Delight in these delicate and buttery pecan snowball cookies, a classic holiday favorite. With a tender crumb and a generous dusting of powdered sugar, they mimic the look of snowballs – perfect for festive occasions. Their melt-in-the-mouth texture combined with the nutty crunch of pecans makes them irresistible!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup (60 g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (93 g) finely chopped pecans (you can also use walnuts if preferred)
- ½ cup (60 g) confectioners’ sugar, reserved for rolling
Instructions:
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, preferably of a stand mixer (but a hand mixer works fine too), beat together the butter, ½ cup of confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract. The result should be a smooth and fluffy mixture. This usually takes around 2 minutes.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gently fold in the flour and the finely chopped pecans to the butter mixture. Blend until the ingredients are well incorporated and a dough is formed.
- Chill: Cover the dough with cling film or place it in an airtight container. Let it chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30-45 minutes. You can also let it chill for up to 2 days if you’re preparing the dough in advance.
- Preheat and Prepare: Begin preheating your oven to 375° F. While the oven heats up, line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cookie removal and cleanup.
- Shape the Cookies: Take the chilled dough out of the fridge. Measure about a tablespoon of the dough and roll it between your palms to form a ball. Arrange these balls on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring you leave about a 2-inch gap between each cookie.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake the cookies for about 10-12 minutes. You’ll know they're done when the cookies are set but remain pale, although the edges might turn a slight golden.
- Dust with Sugar: Once baked, let the cookies cool on the sheet for a short while (a couple of minutes should do). When they're still warm, roll each cookie in the reserved confectioners’ sugar. This will give them a snowy appearance. Transfer the sugar-dusted cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Final Dusting: After the cookies have fully cooled, give them another generous dusting of confectioners’ sugar right before serving. This ensures they look their snowiest!
Serving Suggestion: These pecan snowball cookies are best enjoyed with a cup of hot cocoa or tea. Whether you're having them during the holiday season or just as a treat, they’re sure to be a hit!
