These melt in your mouth pecan snowball cookies are full of chopped pecans and rolled in powdered sugar.
Pecan snowball cookies remind me of my grandma and my dad. This is her recipe with one small tweak and is one of my dad’s favorite Christmas cookies. These melt in your mouth snowball cookies are full of chopped pecans and rolled in powdered sugar.
My grandma’s recipe called these “crescents” because they technically aren’t completely round and look more like a half crescent moon.
Pro tip: Rolling them in powdered sugar makes them a bit messy to eat so it’s highly recommended to eat the whole cookie in one bite. 😉
How to make Pecan Snowball Cookies
This classic Christmas cookie recipe is so easy to make. (Are you seeing a trend yet in my Christmas cookie series? I’m all about easy to make, delicious cookie recipes.)
Side note: whenever I think of snowballs I think of that scene in Elf…anyone else?
To achieve that signature “melt in your mouth” texture, the goal is to create light cookies. I use powdered sugar in place of granulated sugar. You can use either, but powdered sugar provides that light, creamy texture.
Cream together the room temperature butter and powdered sugar until combined and fluffy. Add vanilla, salt, and sifted flour. Sifting the flour also gives these cookies a lighter texture.
Try not to over mix the dough. The more you touch shortbread, the higher the chance you’ll get tougher cookies.
Once your cookies are baked and cooled, roll them in powdered sugar to give them their traditional “snowball” effect.
Frequently Asked Snowball Questions
Yes! I chose to make them with pecans, but I’ve also made them without nuts and they are just as delicious. You can also swap out the pecans for the nuts of your choice.
Cookies going flat is always annoying. They could be flattening for a couple of reasons — either your dough was too warm and the butter started to melt, or your oven temperature is too low (which sounds counter intuitive, but it’s true). Try chilling dough for a bit.
You shouldn’t need to chill the dough for this recipe, but if your house is extra warm or something and the cookies aren’t coming out right, it’s worth a shot.
Looking for more cookie recipes?
Pecan Snowball Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups sifted all purpose flour
- 1-2 cups finely chopped nuts, your choice.
- powdered sugar
Instructions
- Mix butter with sugar until light and creamy.
- Add salt, vanilla, sifted flour, and nuts. Mix well
- Shape into balls or crescents and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake 12-15 minutes in a 350 °F oven.
- Roll cooled cookies in powdered sugar.
Last Updated on December 31, 2022 by Kari Bakes
