Description
Delicate walnut snowball cookies melt in your mouth with European charm. Powdered sugar-dusted delights offer a perfect winter treat that brings sweet comfort to your holiday table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups (5 sticks) unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (or toasted pecans)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (120g or 4 1/4 ounces)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for coating)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Flavor Enhancer:
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Create a uniform dough by blending flour, finely chopped walnuts, room-temperature butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and kosher salt in a mixing bowl until it reaches a crumbly, cohesive texture.
- Gently shape the mixture into compact, uniform spheres using your palms, ensuring each ball is roughly the same size for consistent baking.
- Refrigerate the formed dough balls for approximately 30-40 minutes to help them maintain their shape and develop a more concentrated flavor profile.
- Position the chilled dough balls on a lightly greased baking sheet, spacing them evenly to allow proper heat circulation during baking.
- Transfer the baking sheet to a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) and bake for 12-15 minutes, watching for subtle golden edges as an indication of doneness.
- Remove the cookies and allow them to rest on the baking tray for 3-4 minutes, enabling them to firm up slightly without overcooking.
- While still warm but not hot, delicately roll each cookie in powdered sugar, creating a light, even coating that resembles a soft winter landscape.
- After the initial sugar coating, let the cookies cool completely, then perform a second roll in powdered sugar for a more generous, elegant finish.
- Arrange the finished walnut snowball cookies on a serving platter, ready to melt in eager mouths and delight taste buds.
Notes
- Toasting walnuts beforehand intensifies their nutty flavor and adds a delightful crunch to these delicate cookies.
- For gluten-free options, swap regular flour with almond or coconut flour to maintain the tender texture.
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and ensure a perfectly round, melt-in-your-mouth snowball shape.
- Store cookies in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to maintain their delicate powdered sugar coating and prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 162
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg