Mexican Wedding Cookies

Snowball cookies are a delightful and festive treat, perfect for the holiday season. Resembling little snowballs, these cookies are delicate and covered in a generous coating of powdered sugar. With a buttery and nutty flavor, they melt in your mouth and bring joy to any occasion. This recipe provides a simple and satisfying way to create these delightful treats. Just be careful when handling them, as their delicate nature requires gentle care. So, let’s dive into the recipe and create these delightful snowball cookies.

MAKES: About 3 dozen

TIME: About 1 hour

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, plus more as needed
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, or almonds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter until it becomes light and fluffy. Add 3/4 cup of the confectioners’ sugar to the butter and cream them together until well combined.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and chopped nuts.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and beat until they are just combined. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Shape the dough into a disk and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 days. Alternatively, you can freeze the dough by wrapping it well for future use.
5. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and place them on ungreased baking sheets. Bake the cookies until the tops are just starting to turn brown and the bottoms are golden brown, which usually takes about 10 to 12 minutes.
6. Pour the remaining confectioners’ sugar into a pie plate or a shallow bowl. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets until they are cool enough to handle. Then, using a spatula, transfer the cookies in batches to the plate of sugar and roll them gently until they are fully coated. Place the coated cookies on a wire rack to finish cooling.
7. Once the cookies have cooled completely, roll them in the confectioners’ sugar again for an extra layer of sweetness. Store the snowball cookies in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to a day or two.

VARIATIONS:

• Chocolate-Filled Mexican Wedding Cookies: To add a delightful twist to the traditional snowball cookies, add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients in Step 2. In Step 4, tuck a small chunk of bittersweet chocolate (approximately the size of a raisin) into the center of each dough ball. Proceed with the recipe, and if desired, mix a spoonful of cocoa powder with the confectioners’ sugar before coating the cookies for an additional chocolatey touch.

• Almond Balls: For a nutty variation, use almonds instead of walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, or almonds. Additionally, substitute 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract for the vanilla extract in Step 2. Follow the rest of the recipe as usual.

These snowball cookies are a delightful addition to any holiday gathering or special occasion. Their delicate texture and sweet flavor make them a crowd-pleasing treat that everyone will enjoy. Whether you choose the classic version or experiment with different flavors, these cookies are sure to bring a touch of winter magic to your baking adventures. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let’s create these delectable snowball cookies together!