Snowball Cookies
on Nov 08, 2021, Updated Dec 05, 2023
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These ❄️ Snowball Cookies are the easiest and most delicious butter cookies. This version is my mom’s recipe but these cookies are universal and are called many different names. Practically every culture I come across has a wonderful version of them, so you’ve probably heard of them. They can be called names such as: Kourabiedes, Russian Tea Cakes, 🇲🇽 Mexican Wedding Cookies, Butterballs, Pecan Sandies, Swedish Heirloom Cookies, Almond Crescents, Viennese Sugar Balls, or Polvorones. Whatever you want to call them – they’re going to be tasty!
Why You’ll Love Snowball Cookies
These tasty and versatile cookies will quickly become a favorite. One way you can make these cookies your own is that you can fill them in a thousand different ways. Feel free to try anything from 🍫 chocolate chips to raisins to walnuts to jam, and so many other fillings. One of my family’s favorite fillings is a piece of Turkish Delight, which we call Lokum back home in 🇧🇬 Bulgaria.
On top of their versatility, these cookies are also super easy to make. Whether you’re a beginner in the kitchen or a seasoned baker, you’ll find this adaptable recipe so simple. Along with easy preparation, these snowball cookies have a beautifully easy presentation with icing sugar decorating the top.
How to Prepare
🔥 Preheat oven to 350°F.
🧈 With a hand held mixer (or stand mixer), mix softened butter for a few minutes then add the sugar, and vanilla until fluffy.
🥚 Gradually add in the flour and salt. Mix until a tacky, soft dough.
🌰 Optional: Add walnuts, raisins, or other fillings when adding in the flour.
🥣 Wrap the dough in cling wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
🍪 Roll 22 equal cookie balls, and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
♨️ Bake for 15-17 minutes (until golden bottoms).
❄️ While warm, coat the snowball cookies with powdered sugar if desired and enjoy!
Nonna’s Tip 🤶
Add walnuts, raisins, or other fillings when adding in the flour. Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Variations and Substitutions for Snowball Cookies
- Make these 🍫 chocolate chip snowball cookies by adding mini chocolate chips!
- Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or other spices to the dough for a spiced flavor.
- Use almond extract instead of vanilla for an almond-flavored variation.
- Add shredded 🥥 coconut to the dough or roll the cookies in coconut flakes.
- Try using different nuts such as almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts in the dough.
- Dip cooled cookies in melted chocolate for an extra layer of indulgence.
- I have not tried this, but you could attempt to substitute the butter with margarine or a non-dairy butter alternative for a 🥛 dairy-free version. If you do, let me know how it turns out!
- Use a 1-1 gluten-free flour for gluten-free snowball cookies.
- If you prefer less sweetness, you can skip dusting the cookies with powdered sugar.
Other Cookie Recipes
If you’re getting ready for Christmas, don’t forget the easy gingerbread cookies for Santa!
Shortbread Butter Cookies
27 mins
Pignoli Cookies
28 mins
Italian Amaretti Cookies
25 mins
3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies
20 mins
Common Questions
Snowball cookies are also known as Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding Cookies, and Butterballs, among many other names.
Yes, you can substitute regular flour with a 1-1 gluten-free flour to make gluten-free snowball cookies.
You can add various nuts like walnuts, almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts to the snowball cookie dough.
It’s optional. While traditional recipes often call for dusting with powdered sugar, you can skip it if you prefer less sweetness.
Ensure the dough has the right consistency by adjusting the flour. It should be firm enough to form into balls without being too loose. For best results, weigh your ingredients in grams on a food scale.
Store snowball cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or in the refrigerator for longer freshness.
While 1 cup of flour weighs 160g in my kitchen, it might weigh anywhere from 120 to 180g in your kitchen and there’s a few reasons for that. The weight of ingredients may vary due to the brand of ingredients, the brand and style (wet vs dry) of measuring cups and spoons, and the technique for measuring into cups: scooping and leveling versus spooning the ingredients into the cup measure. For best results, go by the weight listed in the recipe.
Snowball Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- additional powdered sugar , for coating
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a big bowl with a handheld mixer (or stand mixer), add the softened butter and mix for a few minutes. Now, add the powdered sugar and mix. Add the vanilla an mix again until light and airy.
- NOTE: make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl if needed as you add the ingredients one at a time.
- Optional: Add walnuts, raisins, or other fillings when adding the flour.
- Gradually add in the flour (a little a time as you mix) and salt. Mix on low-medium speed until a tacky, soft dough.
- Wrap the dough in cling wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- With a small ice-cream scoop, roll equal cookie balls, and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes (until golden bottoms).
- While warm, dip in powdered sugar and enjoy!
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do you have a cookbook out? If yes where can I purchase one. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes.
You’re welcome, Luana! I do not have a cookbook, but if I ever publish one, my readers will be the first to know! ❤️
Fab recipe for a quick and easy dessert or after coffee nibble. I put it in the fridge for too long so my cookies were slightly underbaked in the middle ( tasted great). I didnt let them thaw completely because of the heat I live in, in Singapore. 100% recommend. I made half a batch by mistake. Its disappeared now
Hi Sanaya in Singapore! Thank you so much for this comment. Means so much to me to have readers all over the world cooking my recipes. So glad you loved it! 😘💗
This recipe is perfect for Christmas cookies!! Loved making them even my toddler helped. Super easy recipe and everyone loved to eat them!!
Hi Sam! So happy to hear
The best ever! Thank you
You’re so welcome, Theresa! ❤️
I’ve searched for this snowball recipe for years. Tried others but none of them lived up to mom’s. This one did, easy & delicious! She used cookie cutters to made these into star shapes. ⭐️
Thank you! Modern Nonna recipes never fail me.
Hiiii lovely! So so happy to hear that you loved them, thank you for the sweet review
How much walnut should we add to the recipe? These taste amazing on my first try. They taste just like an Italian crescent cookie in my family.
Hi Susie, you can easily add 1/3-1/2 cup crushed walnuts or as much as you like 🙂
Hi
Just a question/suggestion?
Can you clarify in all of your recipes when you use butter that it should be unsalted or salted?
And when you use eggs, do you suggest large? And also at room temperature?
Thanks
Greg
Hi Greg, I ALWAYS use unsalted but absolutely will do my best to do so. I never use salted butter because I like to adjust my own salt