Description
Old-Fashioned Snowball Cookies are delightful, buttery treats featuring finely chopped pecans and coated in a generous layer of confectioners’ sugar. These tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are perfect for festive occasions or a cozy afternoon snack, combining a rich nutty flavor with a classic powdered sugar finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
Coating
- ½ cup confectioners’ sugar (for coating)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the cookies evenly.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps develop a tender cookie texture.
- Add Liquids: Mix in the water and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, adding moisture and enhancing the cookie’s flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined to avoid overworking the dough. Scrape down the bowl sides as needed to ensure even mixing.
- Fold in Pecans: Gently fold the finely chopped pecans into the dough to distribute them evenly without breaking down the nuts.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Chilling firms the dough for easier handling and helps maintain the cookie shape during baking.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and place them on an ungreased baking sheet, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow for slight spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for approximately 20 minutes or until the bottoms turn lightly golden, indicating the cookies are cooked through but still tender.
- Initial Sugar Coating: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, then while still warm, roll each cookie in confectioners’ sugar for the first coating. This warm sugar adheres well to the surface.
- Final Sugar Coating: Once the cookies have fully cooled, roll them in powdered sugar again to achieve a generous, even coating that creates the classic snowball appearance.
Notes
- For a stronger nut flavor, you can toast the pecans lightly before chopping and mixing them in.
- Make sure the dough is well chilled before shaping to prevent spreading during baking.
- Use a fine mesh sieve to dust the confectioners’ sugar evenly on the cookies for a delicate finish.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week, or freeze for longer storage.
- These cookies are naturally gluten-containing; substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend to make gluten-free.
