This recipe is an easy one. I won’t lie, you’ll master this one on your first try. This doesn’t mean that the results are nothing but impressive.
The story of these lovely snowballs is an interesting one. They are known by many as the Mexican wedding cookies or strangely as Mexican wedding cakes, although they’re not really cake, of course.
The pecan and butter balls coated in powdered sugar has its origins in the middle east. The Arabs brought it with them to Spain during their long rule on the country.
When Spaniards came to Mexico, they brought with them the famous pastry and is since then a popular treat, enjoyed all year long, any time of day, and not necessarily at weddings.
Having shared a little bit of baking history, let’s talk about the recipe.
What goes into my Pecan Snowball Cookies?
All-purpose flour and butter make the base for these bite-sized delights. Sugar will sweeten the dough, and powdered sugar serve as decoration. Pecans, of course, give a crunch and a nutty flavor to the cookies and a teaspoon of vanilla extract just make these cookies extra nice.
When we’re not using eggs, the coherence of the dough depends on the flour and butter alone, so you have to make sure everything is thoroughly mixed, and your dough is homogeneous.
What you’ll need
For this recipe, you’ll need a mixing bowl. We’ll be incorporating all the ingredients a little at a time to make sure everything blends correctly.
You’ll be needing some plastic wrap to let your dough set, a regular baking pan, and a wire rack to let the small pecan balls cool down.
Other than that, you’ll need a nice, clean surface to work in peace.
Pro tips
- Bring the whole family for this one and not just to enjoy your new easiest and prettiest cookies, but to roll that dough. This recipe is excellent for starting your kids into the baking world.
- Watch your timer because these balls bake fast. Keep an eye on them because time flies when you have fun.
- With few ingredients, source the highest quality. The good stuff really shows in this one.
- Be creative, go crazy and powder a few of these babies with cocoa powder or with more crushed pecans, they might not be the traditional recipe, but they’ll be the first ones to go.
- As you can see, traditional recipes, often quite simple, are the most fun to make. When everyone helps, baking becomes part of your family’s own traditions.
- Make these for special occasions and make them your signature. It’s fun to have go-to recipes for birthdays, winter holidays or I don’t know, weddings!
Link for doilies used for serving: Paper lace doilies
PrintPecan Snowball Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups pecans (finely chopped)
- Powdered sugar for coating
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and salt.
- Add in flour and then add pecans. Mix until all is blended and forms your batter dough.
- Wrap the dough into plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Shape your refrigerated dough into small balls and place on a baking pan lined with parchment paper.. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack for few minutes.
- While still warm roll the balls in powder sugar to coat. Cool completely.
- Roll in powder sugar one more time. Enjoy!
Looking for more cookies like this? Check out these No Bake Apricot Balls.
