Description
Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth Pecan Snowball Cookies rolled in powdered sugar – a classic Christmas treat perfect for cookie exchanges and holiday gifting!
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup powdered sugar (for dough)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup pecans, finely chopped and toasted
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Toast pecans on a baking sheet for 5-7 minutes until fragrant. Cool completely, then finely chop.
3. Cream butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until light and fluffy (3-4 minutes).
4. Add vanilla extract and salt, mixing until combined.
5. Gradually add flour on low speed until just combined.
6. Fold in toasted, chopped pecans with a spatula.
7. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
8. Bake for 12-15 minutes until set and lightly golden on the bottom (tops should remain pale).
9. Cool on baking sheet for exactly 5 minutes.
10. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely (20 minutes).
11. Roll cooled cookies in powdered sugar a second time for a thick, snowy coating.
Notes
Toast pecans first – it deepens the flavor significantly.
Don’t overbake – cookies should look slightly underdone when you remove them.
The double sugar roll (warm, then cool) creates that signature thick coating.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months or unbaked dough balls for future use.
Substitute walnuts or almonds if pecans aren’t available.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 14mg
Keywords: pecan snowball cookies, christmas cookies, holiday baking, Mexican wedding cookies, butter cookies, powdered sugar cookies