I crafted a Snowball Cookie Recipe combining 1 cup unsalted butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, salt and finely chopped pecans. The soft holiday cookies feature nostalgic flavors with a melt in your mouth texture. I’m excited to share this sweet creation for your festive indulgence and holiday gatherings.

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I recently tried making my own version of Copycat Snowball Cookies and I have to say, these cookies are something else! I’ve always loved recipes that combine simple ingredients in clever ways and this one is no exception.

I started out with 1 cup unsalted butter that was perfectly softened, then added 1/2 cup confectioners sugar (I even kept some extra for rolling later), 1 tiny teaspoon of vanilla extract, and mixed it all with 2 cups all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Once everything came together, I folded in 1 cup of finely chopped pecans that gave the cookies a nice crunch and richness.

It reminded me a lot of those classic holiday recipes that mix traditional ingredients with a twist, kinda like those melt in your mouth eggnog cookies or even a revamped snowball cookie recipe that you might find in some holiday cookie collections. I hope you enjoy making and eating them as much as I did!

Why I Like this Recipe

I like this recipe because it tastes amazing with that perfect balance of butter, sugar, and pecans that just makes my mouth water. It’s really fun and simple to make, and I love how the dough chills in the fridge so it’s easier to shape. I always feel like I’m getting into the holiday spirit when I bake these cookies, and rolling them in extra confectioners sugar while they’re still warm makes them extra special. Plus, every time I bite into one of these soft snowball cookies, it takes me back to those cozy holidays from my childhood.

Ingredients

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Unsalted butter adds rich, creamy flavour and ensures a tender, melt in your mouth cookie.
Confectioners sugar makes the cookies pleasantly sweet and gives them a delicate, powdery finish.
Vanilla extract amplifies the overall taste and adds a warm, comforting aroma to each bite.
All-purpose flour provides structure as well as carbohydrates making the cookies satisfyingly hearty.
A pinch of salt enhances the flavors balancing sweetness and deepening the overall taste.
Finely chopped pecans contribute crunch and a nutty flavor while adding fiber and healthy fats.

Ingredient Quantities

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup confectioners sugar, plus extra for rolling

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup finely chopped pecans

How to Make this

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1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and 1/2 cup confectioners sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer for about 2-3 minutes.

3. Stir in the vanilla extract until its mixed in well.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt then gradually add it to the butter mixture.

5. Mix in the finely chopped pecans until evenly distributed, make sure not to over mix the dough.

6. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes so it’s easier to work with.

7. Scoop out small portions of dough and roll them into 1-inch balls, placing them on the prepared baking sheet.

8. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until they start to get a light golden color on the edges.

9. Take the cookies out and while they are still warm, roll them in extra confectioners sugar until they are fully coated.

10. Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before serving and enjoy your holiday treat!

Equipment Needed

1. Preheated oven set at 350°F for baking the cookies
2. Baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking
3. A large mixing bowl for creaming the butter and sugar
4. An electric mixer for beating the butter mixture until light and fluffy
5. A separate bowl for whisking together the flour and salt
6. A whisk to combine the dry ingredients evenly
7. A spatula for gradually mixing in the dry ingredients and pecans
8. Plastic wrap to cover the dough while it chills in the fridge
9. A cookie scoop or tablespoon for portioning the dough into 1-inch balls
10. A wire cooling rack for letting the cookies cool completely after baking

FAQ

How do I get the cookies to have that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture?

Make sure your butter is really softened before mixing and dont over mix the dough so that it stays crumbly.

Why do we roll the cookies in extra confectioners sugar?

Rolling them in extra sugar gives that classic snowy finish and adds a little extra sweetness.

Can I swap out the pecans for another type of nut?

Yep, you can try walnuts or almonds if thats what you prefer, it might change the taste a bit but its still delish.

How should I store these cookies to keep them fresh?

Keep them in an airtight container at room temp and they should stay good for about a week.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Sure thing, you can chill the dough ahead, or even bake them and then store in a sealed container until youre ready to serve.

Copycat Snowball Cookies Recipe Substitutions and Variations

If you don’t have unsalted butter, you can use salted butter but then reduce the added salt a little bit.
If you run out of confectioners sugar, you might try using powdered sugar instead even though they’re pretty similar.
If you don’t like vanilla extract you could use a bit of almond extract instead, just use a tad less since it’s stronger.
If you don’t have all-purpose flour, cake flour or a gluten-free all-purpose blend can work too.
If you’re not into pecans, walnuts or even chopped pistachios are good alternatives for that crunchy texture.

Pro Tips

1. Make sure your butter is really soft so it creams well with the sugar. If its too cold, you might end up with uneven cookies and lumps in your dough.
2. Don’t over-mix once you add the flour; over stirring can make your cookies tough instead of nice and crumbly.
3. Chill your dough long enough – sometimes 30 minutes isnt enough, so if you can spare 45 minutes, do it for easier rolling and better structure.
4. When you roll the cookies in extra powdered sugar, do it while they’re still warm so the sugar sticks better, giving you that sweet, crisp finish.

Copycat Snowball Cookies Recipe

Recipe by Tina Bueller

0.0 from 0 votes

I crafted a Snowball Cookie Recipe combining 1 cup unsalted butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, salt and finely chopped pecans. The soft holiday cookies feature nostalgic flavors with a melt in your mouth texture. I'm excited to share this sweet creation for your festive indulgence and holiday gatherings.

Servings

servings

Calories

210

kcal

Equipment: 1. Preheated oven set at 350°F for baking the cookies
2. Baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking
3. A large mixing bowl for creaming the butter and sugar
4. An electric mixer for beating the butter mixture until light and fluffy
5. A separate bowl for whisking together the flour and salt
6. A whisk to combine the dry ingredients evenly
7. A spatula for gradually mixing in the dry ingredients and pecans
8. Plastic wrap to cover the dough while it chills in the fridge
9. A cookie scoop or tablespoon for portioning the dough into 1-inch balls
10. A wire cooling rack for letting the cookies cool completely after baking

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners sugar, plus extra for rolling
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and 1/2 cup confectioners sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer for about 2-3 minutes.
Stir in the vanilla extract until its mixed in well.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt then gradually add it to the butter mixture.
Mix in the finely chopped pecans until evenly distributed, make sure not to over mix the dough.
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes so it's easier to work with.
Scoop out small portions of dough and roll them into 1-inch balls, placing them on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until they start to get a light golden color on the edges.
Take the cookies out and while they are still warm, roll them in extra confectioners sugar until they are fully coated.
Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before serving and enjoy your holiday treat!

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.