Gluten-Free Snowballs

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling

Makes

about 6 dozen

Updated: Nov. 03, 2022
I took a classic holiday cookie and made it gluten-free. It’s now my husband’s favorite Christmas cookie. They’re so buttery, nutty and sweet—and everyone loves how they crumble in your mouth. —Joan Sarge, Asheville, North Carolina
Gluten-Free Snowballs Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-1/4 cups potato starch
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • Additional confectioners' sugar

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Combine the potato starch, cornstarch, xanthan gum and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in walnuts. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
  2. Shape into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 9-11 minutes or until set. Cool on pans for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.
  3. Roll warm cookies in confectioners' sugar. Cool completely on wire racks. Reroll in confectioners' sugar.

Gluten-Free Snowball Cookie Tips

Why Did My Snowball Cookies Flatten?

If your snowball cookies flatten, it's likely that they weren't chilled for long enough. Chilling allows the butter to solidify, which in turn helps the cookies maintain their shape while baking.

Do Gluten-Free Cookies Take Longer to Bake?

No, these gluten-free cookies don't take longer to bake than cookies that contain gluten. In fact, these cookies actually have a shorter bake time compared to this snowball cookie recipe that does contain gluten.
Gluten-Free Recipe
Read all ingredient labels for possible gluten content prior to use. Ingredient formulas can change, and production facilities vary among brands. If you're concerned that your brand may contain gluten, contact the company.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 54 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 29mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.