This simple one-bowl recipe for Pecan Snowball Cookies produces rich, buttery cookies that are rolled into powdered sugar to resemble actual snowballs.

Snowball cookies on platter with one cut in half.

One of my all-time favorite Christmas cookie recipes is what my family refers to as Snowball Cookies, due to their adorable resemblance to actual snowballs. Along with Cut-Out Sugar Cookies and Neiman Marcus Cookies, you will always find these snowball cookies on my holiday cookie tray!

Reasons to Love Snowball Cookies

Incredibly Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe. Snowball Cookies are one of the easiest Christmas cookies to make. This recipe only requires one mixing bowl and there is no chilling required! And we all can appreciate a simple cookie recipe during the busy holiday season.
Simple Ingredients. The ingredients needed for classic snowball cookies are few, which makes this cookie that much more appealing to make during the busy holiday season.
Egg-Free Recipe. Baking for someone with an egg allergy? They will love these Snowball Cookies.
Insanely Delicious. Snowball Cookies are rich, buttery, and slightly crumbly like Classic Shortbread Cookies, yet what makes these cookies memorable is the addition of crunchy pecans and a sweet dusting of powdered sugar.
Festive Christmas Cookie. While a White Christmas is out of our control, we can enjoy some snow, just in the form of cookies

Notes on Ingredients and Substitutions

Ingredients for Snowball Cookies labeled on counter.

Butter: It is always best to use unsalted butter for baking cookies. This will allow you to control the level of salt in your cookies.
Powdered Sugar (Confectioners Sugar): Not only are the cookies rolled in powdered sugar, but they are also sweetened with powdered sugar rather than granulated sugar, which will dissolve into the batter perfectly.
Chopped Pecans: Pecans are a classic addition to classic snowball cookies. However, you can substitute chopped walnuts, pistachios, or almonds in place of the pecans, or omit the nuts completely.
Flour: Use all-purpose flour for best results.

Tips for Making Snowball Cookies

The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Use room-temperature butter. Before preparing your cookies, be sure to remove your butter from the refrigerator several hours prior to preparing your cookie dough, to allow time for your butter to fully soften. You will know your butter is soft when you press a fingertip on it and it easily indents. Softened butter is key to a creamy, light batter.
Beat the butter until light and fluffy. Mix the butter on high speed until creamy and light in color. Be patient, this may take a couple of minutes but you really want your butter to be light and fluffy to give the Snowball Cookies their delicate texture.
Mix the powdered sugar into the butter on LOW speed. Mixing on low speed to start will prevent the powdered sugar from flying everywhere.
Don't overmix the cookie dough. Incorporate the flour and nuts into the cookie dough until just fully incorporated. Overmixing the ingredients can result in a dense cookie.
Shape the dough into evenly shaped balls. Use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon measuring spoon to measure out the dough before rolling it into a ball. This will ensure each cookie is the same size and bake evenly.
Roll the cookies twice in powdered sugar. While slightly warm, roll each cookie in a bowl of powdered sugar, to coat. Allow the cookies to cool fully and then roll them in the powdered sugar AGAIN. This second sugar-coating will give the Snowball Cookies their classic “snow” coating.

Snowball cookies after being rolled in powdered sugar on cooling rack.

Storing Snowball Cookies

Storage: Snowball Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week at room temperature.

Freezing: Place the snowball cookies into a freezer-safe container and freeze them for up to 1 month. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator. Once defrosted, you may want to re-roll the snowball cookies in powdered sugar to give them their classic appearance.

More Classic Christmas Cookie Recipes

If you gave this Snowball Cookie Recipe a try, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

Pecan Snowball Cookies

Snowball Cookies are a simple one-bowl cookie recipe that produce cookies that are rich, buttery, and rolled into powdered sugar to resemble actual snowballs.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 12

Total Time: 22

Servings: cookies

Calories: 165kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

▢ 1 cup unsalted butter softened
▢ 1 ½ cups powdered sugar divided
▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
▢ ½ teaspoon salt
▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour
▢ 1 cup finely chopped pecans

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350° F.
In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter using a handheld or stand mixer until creamy and light in color.
Add ½ cup of powdered sugar into the butter and mix on low speed until the sugar is fully incorporated into the batter. Once incorporated, increase the speed to medium, and continue to mix for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and salt. Mix on low speed to just combine.
Add ½ of the flour, mix at low speed to combine, and then add the rest of the flour. Mix again on low speed just until combined.
Add the pecans to the batter and use a wooden spoon or spatula to just incorporate the nuts evenly into the batter.
Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of the cookie dough and shape into it a 1-inch ball. Place it onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat the process until the cookie dough is gone, being sure to space the cookies 2-inches apart on the cookie sheet.
Bake for 12 to 15, or until the cookies are just golden brown on the bottom. Once the cookies are baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool for 1-2 minutes.
Place the remaining cup of powdered sugar into a bowl and roll the warm cookies in the powdered sugar.
Cool the cookies completely and then roll them again in the remaining powdered sugar.
Once fully cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Equipment Needed

Notes

Nuts: You can substitute chopped walnuts, almonds, or pistachios in place of the pecans, or omit the nuts completely.

Freezing Cookies: Freeze cooled cookies in a freezer-safe bag for up to 1 month. Once defrosted, you may want to re-roll your cookies in powdered sugar.

Nutrition

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