The Best Gingerbread Snowball Cookies Recipe for Holiday Magic

Festive gingerbread snowball cookies bring cozy winter magic right into your kitchen.

Warm spices swirl through delicate, powdery rounds that melt softly on your tongue.

Each tender bite carries hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove dancing together.

Powdered sugar creates a delightful snowy coating that makes these treats look like miniature winter wonderlands.

Baking these cookies fills your home with an irresistible aroma that beckons everyone to the kitchen.

Small yet packed with robust flavor, these little gems promise to become a cherished seasonal tradition.

You’ll find yourself falling in love with every crumbly, spice-filled morsel that transports you straight to holiday happiness.

Snowball Cookies That Bring Gingerbread Flavor to the Party

• Whip Up Festive Flavor: Packed with warm, aromatic holiday spices like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg that create an irresistible seasonal taste.
• Embrace Effortless Baking: Super simple recipe with minimal ingredients and straightforward steps that even novice bakers can master with confidence.
• Create Nostalgic Moments: Perfect for holiday gatherings, cookie exchanges, or cozy family baking sessions that spark joy and create cherished memories.
• Quick and Delightful Treat: Requires minimal preparation time and delivers delicious results, making these cookies an ideal last-minute dessert for unexpected guests or spontaneous sweet cravings.

Gingerbread Snowball Cookies Ingredient Breakdown

• Butter: Rich and creamy base for soft cookies.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and delicate texture.
• Flour: Gives structure to the cookie dough.

• Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves: Warm and aromatic holiday spices that create signature gingerbread flavor.

• Vanilla, Molasses: Adds depth and rich warmth to the cookie.

• Salt: Balances and enhances overall flavor.
• Powdered Sugar (for rolling): Creates snowy, sweet coating.

Gingerbread Snowball Cookies Recipe Steps

Step 1: Whip Up the Base

Get your butter nice and soft. Blend it with powdered sugar until the mixture becomes light and airy. Pour in vanilla and molasses, stirring until everything looks smooth and combined.

Step 2: Prepare Spice Mixture

• All-purpose flour
• Ground ginger
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground nutmeg
• Ground cloves
• Salt

Step 3: Create Cookie Dough

Slowly fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Mix gently until a soft dough emerges. The texture should feel slightly tacky but manageable. If the dough feels too sticky, sprinkle a bit more flour and mix again.

Step 4: Chill and Rest

Cover the dough completely and park it in the refrigerator. Let it hang out and firm up for about 30-60 minutes. This helps the flavors meld and makes the dough easier to handle.

Step 5: Shape the Cookies

Warm up your oven to 350°F. Roll the chilled dough into small round balls, each about the size of a walnut. Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between each cookie.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Slide the baking sheet into the oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the bottoms turn a gentle golden color and the tops look set. After baking, let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.

Step 7: Sugar Coating Magic

Once the cookies have completely cooled, roll them generously in powdered sugar. This gives them that gorgeous snowball look. For an extra festive touch, give them another light dusting of sugar just before serving.

Snowball Cookie Tips for Gingerbread Cheer

• Prevent Sticky Dough: Chill the dough thoroughly to make it easier to handle and shape into perfect snowball cookies.
• Boost Spice Intensity: Add a pinch of extra ground ginger or a dash of black pepper to enhance the warm, festive flavor profile.
• Perfect Powdered Sugar Coating: Let cookies cool completely before rolling in powdered sugar to prevent clumping and achieve a clean, snowy appearance.
• Make Ahead Friendly: Prepare the dough up to 3 days in advance and store in the refrigerator for convenient holiday baking.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend to accommodate dietary restrictions without compromising taste.

Store Gingerbread Snowball Cookies the Easy Way

• Seal cooled cookies in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper. Keep fresh for up to 5 days at 40°F or lower.
• Wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap, place in freezer-safe container. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• Warm cookies gently in preheated oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes. Restore crisp texture and refresh powdered sugar coating by rolling in fresh sugar after warming.
• Store in covered container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources to maintain texture and flavor.

Gingerbread Snowball Cookies Side Picks

• Pair Spiced Warmth with Mulled Wine: The gingerbread's rich, warm spices beautifully complement a hot mulled wine, enhancing the cookie's deep flavors with its own cinnamon and clove notes.
• Elevate with Creamy Eggnog: Smooth, velvety eggnog creates a delightful contrast to the crisp cookie texture, while matching the warm holiday spice profile perfectly.
• Brew Spiced Chai Tea: A fragrant chai tea mirrors the cookie's ginger and cinnamon elements, creating a harmonious taste experience that feels like a cozy winter embrace.
• Match with Dark Chocolate Espresso: A rich, bittersweet espresso or dark chocolate drink cuts through the cookie's sweetness, providing a sophisticated flavor balance.

Gingerbread Snowball Cookie Variants

• Gluten-Free Gingerbread Snowballs: Replace wheat flour with almond or gluten-free blend for a celiac-friendly version. These cookies maintain the same warm spice profile while accommodating dietary restrictions.
• Vegan Winter Spice Cookies: Swap butter with coconut oil and use plant-based powdered sugar. Add flax egg as a binding agent to create a dairy-free and egg-free alternative that's equally delicious.
• Low-Sugar Ginger Cookies: Substitute powdered sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia. Reduce overall sugar content while keeping the rich, spicy gingerbread flavor intact for health-conscious bakers.
• Nut-Infused Spice Snowballs: Mix finely chopped pecans or walnuts into the dough for added texture and nutty complexity. These cookies provide an extra crunch and depth of flavor to the traditional recipe.

FAQs

• What gives these cookies their unique gingerbread flavor?

The combination of warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves creates the classic gingerbread taste that makes these snowball cookies special.

• How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking?

Chilling the dough for 30-60 minutes helps the butter firm up, which prevents excessive spreading and helps the cookies maintain their round shape.

• Can I make these cookies ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before baking, or freeze the unbaked dough balls for up to 3 months.

• Is it important to use powdered sugar when rolling the cookies?

Powdered sugar creates a soft, snow-like coating that looks beautiful and adds a delicate sweetness to the cookies, making it an essential final step in the recipe.

Gingerbread Snowball Cookies Recipe

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• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Delightful gingerbread snowball cookies offer a festive winter escape with their warm spices and powdery sugar coating. Crumbly, buttery morsels melt in your mouth, bringing holiday cheer to sweet-seeking souls.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus extra for dusting)

Spices and Seasonings:

• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Additional Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Prepare the aromatic base by whipping softened butter and powdered sugar until achieving a cloud-like, ethereal texture. Introduce vanilla extract and rich molasses, blending until the mixture becomes silky and uniform.
2. In a separate vessel, meticulously sift together flour, ground ginger, warming cinnamon, fragrant nutmeg, piquant cloves, and a delicate pinch of salt, ensuring thorough integration of spices.
3. Gently fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture, stirring with precision until a tender, cohesive dough emerges. Adjust consistency by incorporating additional flour if the mixture appears overly moist.
4. Encase the dough in protective wrap and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes, permitting the flavors to meld and the texture to firm.
5. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Craft uniform spheres approximately one inch in diameter, positioning them carefully on a parchment-lined baking surface with ample spacing.
6. Bake the delicate morsels for 10-12 minutes, watching for a subtle golden hue developing at the base and a set appearance on top. Allow cookies to recuperate on the baking sheet momentarily before transferring to a cooling rack.
7. Once completely cooled, lovingly enrobe each cookie in a generous blanket of powdered sugar, creating a pristine, snow-kissed exterior. For an extra touch of winter wonderland, consider a secondary sugar dusting just before serving.

Notes

• Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain their delicate, crumbly texture and prevent them from drying out.
• Swap out traditional flour for gluten-free alternatives like almond or rice flour to make these cookies suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Enhance the warming spice profile by toasting ground spices briefly in a dry skillet before adding them to the dough, which intensifies their aromatic qualities and deepens the flavor complexity.
• For a festive twist, add finely chopped crystallized ginger or orange zest to the dough to create an unexpected burst of flavor that complements the traditional gingerbread spices.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 120
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 30 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 13 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg