Snowball Cookies

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Perfect choice! Snowball Cookies—also known as Mexican Wedding Cookies or Russian Tea Cakes—are a timeless treat that melt in your mouth. Here’s your big recipe version with everything expanded:

❄️ Snowball Cookies (Mexican Wedding Cookies / Russian Tea Cakes)

Introduction

Snowball Cookies are delicate, buttery shortbread-style cookies coated generously in powdered sugar, giving them their snowy appearance. They are crisp on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth tender inside, and filled with nutty richness. These cookies are especially popular during the holidays, weddings, and tea-time gatherings, making them not just a sweet treat but a celebration of love and togetherness.

Whether you call them Snowball Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Viennese Crescents, or Russian Tea Cakes, their charm remains the same: a light, powdery, sweet bite that feels like a gentle snowfall.

A Little History

Snowball cookies have traveled across continents under many names. Historians believe they originated from European shortbread traditions, specifically from Spain and Austria, before spreading worldwide. In Mexico, they became associated with weddings and festive occasions, earning the name Mexican Wedding Cookies. In Russia, they were served at elegant teas and became known as Tea Cakes. In the United States, they gained popularity in the 20th century as a Christmas favorite.

Despite cultural differences, all versions share the same key traits: butter, flour, nuts, and a generous dusting of powdered sugar. This cookie represents unity and shared joy across cultures.

Ingredients

For the Dough

  • 1 cup (2 sticks / 226 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar (plus more for rolling)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups (270 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (120 g) finely chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds)

For Coating

  • Extra powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions & Methods

Step 1 – Prepare the Dough

  1. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar together until smooth and fluffy.
  2. Mix in the vanilla extract for flavor.
  3. Gradually add the sifted flour and salt, mixing until just combined (do not overmix to avoid tough cookies).
  4. Fold in the finely chopped nuts until evenly distributed.
  5. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30–45 minutes to firm it up.

Step 2 – Shape the Cookies

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball between your palms.
  4. Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing slightly apart.

Step 3 – Bake

  1. Bake for 12–15 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly golden but the tops remain pale.
  2. Remove from oven and let cool for about 5 minutes (they should still be warm but firm enough to handle).

Step 4 – Roll in Sugar

  1. While cookies are still warm, gently roll each one in powdered sugar until fully coated.
  2. Place on a wire rack to cool completely.
  3. Once cooled, roll again in fresh powdered sugar for a snowy, festive finish.

Storage

  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
  • For longer storage, freeze baked cookies without powdered sugar coating. When ready to serve, thaw and roll in fresh powdered sugar.

Formation of the Cookie

These cookies are a delightful blend of:

  • Butter for richness and tenderness.
  • Flour to create the delicate crumbly texture.
  • Nuts for crunch, depth, and flavor.
  • Powdered sugar for sweetness and the iconic snowy finish.

The dough forms into small balls, which bake into perfectly round, lightly crisp cookies. Once rolled in sugar, their appearance resembles snow-covered treats straight from a winter wonderland.

Conclusion

Snowball Cookies are more than just a sweet bite—they are a tradition, a memory, and a shared delight. Their universal appeal lies in their simplicity and elegance, bridging cultures and celebrations. Whether served at a wedding, on a holiday platter, or at afternoon tea, these cookies never fail to bring joy.

For Lovers of Dessert

💛 Lovers of buttery cookies will swoon over the melt-in-your-mouth texture.
💛 Lovers of nuts will appreciate the earthy crunch inside every bite.
💛 Lovers of romantic gestures will find these cookies perfect for gifting, as their snowy sweetness symbolizes purity and love.

Snowball Cookies are the kind of dessert you want to share with those you adore—sweet, delicate, and timeless.

Would you like me to also create a festive variation guide (like chocolate-dipped snowballs, cinnamon-spiced versions, or lemon-zested ones) so you can surprise people with different flavors of the same classic?

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