Description
Buttery, tender gingerbread-spiced snowball cookies rolled in powdered sugar for a festive, melt-in-your-mouth treat. Perfect for holiday platters, gifting, and cozying up with a warm drink.
Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter, 1 cup (2 sticks), softened
- Powdered Sugar, 1/2 cup plus extra for rolling
- Vanilla Extract, 1 teaspoon
- All-Purpose Flour, 2 1/4 cups
- Ground Cinnamon, 1 teaspoon
- Ground Ginger, 1 teaspoon
- Ground Cloves, 1/4 teaspoon
- Salt, 1/4 teaspoon
- Chopped Pecans or Walnuts, 1 cup (optional for crunch)
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract. Stir in the flour, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and salt until just combined. Fold in the chopped nuts.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Ensure baking sheets are lined and spaced for even baking, with about 2 inches between each cookie.
- Assemble the Dish: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. For neater shapes chill the shaped dough balls for 30 minutes before baking.
- Cook to Perfection: Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden and the tops look set.
- Finishing Touches: While still warm, roll each cookie in powdered sugar so it adheres. Allow cookies to cool and then roll again in powdered sugar for a snowy finish.
- Serve and Enjoy: Arrange on a platter and serve with tea, cocoa, or cider, or package them as gifts.
Notes
- Sift powdered sugar before rolling to avoid clumps.
- Chill dough or shaped balls to prevent spreading and keep a round snowball shape.
- Toast nuts lightly for extra depth of flavor before folding into the dough.
- Roll once warm and once cooled to achieve a long-lasting snowy coating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 to 14 minutes per batch (use 14 minutes for planning)
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: gingerbread snowball cookies, snowball cookies, gingerbread cookies, holiday cookies, Russian tea cakes, Mexican wedding cookies, spiced cookies