Description
Festive Grinch Snowball Cookies bring holiday cheer with their green-tinted charm and delightful almond flavor. Powdered sugar coating and whimsical design make these treats perfect for Christmas celebrations and delighting guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- ½ cup (60 g) finely chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) salt
- Additional powdered sugar (for coating)
- 20–25 red candy hearts (or red M&Ms as a substitute)
Instructions
- Preheat Setup: Position oven rack in center and warm to 350F (175C), lining baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal cookie release.
- Butter Blend: Cream butter and powdered sugar until silky smooth, infusing vanilla extract to elevate aromatic complexity, creating a luxurious base mixture.
- Dry Element Integration: Sift flour, salt, and baking powder together, then gradually fold into butter mixture. Introduce green food coloring, kneading until dough achieves a vibrant emerald consistency reminiscent of the Grinch’s iconic hue.
- Cookie Formation: Craft uniform spherical clusters approximately 1 inch in diameter, strategically placing each green orb on prepared baking sheet with adequate spacing to ensure even heat distribution.
- Baking Transformation: Roast cookies for 10-12 minutes, watching for subtle golden edges while maintaining tender centers. Rest initially on baking sheet, then transition to wire rack for complete cooling.
- Festive Finishing: Lavishly dust completely cooled cookies with powdered sugar, creating a pristine snow-like exterior. Crown each treat with a whimsical red candy heart, symbolizing the Grinch’s heartwarming character evolution.
Notes
- Control Color Intensity: Add green food coloring gradually to achieve the perfect Grinch-inspired emerald shade without altering dough consistency.
- Prevent Cracking: Ensure butter is softened, not melted, to maintain cookie structure and create smooth, crack-free surfaces during baking.
- Achieve Perfect Texture: Roll cookies into uniform size for consistent baking and allow adequate spacing on the baking sheet to prevent spreading.
- Temperature Matters: Cool cookies completely before powdered sugar coating to prevent sugar from melting and ensure a pristine, snowy appearance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg