Toasted Pecan Snowball Cookies are a family favorite at Christmas. Packed with toasted pecans and dusted with confectioners’ sugar, this buttery cookie is the perfect edible gift for your loved ones during the holiday season.
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How It All Started
When I was a kid, my mother needed Christmas presents to give to her co-workers. I volunteered to make the presents. I decided that I would try to marry my favorite cookie with something appropriate for Christmas.
I decided to fill decorative jars with these delicious bite-sized cookies. I then wrapped the jars in nylon net and tied the nylon net with some sort of ribbon. From what I remember, they were a huge hit. The cookies not only looked really festive but also were incredibly good!
My recipe for Toasted Pecan Snowball Cookies is a variation of a recipe for Pecan Sandies. I remember copying the recipe from a cookbook while I was babysitting. In addition, these buttery snowball cookies go by different names: Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding Cookies, and Italian Wedding Cookies.
From day one, I made this classic cookie as tiny as possible for the best results. The reason was to produce a little taste of heaven as each popped each one into my mouth.
Ingredients: Here’s What You’ll Need
This pecan snowball cookie recipe uses simple ingredients: Unsalted butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, water, all-purpose flour, and toasted chopped pecans.
It’s important here to use unsalted butter. One time I made the mistake of using salted butter, and the salt dominated the taste.
Steps to Make Snowball Cookies
- For the first step in making these snowball cookies, I creamed room temperature unsalted butter in a large bowl with my hand mixer. I could have also used a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
- Then, I added the confectioners’ sugar and beat the mixture on high until it was light and fluffy.
- I added the vanilla extract and water to this mixture and beat it until well combined.
- Then, I added the flour and mixed it on low speed until everything was well combined. At this point, I gave the dough a quick mix with a wooden spoon to ensure that all of the flour had been incorporated.
- Finally, I added the toasted pecans and mixed them well with a wooden spoon.
- Once everything was well combined, I began the tedious process of forming the very small dough balls. I made sure that they were no larger in diameter than a penny. The reason that I like them so small is that one cookie is a perfect bite-sized morsel full of toasted pecans.
I placed the little balls in a single layer on an ungreased sheet pan. Because of the amount of butter in the recipe, it’s unnecessary to line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
The cookies expand very little during cooking. Therefore, I left little space between them.
- I baked the cookies in a preheated 350°F oven for about 25 minutes until they were golden brown.
How to Finish the Cookies
When I removed the cookies from the oven, I immediately transferred them to a 9×12-inch pan and covered them with confectioners’ sugar. I tossed the cookies to coat and transferred the coated balls to a plate.
Once all of the cookies had been coated with confectioners’ sugar, I repeated the process. Because the cookies were hot during the first coating, the confectioners’ sugar melted just a bit. This allowed the confectioners’ sugar from the second coating to adhere nicely to the now warm cookies.
Although it was somewhat of a tedious process to roll the dough into such small balls and then double-coat them with confectioners’ sugar, it was well worth it.
The Edible Gift
Did I mention that these amazing little Snowball Cookies make beautiful homemade edible gifts? I like to put them into little jars with lids. The best place that I’ve found to get the jars is at a Dollar Store or equivalent.
Once the cookies are in the jar, I “wrap” them in nylon net. I finish them off with curled ribbon and little Christmas balls. Sometimes, I will include the recipe on a little card.
Sometimes, I’ll package the cookies in clear cello bags tied with decorative ribbon. Also, this sweet treat is generally the most popular recipe in holiday cookie exchanges.
These Toasted Pecan Snowball Cookies never cease to bring rave reviews from those lucky enough to receive them!
Whether you keep the Toasted Pecan Snowball Cookies for yourself or give them as gifts, you will find they are better the next day as the depth of flavor intensifies.
The Toasted Pecan Snowball Cookies will stay fresh for a week with packaged in an airtight container.
These little snowballs make the perfect edible gift for the holiday season and are the perfect size to pop into your mouth. In addition, the nutty flavor of these little snowballs is irresistible. Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions
The difference among these three sugars is the name.
Toasting pecans releases their natural oils, which intensify their flavor and aroma. Pecans have a rich, buttery flavor that becomes even more pronounced when toasted. Also toasting pecans makes them crunchier.
Feel free to substitute walnuts in this recipe. I would, however, toast the walnuts.
I place pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake them in a 350°F oven for about 8 minutes, watching closely to ensure that the pecans don’t over toast.
Other Edible Gift Ideas
If you would like more ideas for making delicious edible gifts, you would try the following:
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Recipe
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Toasted Pecan Snowball Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks, 8-ounces, 227 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ⅓ cup (1.33-ounces, 38 grams) confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 2 cups (10-ounces, 283 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups (6-ounces, 170 grams) chopped pecans, toasted (See Tip 1)
- Additional confectioners' sugar for dusting, about 2 cups
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- In a large bowl, beat butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and water until fluffy, about a minute. Add flour and stir until well blended. Stir in pecans.
- Form into small balls (no larger than the diameter of a penny – the smaller the balls, the better the cookies). Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and immediately roll in confectioners' sugar. When all cookies have been rolled in confectioners' sugar, roll the cookies again in confectioners 'sugar. (See Tip 2)
- Store in an airtight container. (See Tip 3)
- Yield: 13 to 14 dozen.
Tips/Notes
- To toast pecans, spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant. Watch carefully to ensure that the pecans don’t over-toast or burn.
- I always double roll these amazing cookies in confectioners’ sugar. When I add the hot cookies to the confectioners’ sugar and roll them the first time, the heat of the cookies somewhat melts the confectioners’ sugar. That way, on the second roll, the confectioners’ sugar adheres nicely to the cookie!
- If I’m making the cookies for us, I store them in a Ziploc bag. However, if they’re going to be a Christmas gift, I place them in a decorative jar with a top, and then “wrap” the jar in nylon mesh tied with curly ribbon and tiny Christmas balls. I usually purchase the jars from a dollar-type store.
Wendy says
No salt??
Chula King says
Wendy,
I’ve been making these cookies for decades, and have never added salt.
Chula
Janet Veltre says
Do I need to chill the dough before rolling it into balls and baking them?
Chula King says
Hi Janet,
I’ve never chilled the dough – just roll the dough into balls after I’ve combined the pecans and pop it in the oven.
Chula
marla says
I just found your site and saw southern Az. Wondering from where as that is where I grew up also. I have made snowball cookies for years!! The roasting of pecans sounds delish! Thanks for the tip.
PudgeFactor says
It was Yuma, Arizona! I always roast the pecans before I add them to a recipe. The roasting brings out an amazing flavor.
Chef Dennis says
Yum! This Toasted Pecan Snowball Cookies Recipe is such a perfect Christmas gift idea. These cookies look sooo delicious and I’m sure my family and friends will love to receive this.
PudgeFactor says
I’ve been making these for years as Christmas gifts – they never cease to delight!
bj says
Love your photos! Will be making these for gifting and of course some eating. What a wonderful site you have, wonderful food with great ideas how to gift it.
PudgeFactor says
Thanks so much! It’s hard for me to eat just one!