Snowball cookies are a Christmas classic made with powdered sugar and creamy butter with crushed pecans. All rolled in more powdered sugar for the perfect holiday cookie!

bowl of snowball cookies with two cut open

Easy Snowball Cookies

This Christmas classic is such a great cookie because it’s full of rich pecan flavor on the inside and tossed with powdered sugar that gets creamy on the warm cookie.

The powdered sugar looks like a dusting of snow which is why they are called snowball cookies. They’re super easy to make with just six total ingredients. They’re perfect for a cookie exchange because this recipe makes a ton of cookies. Enough for you to keep AND share!

Ingredients

butter – unsalted and softened
powdered sugar – some will be used in the cookie, some will be used to roll the cookies in
vanilla extract
all-purpose flour
salt
chopped pecans

How to Make Snowball Christmas Cookies

creaming butter, adding pecans, rolling into balls.

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl cream together the butter, and ½ cup of powdered sugar. Then add vanilla and mix until combined.
Mix in the flour, one cup at a time, and add the salt. Stir the mixture until combined, and fold in the chopped pecans.
Chill the cookie dough until slightly firm, approximately 10-20 minutes. Roll the dough into one-inch balls, using the palms of your hands and place on baking sheet. It’s easiest to use a one-inch cookie scoop so you get evenly sized cookies.
Bake for 14-15 minutes. Cookies are done with the tops look regular, but the bottoms are slightly brown.
Remove cookies and place on cooling rack for a few minutes until they are OK to touch. While cookies are still warm, roll each ball into the remaining powdered sugar until it’s coated. Place back on rack to cool completely.
Roll the cookies one more time in powdered sugar to get a snowy-white texture on the outside of the cookie. Store in air tight container.

Baking rack with half rolled cookies, and half rolled in powdered sugar.

Want More Christmas Cookie Recipes?

Snowball Cookies

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Chill time 20

Total Time 55

Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl cream together the butter, and ½ cup of powdered sugar. Add vanilla and mix until combined.
1 cup unsalted butter, 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix in the flour, one cup at a time, and add the salt. Mix until combined. Fold in the chopped pecans.
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 cup pecans
Chill cookie dough until slightly firm, approximately 10-20 minutes. Roll the dough into one-inch balls, using the palms of your hands and place on baking sheet. It’s easiest to use a one-inch cookie scoop so you get evenly sized cookies.
Bake for 14-15 minutes. Cookies are done with the tops look regular, but the bottoms are slightly brown.
Remove cookies and place on cooling rack for a few minutes until they are OK to touch. While cookies are still warm, roll each ball into the remaining powdered sugar until it’s coated. Place back on rack to cool completely.
Roll cookies one more time in powdered sugar to get a snowy-white texture on the outside of the cookie. Store in air tight container.