Description
Buttery Pecan Snowball Cookies are delightful, melt-in-your-mouth treats featuring finely chopped pecans enveloped in a tender, buttery dough. These classic cookies are perfectly dusted with powdered sugar, giving them a snowy appearance and a sweet finish, making them ideal for holidays, gatherings, or any time you crave a delicious, nutty cookie.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup pecans (or walnuts), finely chopped
For Dusting
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the softened butter and ½ cup of powdered sugar together on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a soft texture for your cookies.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the salt and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture. Gradually add the all-purpose flour at low speed until just combined to avoid over-mixing. Then stir in the finely chopped pecans by hand to evenly distribute the nuts without breaking the dough.
- Shape Cookies: Using a 1-tablespoon scoop, portion out dough balls approximately 1 inch in diameter. Place these on the lined baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for gentle spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the bottoms turn lightly golden. Be careful not to overbake to maintain a soft, crumbly texture.
- First Sugar Roll: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. While still warm, gently roll each cookie in powdered sugar to coat them with a delicate layer of sweetness.
- Cool and Second Sugar Roll: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Once fully cooled, roll the cookies in powdered sugar again for a thick, snowy coating that enhances their classic look and flavor.
- Serve: Serve your Buttery Pecan Snowball Cookies and enjoy the tender crumb and nutty richness.
Notes
- For a different nutty flavor, walnuts can be used instead of pecans.
- Ensure butter is softened but not melted to achieve the perfect dough consistency.
- Rolling cookies in powdered sugar twice provides the signature snowball appearance and sweetness.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week for best freshness.
- For added depth, you can toast the pecans lightly before chopping and mixing them into the dough.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Buttery Pecan Snowball Cookies, pecan cookies, snowball cookies recipe, powdered sugar cookies, holiday cookies
