Description
Delightful Pecan Snowball Cookies crumble with Southern charm, offering a melt-in-your-mouth experience of pure holiday bliss. Winter celebrations become magical when you savor these powdered sugar-dusted, nutty little treasures.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
Sweetening Ingredients:
- ½ cup powdered sugar (plus extra for rolling)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Seasoning Ingredients:
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat for optimal cookie release.
- Pulverize pecans in a food processor until they reach a fine, sandy consistency, ensuring uniform texture throughout the mixture.
- Cream together softened butter and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl, blending until the mixture becomes light and fluffy with a smooth appearance.
- Incorporate vanilla extract and salt into the butter mixture, stirring thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
- Gradually fold ground pecans and flour into the creamed mixture, mixing gently until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Shape the dough into small, compact spheres approximately one inch in diameter, placing them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges and a slightly set appearance without excessive browning.
- Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, maintaining their delicate structure.
- While still warm, carefully roll each cookie in additional powdered sugar, creating a soft, snow-like coating that completely envelops the surface.
- Transfer the sugar-coated cookies to a wire rack, allowing them to cool completely and solidify their signature powdery exterior.
- Store the pecan snowball cookies in an airtight container, preserving their delicate texture and ensuring maximum freshness.
Notes
- Toast pecans beforehand to enhance their nutty, rich flavor and create a deeper, more complex taste profile in the cookies.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and maintain the signature round snowball shape.
- Use powdered sugar for rolling instead of granulated sugar for a smoother, more delicate coating that melts beautifully on the cookie surface.
- For gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to make these cookies accessible to those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 136
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 29 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg