I love making these buttery, nutty cookies during the holidays. This snowball cookies recipe is simple enough to make ahead and freeze, too!
Pecan Meltaways Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Winter is peak season for cookie baking. It’s also the perfect time of year to make a batch of snowball cookies! You’ll find plenty of different versions of snowball cookies, but we recommend first learning learn how to make snowball cookies with the classic recipe below. They’re pecan-filled and melt in your mouth.

What are snowball cookies?

Snowball Cookie Closeup - how to make snowball cookies from scratchApril Preisler for Taste of Home

Snowball cookies are a classic holiday treat, dusted with powdered sugar and packed with pecans. They get their name from their appearance: They look like balls of snow. You’ll also see snowball cookies called Mexican wedding cookies, Russian tea cakes, Italian wedding cookies, snowdrops or pecan butter balls.

The cookies are unusual in that they don’t include eggs in the dough and they use powdered sugar, which creates a light, crumbly cookie. They’re easy to assemble and call for ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.

Ingredients for Snowball Cookies

  • Butter
  • Confectioners’ sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • All-purpose flour
  • Salt
  • Chopped pecans

Directions

Step 1: Cream butter and sugar

Creamed Butter and Sugar - how to make snowball cookies from scratchApril Preisler for Taste of Home

In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy.

Editor’s Tip: You definitely want softened butter for this step! Forgot to take it out of the refrigerator? This is how to soften butter in a pinch.

Step 2: Add remaining ingredients

Snowball Cookie Dough - how to make snowball cookies from scratchApril Preisler for Taste of Home

Beat in the vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour and salt. Gradually add the flour to the creamed mixture and mix well. Next, stir the pecans into the dough. If you have whole pecans, chop them first.

Refrigerate the dough until chilled. Don’t skip this step—chilling cookie dough is essential for avoiding thin, flat cookies.

Editor’s Tip: One easy method for chopping nuts is to put them in a bowl and put pressure on them using a measuring cup or smaller bowl. You’ll wind up with coarsely chopped nuts. For smaller pieces, move them to a cutting board and finish with a knife, placing your non-cutting hand over the top of the blade and carefully rocking the blade back and forth.

Step 3: Bake

Snowball Cookies ready to bake - how to make snowball cookies from scratchApril Preisler for Taste of Home

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set.

Step 4: Roll in confectioners’ sugar

Rolling Cookies in Powdered Sugar - how to make snowball cookies from scratchApril Preisler for Taste of Home

Roll the warm cookies in additional confectioners’ sugar, then cool completely on wire racks. Roll the cooled cookies again in confectioners’ sugar.

Snowball Cookie Variations

Once you’ve learned how to make this simple snowball cookies recipe, try experimenting with different versions.

Snowball Cookie Tips

Why did my snowball cookies go flat?

If your cookies go flat, check the oven temperature. An oven temperature that’s too low can result in your cookies spreading out more. Butter that’s too soft or melted can also lead to flat cookies. If your butter is overly soft when you whip the cookies, pop the dough in the refrigerator for an extra 1 to 2 hours to firm up before baking.

How long do homemade snowball cookies last?

You can store these snowball cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. You can also freeze the finished cookies by laying them in a zip-close bag and squeezing out at much air as possible. To thaw, put the cookies in the refrigerator overnight and then let them come to room temperature before serving. Roll them in powdered sugar again after freezing for a freshened-up look.

Watch how to Make Pecan Meltaways

Pecan Meltaways

This sweet, nutty pecan meltaways recipe is a tradition in our house at Christmastime, but the treats are delightful any time of the year. —Alberta McKay, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Pecan Meltaways Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Total Time

Prep: 15 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling

Makes

4 dozen

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup chopped 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 flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in pecans. Refrigerate until chilled.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°. Roll into 1-in. balls and place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Roll warm cookies in additional confectioners' sugar; cool completely on wire racks. Roll cooled cookies again in confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 73 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 39mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.