Description
Russian Tea Balls are delicate, buttery shortbread cookies studded with finely chopped walnuts or pecans. Also known as Snowball Cookies or Mexican Wedding Cookies, these melt-in-your-mouth treats are rolled in powdered sugar to create a snowy finish, making them perfect for holiday celebrations and gift boxes.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus more for rolling)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which adds airiness to the dough.
- Add Vanilla Extract: Mix in the vanilla extract thoroughly to infuse a rich aroma and flavor into the cookie dough.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour and salt to the butter mixture, stirring until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Fold in Nuts: Gently fold in the finely chopped walnuts or pecans, evenly distributing the nuts throughout the dough.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet for even baking.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden while ensuring the tops remain pale and soft.
- Cool and Roll in Sugar: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar for initial coating.
- Final Sugar Coating: Once cookies are completely cooled, roll them again in powdered sugar to achieve a classic snowy finish.
Notes
- Russian Tea Balls are also known as Snowball Cookies or Mexican Wedding Cookies.
- These cookies have a shortbread-like, buttery flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Perfect for holiday baking and gifting due to their festive appearance.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to one week.
- For nut allergies, the nuts can be omitted or replaced with seeds like sunflower seeds, though texture and flavor will vary.
