Snowball Cookies

A Buttery, Powdered Sugar Cookie Passed Down From My Aunt’s Kitchen

Snowball Cookies are one of those timeless treats that feel right at home during the winter months, though they’re welcome on the cookie tray any time of year. Buttery, tender, and generously coated in powdered sugar, these little cookies practically melt in your mouth.

This recipe came from my aunt, who was a wonderful baker. Her kitchen was always filled with the comforting aroma of cookies, rolls, bread, and pies, and everything she made was done with care and love. These snowball cookies were always a favorite — simple to make, easy to bake, and always a hit with family and friends. Best of all, you can enjoy these “snowballs” without ever having to step out into the cold.

Ingredients:

1 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. pecans, chopped
powdered sugar to roll the cookies in

Directions :

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or leave it ungreased.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.

Add the flour and salt, mixing on low speed just until combined. Stir in the chopped pecans until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, shape the dough into walnut-sized balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.

Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden while the tops remain pale. Be careful not to overbake — these cookies should stay light and tender. It’s better to slightly underbake than to bake them too long.

Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to rest on the baking sheet for a minute or two. While still warm, gently transfer the cookies into a bowl of powdered sugar and roll them to coat completely.

Place the coated cookies on a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, roll them a second time in powdered sugar for that classic snowball appearance.

Serve and enjoy.

Helpful Tip for Coating the Cookies

For an easy and mess-free way to coat the cookies, place powdered sugar in a covered plastic container. Add a few cookies at a time, cover, and gently shake until coated. The first coating will be light, but the second roll in powdered sugar is what gives these cookies their beautiful snowy finish.