Pecan Snowball Cookies

Pecan Snowball Cookies are an American classic dessert often made during Christmas festivities. These buttery delicate cookies are loaded with pecans and coated with powdered sugar, offering the perfect balance between richness, crunch, and sweetness.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 18

Total Time 48

Servings snowball cookies

Calories 174kcal

Author Kanan

Ingredients

2 cups Pecans Toasted and crushed in a food processor
1 cup Unsalted butter Softened at room temperature
⅓ cup White sugar
2 cups All purpose flour (Maida)
¼ teaspoon Salt
1 ½ cups Powdered sugar (Confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar)

Instructions

Toast The Pecans & Crush:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) for at least 10 minutes.
Spread pecans on the baking sheet and bake for 5-8 minutes ensuring you toss them once halfway through. Let them cool down. Alternatively, you can dry roast them in a pan on the stovetop with stirring constantly.
Once cooled, crush them coarsely in a food processor.

Make Snowball Cookies:

In a stand mixer bowl, add softened butter and sugar. Using a paddle attachment, beat until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and light in color.
Add crushed pecans, salt, and flour to the mixture.
Continue to beat on low until a dough forms.
Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Using a cookie scoop, form tablespoon-sized balls and place them an inch apart on the prepared sheet.
Bake for approximately 18-19 minutes.
Let them cool on the pan for about 5 minutes.
Roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar, place them on the wire rack, and let them cool completely.
Once completely cooled, generously coat them once more in powdered sugar.

Notes

Ensure your butter is softened at room temperature before beginning to make cookie dough. Softened butter blends more easily with the sugar, resulting in a uniform cookie texture.
Maintaining uniform cookie size ensures even baking. Use a cookie/ice cream scoop to achieve even size.
Roll cookies two times in powdered sugar: Rolling the cookies in sugar while they are still warm ensures better adherence. A second coating gives them a snowy appearance and enhances sweetness.
Placing the cookie sheet in the middle rack ensures even baking.
These pecan snowball cookies should remain light in color, so make sure not to overbake. They will continue to set as they cool.

Nutrition