. any ideas what could have happened?
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Hi Kay. It sounds like there was not enough flour, or too much butter. Did you measure out everything accurately? It could also be that the butter and sugar was mixed too much, adding too much air into the batter.
Cindy says
These are going to be my new go-to for Afternoon Tea with the ladies! So easy and addictive too,
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Yay! Enjoy!
Liz says
Such a tasty dessert recipe!! We have a 9 year old foster kiddo who was asking to make a "different" kind of cookie and this fits the bill!
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
That is so great! So happy you liked the recipe!