A Christmas Classic
Today’s Snowball Cookies (aka Russian Tea Cakes) are the ultimate Christmas cookie (right there with our Snickerdoodles and Frosted Sugar Cookies) and ones we make every year! They are so soft they almost melt in your mouth.
Best yet, they are EASY!! You just need a handful of simple ingredients and a few minutes to make and shape the dough. The kids love to make them to dip in hot chocolate. This recipe yields about 30 cookies, so you’ll have plenty. 😉
They are similar to our Mexican Wedding Cookies and just as delicious!
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Simple. There are just 6 ingredients and only 4 steps! It doesn’t get much easier!
- Soft and tasty. Snowball cookies practically melt in your mouth and have a great added crunch from the pecans.
- Perfectly gift-able. They are the perfect addition to any party, but especially beautiful on Christmas cookie plates for neighbors and friends for Christmas.
Snowball Cookies Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter – or salted butter, see How to Soften Butter Quickly. The butter helps make the cookies soft and helps hold them together.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – or ½ teaspoon almond extract. It adds depth and flavor to the cookie.
- ½ cup powdered sugar – this adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the batter making the cookie irresistible.
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour – Be sure to fluff your flour before measuring – for more tips, check out our post on How to Measure Flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt – omit if using salted butter
- 1 cup pecans – or chopped walnuts, almonds, cashews, or pistachios (chopped in a food process or nut chopper). The pecans add flavor and crunch to the cookies.
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar – this is the coating that adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the cookie.
How to Make Snowball Cookies
PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
BATTER. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or with an electric mixer), cream 1 cup butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and ½ cup of powdered sugar. Stir in 2¼ cups flour, 1 cup chopped pecans, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix until well combined.
Roll dough into balls, about 1 tablespoon wide, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- BAKE. Bake for 14-15 minutes or until a light golden brown.
- GARNISH. Roll hot cookies in ⅓ cup powdered sugar. Once they have cooled, roll them once more in sugar. Enjoy!
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes to make rolling easier and help the cookies keep their round shape.
- Use a cookie scoop to keep your snowballs uniform in size for even baking.
- Swap pecans with walnuts, almonds, or cashews for a fun twist.
- Store in an airtight container at room temp for up to a week, or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Roll cookies twice in powdered sugar for that classic snowy finish—once while warm and again after cooling.
Snowball Cookie Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar, for dusting, as needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cream butter, vanilla, and ½ cup of powdered sugar. Stir in flour, pecans, and salt. Mix until well combined. Roll dough into balls, about 1 tablespoon wide, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 14-15 minutes. Do not let them brown.
- Roll hot cookies in powdered sugar. Once they have cooled, roll them once more in sugar.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Cover and store in the fridge for 1-2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. See How to Freeze Cookie Dough for tips.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week or freezer for 3-4 months. Remove from the container to thaw so that the condensation won’t cause cookies to get sticky.
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This recipe was originally published November 2018.
I like to make them at Christmas time
It’s so funny that I was making these when I sat down to read your daily email! This is my go-to recipe for easy, works-everytime, everyone-loves-them Christmas cookies!
My grandma loves these snowball cookies! They’re soft and decadent. We will be having this for Christmas!
That makes me so happy to hear!
I used walnuts instead of pecans and vegan butter instead of regular and these cookies were the bomb! They do indeed melt in your mouth. Excellent!
Before rolling into balls to bake,, dough doesn’t hold together to
Make the balls. Is this normal?
I love these cookies ! I’ve been making them the last few Christmases & also give them as gifts . now that my daughter is gluten free , I will be trying this recipe with gluten free flour !
Thanx! LOVE IT!!!
~~ MONA LISA ROCHA GARCIA ~~
You’re welcome! So glad you enjoy the cookies!
Hi Kristyn. Would you use a cookie scoop or an ice cream scoop to measure the balls? I am not sure what you mean by ” 1 tbsp wide?” Thanks so much!
I can’t wait to try to make this.
We love these cookies! We have so many names for them, Russian tea cakes, Mexican wedding cakes, and snow balls.
This is my other favorite type of cookie
These were perfect! Nice and soft and buttery!!
If you want a show stopper cookie to give to family and friends try this! Melts in your mouth delicious.
These were so yummy! We make a Greek cookie like this every year but I loved the nuts in this one! This will now be our go to Christmas cookie!
The snowball cookies are my personal favorite of all the cookies.
These are so yummy!! Perfect holiday treat!
Some of my favorite cookies!!
I have always wanted to make these cookies, but I was intimidated. I decided to give it a try and the instructions and tips that were given made it so easy. They turned out amazing!
I have the dough all made but it is too dry to roll into a ball. What did I do wrong? I’ll set it aside until I hear back from you.
You might not have put enough softened butter or enough Vanilla extract
Just wondering unsalted or salted butter?
I like to use unsalted. Enjoy!!
Looking Delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe. I’ll definitely make these cookies
Thank you! I hope you like them 🙂
Why are mine crumbling??
They are a crumbly cookie 🙂
Mine were falling apart as well (when trying to coat them in the sugar).I’ve made this cookie from other recipes and it called for baking at 325 for 20-25 minutes.
I actually put mine back in the oven at 325 for another 7-8 minutes and they were better….
I made these at christmas time and for the most part they came out great. My problem was the dough didn’t stick together very well. It was kind of crumbly. Otherwise, loved them!!!
Thank you so much for trying them 🙂
So yummy!! Best cookie out there!!!
Living in phoenix my kids have only been in actual snow once. But I do like to have fun with fake snow. We always cut out paper snowflakes to hangup. These cookies will be the perfect treat during the activity.
We love these!! A little messy, but so worth it! I need to try the chocolate version!
These cookies remind me of Christmas and baking with my family. This is one of my favorite Cookies this time of year!
Such a classic Christmas cookie! These are so good!! Love that they are soft, but also crunchy! My kids love the powdered sugar!
Yum!
I am glad you think so! Thank you so much!
These are so easy to make and simply addictive!
Thank you so much!! I am so glad you think so!
I love these.
I am glad you do 🙂 Thank you!
FINALLY A CHRISTMAS COOKIE WITH A LOW CARBOHYDRATE COUNT WHICH WE NEED DUE TO DIABETES!
These Cookies are delicious! and i love how simple they are to make!
Thank you so much!! And, I agree..super easy & good!
Just wanted to let you know in your snowball COOKIES.There is no mention of how much flour GOES in The. Recipe. For INGREDIENTS.ty
Sorry, I need to add it. It’s 2 1/4 cups of flour. I hope you like these!
Hell0!!!
Love All Your emails!
Your snOwBall cookiEs recipe is
MIssing the Quantity for the
Flour ( in both veRsions including the pdf). Pls advise. THank You
Merry christmas ! Deb
Yes, sorry about that. I fixed it 🙂 The flour amount is 2 1/4 cups. Enjoy!
I would love you receipe for you no roll out sugar cookies it sounds so easy please may I plrase have you receipe?
Hope you like them 🙂 https://lilluna.com/no-roll-sugar-cookies/
I made these and added flour TIll i had a good dough consistency. The total amount i used was 2 1/2 cups.
Very close!! It’s 2 1/4 cups, but that works too! Sorry, I forgot about the flour. I fixed it 🙂 Thanks for trying them!
THESE BRING BACK SO MANY FUN MEMORIES, HAVEN’T SEEN THESE IS SO LONG THAT I’VE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THEM, SO THANK YOU FOR THESE SNOWBALL COOKIES
You are so welcome! I am glad to share 🙂
Your recipe has omitted the flour Amount!
I know..I forgot to add it, but I fixed it 🙂 It is 2 1/4 cups.
hELLO KRISTYN AS ALWAYS YOUR RECEIPTS ARE WONDERFUL BUT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH FLOUR TO DO THIS. CAN YOU HELP US PLEASE?
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING
RUTH
It is 2 1/4 cup. I fixed the recipe, sorry to have left it out 🙂
THANK YOU!! I WILL TRY THEM THIS WEEKEND!
HAVE A NICE WEEK
Thank you so much, you too!
How much flour?
2 1/4 cups 🙂 I added it.
Intrigued with the recipe for Snowball Cookies. Instructions say to add the flour but there is no flour in the ingredients list. how much flour is used?
Yes, sorry, forgot to add it. It is 2 1/4 cups 🙂