Irresistible Christmas Snowball Cookies: Your Ultimate Guide to Buttery, Sweet Holiday Treats
There’s something truly magical about homemade cookies during the holiday season. Among the countless festive treats, Christmas Snowball Cookies stand out as a beloved classic. These sweet, buttery, and incredibly easy-to-make delights are an absolute must-have for your holiday cookie trays, thoughtful gift exchanges, or simply a cozy evening with a warm cup of cocoa. Their delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture and iconic powdery white finish perfectly capture the spirit of winter, making them a festive favorite year after year. This unique cookie recipe is not only a new favorite for many but also a timeless tradition, packed with so much flavor in every bite that it’s genuinely hard to stop at just one.
With each batch yielding approximately two dozen cookies, there’s always plenty to share with friends, family, and neighbors. These charming little cookies are more than just a dessert; they’re a symbol of holiday cheer and delicious simplicity, promising smiles and satisfied palates all around. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting your holiday cookie journey, this foolproof recipe for traditional snowball cookies will guide you to perfection, ensuring a delightful addition to your festive celebrations.
What Are Christmas Snowball Cookies?
Christmas Snowball Cookies are essentially a type of shortbread cookie, characterized by their rich, buttery flavor and tender, crumbly texture. These small, round confections are often known by several other charming names, including Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding Cookies, or Butterball Cookies, each name hinting at their global popularity and timeless appeal. What makes our Christmas version truly special is the delightful inclusion of mini chocolate chips and festive holiday sprinkles, which add both an exciting textural contrast and a burst of color to the dough itself.
After being baked to a perfect golden (or barely golden) finish, these delightful treats are generously rolled in powdered sugar. This final step gives them their signature powdery white appearance, beautifully mimicking fresh winter snowballs – hence their fitting name! The coating isn’t just for looks; it adds an extra layer of delicate sweetness that melts on your tongue, perfectly complementing the rich, buttery base of the cookie. These aren’t just cookies; they’re little bites of winter magic, perfect for spreading joy throughout the holiday season.
Expert Tips for Making Perfect Snowball Cookies
Making Christmas Snowball Cookies is a straightforward process, but a few key tips can elevate your results from good to absolutely perfect. Pay attention to these details, and you’ll be baking irresistible holiday treats in no time!
- Cool Before Rolling: This is perhaps the most crucial tip. Once removed from the oven, your cookies will be quite soft and delicate. It’s essential to allow them to cool slightly on the baking sheet for about 5-7 minutes. This gives them time to firm up enough to handle. If you roll them in powdered sugar while they are too hot, the sugar will melt and absorb into the cookie, creating a sticky mess rather than a beautiful white coating.
- Double Dip for a Snowier Finish: Don’t be shy with the powdered sugar! The first roll will adhere, but some of it will naturally soak into the warm cookies as they continue to cool. For that iconic, perfectly “snowy” appearance and an extra boost of sweetness, we highly recommend rolling the cookies in powdered sugar a second time once they have completely cooled. This ensures a thick, beautiful white coating that truly lives up to the “snowball” name.
- Customize Your Flavors: While our recipe includes mini chocolate chips and festive sprinkles, these cookies are incredibly versatile. You can easily change the flavor profile by substituting the sprinkles or chocolate chips with finely chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds. For an even more unique twist, try adding a hint of almond extract alongside the vanilla, or experiment with citrus zest (lemon or orange) for a bright, refreshing note. Peppermint extract can also add a delightful holiday twist!
- Dough Consistency is Key: The cookie dough should be firm enough to roll into balls but not overly crumbly. If your dough seems too dry, add a teaspoon of milk or water at a time until it comes together. If it’s too sticky, chill it in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
- Evenly Sized Cookies: For uniform baking and a professional look, use a 1-inch cookie scoop to portion your dough. This ensures all your snowball cookies bake at the same rate, preventing some from being undercooked while others are overbaked.
- Don’t Overbake: Snowball cookies are meant to be tender and delicate. Bake them just until the edges are barely beginning to brown. They might still look soft in the center, but they will firm up as they cool. Overbaking will result in dry, crumbly cookies that lose their signature melt-in-your-mouth quality.
Essential Ingredients for Christmas Snowball Cookies
The beauty of Christmas Snowball Cookies lies in their simple yet high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that perfect buttery flavor and delicate texture. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why it matters:
- Unsalted Butter: For the best results, always use real, unsalted butter. Butter is the star of these shortbread-style cookies, contributing significantly to their rich flavor and tender crumb. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the exact amount of salt in the recipe. Crucially, make sure your butter is softened to room temperature before you begin. This ensures it creams properly with the sugar, incorporating air for a light and fluffy dough.
- Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ Sugar): Unlike many cookie recipes that use granulated or brown sugar, these snowball cookies rely on powdered sugar for their sweetness. The fine texture of powdered sugar creates a much smoother, more delicate dough and contributes to the cookies’ characteristic melt-in-your-mouth quality. You’ll use powdered sugar both in the cookie dough itself and, of course, for generously coating the baked cookies.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla is a crucial flavor enhancer in almost any cookie. For an exceptional taste, opt for a high-quality pure vanilla extract. The better the vanilla, the more depth and warmth it will add to your cookies. If you’re feeling adventurous, a touch of almond extract can also be a wonderful addition, complementing the buttery base beautifully.
- All-Purpose Flour: Standard all-purpose flour is perfect for these cookies, providing the necessary structure without making them tough. It’s always a good idea to measure your flour correctly, preferably by weight, or by spooning it into a measuring cup and leveling it off, to avoid adding too much, which can lead to dry cookies. If you need a gluten-free option, a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend can often be substituted successfully, though the texture might vary slightly.
- Salt: Just a half-teaspoon of salt is a small but mighty ingredient here. It’s essential for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other delicious flavors in the cookie, particularly the richness of the butter and the vanilla. Don’t skip it!
- Mini Chocolate Chips: Adding semi-sweet mini chocolate chips to the cookie dough is what makes this version a festive treat. The mini size ensures that every bite gets a perfect speck of chocolate without overwhelming the delicate cookie. They add a lovely texture and a familiar, comforting flavor. For a different twist, you could try white chocolate chips or even finely chopped dark chocolate.
- Holiday Sprinkles: This ingredient truly transforms these classic snowball cookies into a festive delight. Mixing holiday-themed sprinkles (like red and green for Christmas) directly into the cookie dough adds a pop of color and an extra touch of cheer. While Christmas sprinkles are traditional, don’t limit yourself! You can easily swap them out for different colors to match other holidays or special occasions throughout the year.
- Extra Powdered Sugar (for rolling): Have about a cup of extra powdered sugar ready in a shallow bowl. This is what you’ll use to generously coat your baked cookies, creating that signature snowy exterior. Remember the double-dipping tip for the best results!
How to Make Delicious Christmas Snowball Cookies
Crafting these delectable Christmas Snowball Cookies is a joy, and the process is quite simple. Follow these step-by-step instructions to create perfect, buttery, and festive treats every time.
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheet
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). While the oven is heating, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents the cookies from sticking and ensures even baking and easy cleanup. Set the prepared baking sheet aside.
Step 2: Cream Wet Ingredients
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the softened unsalted butter, ½ cup of powdered sugar, and the vanilla extract. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer, beat these ingredients together on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. You’re looking for a light, fluffy, and pale mixture. This step is crucial for incorporating air into the dough, which contributes to the cookies’ tender texture.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate, smaller bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, mini chocolate chips, and holiday sprinkles. Whisk or stir them together thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed. This ensures that the chocolate chips and sprinkles are spread throughout the dough, and the salt is incorporated properly.
Step 4: Gradually Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients
With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, a little at a time. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tougher cookies. Once the dough comes together, you can switch to a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to gently fold in any remaining dry streaks.
Step 5: Form the Cookies
Using a 1-inch cookie scoop (or about a tablespoon of dough), scoop portions of the dough into your hands. Gently roll each portion between your palms to form a smooth, uniform ball. Place the formed cookie balls onto your prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1-2 inches between each to allow for slight spreading.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Transfer the baking sheet to your preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. Keep a close eye on them; you want the cookies to be just beginning to brown around the edges, but still look pale in the center. They will firm up as they cool, so resist the urge to overbake them.
Step 7: Cool Slightly
Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5-7 minutes. This crucial step gives the delicate cookies time to set and firm up enough so they won’t crumble when you handle them.
Step 8: Roll in Powdered Sugar
While the cookies are still slightly warm (but not hot!), add extra powdered sugar to a small, shallow bowl. Gently roll each cookie in the powdered sugar, turning it until it’s evenly covered. For an even “snowier” effect, let the cookies cool completely and then give them a second roll in the powdered sugar.
Step 9: Final Cooling and Serving
Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the texture to fully develop. Once cool, arrange them on a festive platter, add them to cookie tins for gifts, or simply enjoy them with your favorite holiday beverage. These Christmas Snowball Cookies are sure to be a hit!
Christmas Snowball Cookies
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Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup holiday sprinkles
- extra powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
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Add the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla to a medium-sized mixing bowl and beat together for 2-3 minutes with a stand or hand mixer.
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In a separate bowl, add the flour, salt, chocolate chips, and sprinkles and stir together.
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Slowly add the flour mixture to the dough, mixing well with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to combine.
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Scoop the dough using a 1-inch cookie scoop into your hands and roll it between your palms, forming a ball before placing it onto the baking sheet.
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Bake for 8-10 minutes or until just beginning to brown.
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Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly for 5-7 minutes.
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Add extra powdered sugar to a small bowl and gently roll the cookies until evenly covered.
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Allow cookies to completely cool before serving.
Nutrition
How to Soften Butter to Room Temperature Perfectly
Softened butter is non-negotiable for many baking recipes, especially for cookies like these Christmas Snowball Cookies. It creams properly with sugar, creating an emulsification that traps air, which leads to a light, tender texture. Cold butter won’t cream well, and melted butter will make your cookies spread too much. Here are a few reliable methods to achieve perfectly softened butter:
The “Plan Ahead” Method (Best Method)
The ideal way to soften butter is simply to remove it from the refrigerator and let it sit on your countertop for 1-2 hours. The exact time depends on the ambient temperature of your kitchen. The butter should be pliable when gently pressed, but still cool to the touch and hold its shape. This method yields the most consistent results.
The “Quick Fix” Microwave Method
If you’re like many home bakers (myself included!) and often forget to plan that far ahead, the microwave can be your best friend – with caution. Place the whole stick of butter (unwrapped, in a microwave-safe dish) in the microwave. Microwave it on a low power setting (like 20-30% power) or use the defrost setting for very short intervals. Start with 5-7 seconds, then flip the butter and check its consistency. Repeat in 5-second increments, checking after each burst, until it’s soft but not melted. You want it to be impressionable when pressed, not liquid or oily. The defrost setting usually takes a little longer (around 30 seconds to a minute total) but offers more gentle, even softening, reducing the risk of accidental melting.
The “Warm Water Bath” Method
Another effective way to soften butter quickly is using a warm water bath. Fill a large bowl with warm (not hot!) water. Place the unwrapped stick of butter in a smaller, microwave-safe bowl. Float the smaller bowl containing the butter in the warm water, ensuring no water gets into the butter. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, checking periodically, until it reaches the desired softness. You can also place the unwrapped butter stick on a plate and cover it with a warm bowl that has been inverted over it. The residual heat from the bowl will gently soften the butter.
The “Slice and Dice” Method
If you’re really pressed for time, you can cut the cold butter into small cubes, about 1/2-inch thick. Spreading these smaller pieces out on a plate will expose more surface area to the room temperature air, allowing them to soften much faster (usually within 15-30 minutes).
No matter which method you choose, the goal is butter that can be easily indented with a finger but isn’t greasy or shiny, indicating it’s starting to melt.
Why Are My Snowball Cookies Flat? (Troubleshooting)
If your delightful snowball cookies emerged from the oven looking more like flat discs than perfectly round snowballs, don’t despair! This is a common issue with a few identifiable culprits. Understanding why it happens can help you achieve ideal results next time:
- Melted or Over-Softened Butter: This is by far the most common reason for flat cookies. While the recipe calls for softened butter, there’s a fine line between softened and melted. If your butter is too warm, oily, or partially melted, it won’t be able to trap air effectively during the creaming process. In the hot oven, this overly soft butter will melt too quickly, causing the cookies to spread excessively and lose their shape. Ensure your butter is softened to room temperature but still holds its shape and is cool to the touch.
- Improper Flour Measurement: Too little flour can also lead to flat cookies. Flour provides the structure for the cookie dough. If there isn’t enough flour, the dough will be too wet and won’t hold its shape in the oven. Always measure flour accurately, ideally by weight or using the “spoon and level” method (spoon flour into a measuring cup and level off with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the bag).
- Too Much Sugar (Especially Granulated): While this recipe specifically uses powdered sugar, if you were to substitute or add too much granulated sugar, it could contribute to spreading. Granulated sugar melts faster than powdered sugar, and an excess can cause cookies to flatten out.
- Warm Baking Sheets: Placing cookie dough onto a warm baking sheet can cause the butter in the dough to start melting immediately, even before it enters the oven. This gives the cookies a head start in spreading. Always use cool or room-temperature baking sheets. If baking multiple batches, allow the sheets to cool completely between uses, or have several sheets on hand.
- Oven Temperature Issues: An oven that isn’t properly preheated or one that runs too cool can also be a factor. If the oven isn’t hot enough, the cookies will bake slower, giving the butter more time to melt before the flour can set the structure. Investing in an oven thermometer can help you verify your oven’s accuracy.
- Overmixing the Dough: While less common for the “flat” issue in shortbread, overmixing can develop too much gluten in the flour, which can sometimes lead to tougher, less delicate cookies that might not hold their shape as well. Mix only until ingredients are just combined.
By keeping these points in mind, you can troubleshoot and prevent flat snowball cookies, ensuring your next batch is perfectly round and delightful.
Can Christmas Snowball Cookies Be Frozen?
Absolutely, Christmas Snowball Cookies are excellent candidates for freezing, making them a fantastic make-ahead option for busy holiday seasons. Freezing allows you to prepare them well in advance and enjoy fresh-ttasting cookies whenever a craving strikes or unexpected guests arrive.
Freezing Baked Snowball Cookies:
Once your snowball cookies have been baked and cooled completely, and ideally given their initial roll in powdered sugar, you can freeze them. Arrange the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze them for about 30 minutes to an hour. This prevents them from sticking together. Once firm, transfer the cookies to an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. Layer them gently, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and protect the delicate powdered sugar coating. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To Thaw and Serve: Simply remove the desired number of cookies from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature for an hour or two. A wonderful trick to make them look as fresh as the day they were baked is to give them another gentle roll in powdered sugar after they’ve thawed. This refreshes their “snowy” appearance and adds a delightful finishing touch.
Freezing Unbaked Snowball Cookie Dough:
You can also prepare the cookie dough ahead of time and freeze it. Follow the recipe up to the point where you form the dough into 1-inch balls. Arrange the unbaked cookie balls on a baking sheet and flash freeze them until solid. Once frozen, transfer the dough balls to an airtight freezer-safe container or freezer bag. They can be stored for up to 2-3 months.
To Bake from Frozen: When you’re ready to bake, place the frozen cookie dough balls directly onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. You don’t need to thaw them. Simply add an extra 1-3 minutes to the baking time (so, bake for 9-13 minutes total) until the edges are just beginning to brown. Then proceed with the cooling and rolling in powdered sugar steps as usual.
Freezing is a fantastic way to manage your holiday baking, ensuring you always have a stash of these delightful Christmas Snowball Cookies ready to go!
How to Store Snowball Cookies for Optimal Freshness
Proper storage is key to keeping your Christmas Snowball Cookies fresh, buttery, and delicious for as long as possible. Here’s how to ensure they maintain their melt-in-your-mouth quality:
- Room Temperature Storage: Once your snowball cookies have completely cooled and have been rolled in powdered sugar, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. A cookie jar or a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid works perfectly. To prevent the delicate powdered sugar coating from getting messy or sticking, you can layer the cookies with pieces of parchment paper between each layer. Stored this way, they will remain fresh and delicious for up to a week. Any longer than that, and their tender texture may begin to grow stale.
- Avoid Refrigeration (Generally): Unlike some other cookies, snowball cookies typically do not benefit from refrigeration. The cold can sometimes dry them out or cause the butter to harden too much, affecting their texture. Room temperature is ideal for keeping them soft and buttery.
- Dealing with Humidity: If you live in a very humid environment, you might notice the powdered sugar coating absorbing some moisture and disappearing. If this happens, simply give the cookies another quick roll in powdered sugar before serving to refresh their appearance.
Following these simple storage guidelines will help you enjoy your homemade Christmas Snowball Cookies at their best for the entire holiday season!
MORE DELICIOUS CHRISTMAS COOKIES TO TRY:
The holiday season is a wonderful time for baking, and if you loved these Christmas Snowball Cookies, you’ll surely enjoy exploring other festive treats. Here are some more delightful Christmas cookie recipes to add to your baking list:
- MINI CHRISTMAS SANDWICH COOKIES
- HOLIDAY BUTTER COOKIES
- CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATE WAFFLE COOKIES
- HOLIDAY SPICED SNICKERDOODLES
- CHRISTMAS BROWNIE M&M COOKIES
- HOLIDAY STAR COOKIES
- CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIE BARS
- RED VELVET CHRISTMAS COOKIES
- CHRISTMAS TREE TWIX COOKIES
- MINT CHRISTMAS COOKIES
- CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES
- CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD COOKIE BITES
- STACKED CHRISTMAS TREE COOKIES
- CHRISTMAS SPRINKLE COOKIES
- HOT CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS COOKIES
In conclusion, these **Christmas Snowball Cookies** are more than just a treat; they’re an experience—a delightful bite of buttery sweetness that perfectly encapsulates the magic of the holiday season. Their simplicity in preparation, combined with their irresistible flavor and charming snowy appearance, makes them an ideal choice for any festive occasion. Whether you’re filling cookie trays, creating thoughtful gifts, or simply enjoying a moment of holiday bliss, this recipe promises consistent success and countless smiles. So go ahead, whip up a batch, and let the sweet aroma of homemade goodness fill your home this Christmas!