Forget your normal Christmas Cookies! These shortbread cookies, that I call snowball cookies, are also called wedding cookies and vienna cookies or even powdered nutballs. No matter what you call them, these cookies are perfect for Christmas or any holiday baking and giving, but they are so good you may not want to give them away. Watch my video for a lot more variations on what to call these delicious cookies. The recipe can be found below the video.
Sugar’s Snowball Christmas Cookies
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Start to Finish: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 3 dozen cookies
Ingredients:
- 2 sticks of butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (if dough seems too wet add an extra tablespoon or two)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Directions:
Melt butter in saucepan over medium high heat then add chopped pecans. Continue cooking and stirring until butter melts and starts to turn brown (around 3 minutes). Butter will get foamy as it cooks so gently stir to prevent the nuts from burning. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Refrigerate until mixture is cooled (approximately 20 – 30 minutes)(Make Sure Butter Nut Mixture is COOL or cookies will flatten out when they bake).
Heat oven to 350°F. Combine cooled browned butter pecan mixture and granulated sugar in large bowl. With an electric mixer, beat on medium speed until mixed well. Add vanilla, and cinnamon until combined. Reduce speed and gradually add flour and mix on low until dough forms. If dough seems too wet, add an extra tablespoon or two of flour.
Roll dough into 1 1/2-inch size balls. Place balls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until cookies turn slightly golden brown but don’t over cook.
Remove cookies from cookie sheet to a cooling rack. Cool for a minute or two. Place powdered sugar in a bowl and roll the warm cookies in the powdered sugar. Set cookies aside to cool and then roll once more in powdered sugar.
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{ 72 comments… read them below or add one }
I am making these now
Oh yum Carla. I wish I was coming over to have some with a cup of coffee.
Enjoy!
Sugar
Sugar! Great receipe! I’m making them this year!
Love John’s final comment.. LOL
Oh great Jen. They are so yummy be sure to give most of them away because you will want to eat all of them. LOL!! We laughed so hard doing this silly video.
Have a great holiday.
Sugar
Thanks Sugar for this great recipe. I have just added it to my list of Christmas baking this year. I have had very similar version years ago and if I remember correctly I think they were called Mexican wedding cookies. I really loved them then and I am looking forward to ruining my diet again with them this year. Can I substitute something other than nuts? We have a family member with nut allergies so we need to get creative. Coconut sounds ok. Any other suggestions? Peggy
You can add some coconut. You can also just use flavorings. Maybe some amaretto or lemon. Get creative. I’m sure they will be yummy.
Happy Baking and keep me posted.
Sounds delicious. I’m going to make them for a teachers’ cookie walk next week. I hope they are a hit. I have left over pecans from Thanksgiving.
Oh Noreen they go fast trust me. My kids eat them two at a time. LOL!
I think they will be a hit. Keep me posted and enjoy.
Sugar
Sugar, These cookies have been a great hit! I have made them for 2 teachers’ cake walks, as a christmas gift and for a party. I sure to keep this recipe forever. Thanks for sharing.
I make these every year (we call them Mexican wedding cakes or Pecan sandies). I can’t wait to try your variation!
Steph honey I think you will love them. The brown butter is just so yummy.
Keep me posted.
Hugs
Awsome Recipe Sugar! My mom used to make these and instead of coating them with powdered sugar we dipped them in melted dark chocolate for a new twist on our old favorite.
Alexis,
No Way!!! I have to try that. They must be amazing dipped in chocolate. YUM Yum Yum!!
Thanks so much for the feedback.
Sugar
Great recipe!!! My nana loved making these every year for the holidays….I do too, continuing with the tradition. Wish I had the time to make them this year….
Susan,
I know. These cookies bring back a lot of special memories for so many of us. Maybe you can find the time to make them. Hugs,
Well, I used to call them Russian Tea Cakes, but they will be Snowballs from now on. I always make a huge box of Christmas treats for my husband to take to work. This year I’ll add Snowballs for him to take to the Air Force Base.
Oh Sharyn, Snowballs sound so much better, right? LOL!! God Bless you and your family and I hope your hubby likes his snowballs.
Hugs,
Sugar
My grandmother always made these for Christmas. She called them Butter Balls.
Oh Marisa that is so funny. They are butter balls. There is enough butter to totally clog up your heart but they are so good.
Sugar, I love your videos! Thanks for the recipe, I never knew how to make these delicious cookies….I get them from my local bakery from time to time. But now I know the secret…I think I will try them with pecans. Looking forward to more Christmas cookie recipes!
Kathleen,
I am so glad you like his recipe and my video. It makes my day to know that people are making my recipes. Enjoy it and have a blessed Christmas.
Sugar
OMG – my Grandmother called them “Snowman Balls” LOL. Can’t even tell you what she called certain nuts (: She had a crazy/sick sense of humor God rest her soul. She would have loved the very end of your video. YUM – Love pecans!!! Great video!
Love from an old Jersey pal (: P.S. Marisa sent me here.
Lori,
Honey how are you?
So nice to hear from you. My Grandmother was the same way. LOL!! So glad you found my site. Keep in touch. We should all try to get together soon.
Hugs
My mother makes these! we call them wedding ball cookies..
Colleen,
Yes Wedding Balls or Wedding cookies seems to be the most common name I have seen. Whatever we call them they are just yummy!
Thanks for sharing.
Sugar
Hi Sugar,
I L O V E your recipes, and your humor!
I am Greek and we call these beautiful balls, Kourambiethes. We make them in a variety of patterns: “S” shaped, “Balls” “Disks” or “Church Bells – basically a pyramid cone that is pinched and formed into a bell shape.
They are DELISH and I make them frequently for weddings, baptisms, feast days, etc.
I use a mix of oven toasted almonds, after which I grind them finely. AND add whole slivered toasted almonds to give the cookie a bite.
Please keep baking and posting your recipes. You are a delight!
Merry Christmas,
-Margaret
Another tip: When they come right out of the oven-still on the baking sheet-, baste them with Whiskey! The cookie soaks up the whiskey and the finished taste -after they have rolled in the powdered sugar- is soooooo good!
Margaret
Margaret,
You are so sweet to write such lovely feedback. I love the idea of the whisky too. I also love these with almonds. Thanks again honey and have a Merry Christmas.
Sugar :0)
Love your video on these cookies, I am going to make these for Christmas but can you use walnuts instead of the peacans?
Lynn,
Hi, thanks so much for the sweet feedback. Sure you can use walnuts or any nut you like. Almonds are the most comon with this type of cookie but the waluts are great too. I have used them in the past as well just make sure you chop them real fine.
Enjoy!
Sugar
Sugar…just pulled the last batch out of the oven and they are FAB!!! The kids are starting to trickle in and the cookies are already dwindling!!!! LOVE LOVE THEM!! XOXO
Tammy,
I’m so glad you like them. They don’t last long in my house. Enjoy them honey.
Big Hugs!
Sugar
Hi Sugar!
These are a classic favorite to make at my house during the holiday season. We call them “melting moments”. I get people requesting these every year! Simple, quick and deeeeeeeelicious! Hope your holiday season is filled with warmth, happiness and peace! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Your Fan!
Lindee
Lindee,
Thanks for the feedback honey. These are such yummy treats. I hope you enjoy making them this season and have a Merry Christmas.
Sugar
While making a list of what cookies to make this year my mother wanted a cookie she couldn’t remember the name of. It was was white, had nuts & powder, she said. I didn’t know either but thanks to you, Sugar I now know what she she wanted! I’m going to surprise her & make them. Thanks! I LOVE your blog! The only complaint I have is I want more! Hope you & your family have a Merry Christmas!
P.S. I loved your Halloween cocktail. Have any ‘Christmas themed’ cocktails in the works?
Christine
Oh I am so happy you found this recipe and you are going to make it for your mom. I am sure she will love it.
I know how you feel about wanting more. I wish there were more hours in the day and I had a staff to help me because there are so many amazing recipes, ideas and tricks I want to shar with everyone but I can only do so much. LOL!! I do have a yummy martini that I did last year. You can see it here
http://www.cookingwithsugar.com/italian-eggnog-martini-a-holiday-cocktail/ I also did a white chocolate one that I can add this week.
Thanks so much for your support and please be sure to share me with your friends so we can spread the love. Have a very merry Christmas.
Sugar
Hi Sugar
I am so upset! I just made these and the balls flattened out to regular flat cookies in my oven! Why would this happen? I followed the recipe, adding more flour as the consistency seemed too wet – was this possibly where I went wrong? Also I baked on a slickmat, could this have something to do with it?
Thanks,
Michelle
Michelle,
I don’t know what went wrong honey. I make these all the time and so do friends and family. I have also had other people on my blog make these and they cam out fine. I don’t know why they would flatten out like that. The only thing I can think of is that you made the balls too small and that is why they flattened out. Next time try making them bigger and I think that will do the job. I’m glad that they still tasted good.
Sugat
Sugar,
I had the same thing happen! I think maybe it was because someone opened the door to the oven too early…also I put two trays in at once…maybe just one at a time? Perhaps two trays isn’t the way to go. I had larger size balls though, so I don’t know if that was my issue. I was still able to use them and they taste good, just a bit crumbly on the edges. I will try again and make sure that the door stays shut!!
Yes Nicki one tray at a time is the way to go with baking. I’m sure they still tasted great. Thanks for the feedback and have a great holiday.
Sugar
Oh yes, they are wonderful! Thanks again! And happy holiday to you and your family!
Sugar,
I loved your video. You make it look so simple with no mess and no fuss.
Just yesterday I was looking for this recipe and now I find it made by you.
I will most definitely have to make them for Kenny. He has been asking me
to get my sister in laws recipe for years.
Thank you again for showing me how and now I don’t feel intimidated since I seldom bake.
Have a Merry Christmas and hope to see you soon.
Enza
Enza honey it is so nice to hear from you. These cookies are very easy so I am sure they will be yummy. Thanks so much for your sweet feedback. I hope Kenny enjoys them.
We should get together after the Holidays.
Have a Merry Christmas.
Arlene
Sugar, I have made these before, but never with your method of browning the butter and nuts first. OMG, that made a world of difference in depth of flavor. They turned out perfect. Thanks for sharing.
Shari,
Thank you so much for your feedback. It made my night to hear that you liked them and they turned out perfect.
Enjoy them because they won’t last long.
Sugar
I’ve been using my mother’s recipes up until now (she called them Russian Teacakes), but I’m going to make yours this year. They will be different and wonderful with the browned butter and toasted nuts!
Chris,
Thanks for the feedback and have a wonderful holiday. Be sure to let me know how they turn out.
Hugs,
Sugar
Sugar, I’m making these over the weekend to bring to a friend’s christmas brunch on Sunday. How do you recommend storing them and how long will they keep? Can’t wait to eat one!!
Bonnie
Bonnie,
I’m sorry I didn’t see this sooner. You can just store them in a closed container with a good dusting of powdered sugar.
Hey There Arlene/Sugar.. First I wanted to say Hello, I think you remember me, it’s been a long time, but also congradulate you with your website. You are doing a fabulous job ! Now as for the cookies, I had searched a few years ago for something similar to these, which took me forever to find and I cannot find the darn recipe again, but they call for maraschino cherries and chopped walnuts..same kind of “snowballs or nutballs” look and texture..would you know where I can find the recipe for them ?? HELP!! I would so appreciate it !!
Dorina,
Hi honey how could I forget you. John and I met playing spin the bottle at your birthday party. LOL!! I will remember that forever. It’s so nice to hear from you. I do have a recipe like that. Here it is.
Christmas Walnut-Cherry Snowball Cookies
1/4 cup coarsely chopped maraschino cherry
1 cup butter , softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 325°F
Drain maraschino cherries on paper towels; pat dry to remove any excess liquid.
Set cherries aside.
Beat butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
Beat in the 1/2 cup powdered sugar, almond extract, and vanilla until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally.
Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer.
Stir in any remaining flour, nuts, and cherries with a wooden spoon.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until bottoms are lightly brown.
Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheets on wire racks.
Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar to coat and transfer cookies to wire racks and cool completely.
Roll cooled cookies in additional powdered sugar before serving. Makes about 48 balls.
Thanks so much for checking out my site. Please pass it on to your friends and family and stay in touch.
Much love and a Merry Christmas,
Arlene
P.S. My family calls me sugar now because my nephew started calling me that when he was born. Sort of funny how nicknames get started.
I made these today and they are delicious!! Sugar is correct about the added flavor due to browning the butter and pecans. This added step gives a fabulous rich flavor unlike any recipe I have tried. I made them to bring to a Christmas brunch tomorrow and my husband and I can’t stop eating them!!! Just something I would like to point out. Depending on how much moisture is in your flour, I found that my dough was not too moist but instead I had to add about two additional tablespoons of butter at the end and that did the trick. Prior to doing so my dough was very crumbly. IN addition, I made mine a little larger, therefore, I got 30 out of the recipe instead of 36. I think because of that and also because everyones ovens are not the same, I had to cook mine an additional 3 – 4 minutes. IN the end, they came out delicious and I can wait to hear what my friends have to say at the brunch tomorrow!
Thanks for sharing this fabulous family recipe with us Sugar.
Bonnie
Bonnie,
Hi honey I am so glad you liked them. Baking is tricky and I try very hard to get the recipe as close to perfect as I can but you see all the variables.LOL!!
Thanks so much for taking the time to post.
Hugs,
Sugar
Everyone at the party today LOVE these cookies and some were putting them in napkins and stashing them in their handbags to bring a couple home. Good thing I decided to make another bath! By doing so I was able to keep my own stash and bring them rest. Mmmm Fabulous Recipe!!!
Bonnie
Bonnie,
OMG!! You are too funny. Thanks so much for the feedback honey. I wish I had one with my coffee right now. I may have to make a batch just for me today. LOL!!
Hugs,
Sugar
Hi Sugar,
I love your recipes but I have a quick question. In the UK we don’t have butter sold in sticks the way you do in the US. Roughly how much does a stick of butter weigh? I would love to make these cookies but can’t figure out how much butter to put in. Also we don’t have ‘All purpose flour’ in the UK, we have plain flour or self raising. Thank you so much for your recipes.
Much love,
Jenna X
Jenna,
Hi,
Two sticks of our butter here is equal to one cup. The regular flour is the same as our all pursose so you should be fine. Have fun making them and have a great holiday.
Sugar
I made them and they turned out great! The cup of butter and plain flour were spot on. These are so delicious, my hubby loves them! Thank you so much Sugar! XxX
Jenna,
I am so happy to hear that they turned out well. Thank you for letting me know. Have a beautiful holiday.
Sugar
A childhood favorite. Lost the recipe over time and glad to have you share it with me. Made these every year with my children – who got more powdered sugar on them (and the kitchen) than on the cookies. These never made it to Christmas. Yum, yum!
I know Linda my daughter loves these so much she eats them when they are hot right after we roll them in the sugar. They bearly last the evening.
Enjoy and have a great Christmas.
Sugar
I have been looking for this similar recipe my Mom used to make called melting moments, only change I am making is using half almond extract and half vanilla extract. Aim am sure they will be delicious.
Yes I love these with almond. YUM!!!
Sugar
Please can you tell me the weight in a stick of butter?
I am from Scotland and unsure of your measurements.
Thanks
Anne
Hi Anne,
Here in the US 1 stick of butter is a 1/2 cup for this recipe you need 2 sticks so that is 1 cup. If you see Jenna’s post below she is in the UK and she used 1 cup of butter and plain flour and they turned out great.
Enjoy and thanks for checking out my site.
Sugar
Made these for my mom for a Christmas present…..she LOVED them. thank you
Oh Paige you made my day. Thanks for your feedback. I’m so thrilled to hear that your mom liked them.
Sugar
Made these for Christmas .. they were so good!! Easy to make ..
Connie,
I’m so glad you liked them. Thanks for the feedback and Happy New Year.
Sugar
Dear Sugar,
I am so looking forward to making these again. My sister and I use to make these together when we were younger and I remembered how much we enjoyed them (making and eating!). We followed I think it was the Betty Crocker recipe but I look forward to trying yours as soon as I buy some pecans! Oh and we use to call them Russian Tea Cakes. Thanks for a trip down memory lane.
Sincerely, Bri
Bri,
Thanks so much for the feedback. I do hope you enjoy them soon.
Happy New Year!
Sugar
This needs where they come from!!!