Buttery Pecan Snowball Cookies – A Melt-in-Your-Mouth Christmas Treat
These pecan snowball cookies are a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth classic that’s perfect for holiday baking. Made with simple ingredients like butter, powdered sugar, and toasted pecans, they’re soft, crumbly, and coated in a generous layer of powdered sugar that looks just like freshly fallen snow.
With only 15 minutes of prep and a quick bake, this snowball cookies recipe is a must for any Christmas cookie tray or gift box.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAVE THIS FOR LATER?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
There’s something comforting about these cookies – they’re familiar, quick to make, and always hit the spot. I like to keep a batch in the freezer during the holidays because they’re perfect for last-minute guests or when you just want something sweet.
How to Make Pecan Snowball Cookies
Here are the ingredients you need to make these pecan snowball cookies, plus step by step instructions for how to make them.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar, plus extra sugar for rolling the cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup toasted pecans, chopped
Step by Step Instructions
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside for later.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and ¾ cup powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy.
3. Mix in the vanilla extract and salt until everything is well blended.
4. Gradually add the flour, stirring just until the dough comes together – don’t overmix.
5. Gently fold in the chopped pecans until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
6. Use a 1½-inch cookie scoop to portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart.
7. Place the tray in the refrigerator and let the dough chill for about 45 minutes to help the cookies hold their shape while baking.
8. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F.
9. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden but the tops remain pale.
10. Let the cookies rest on the pan for 2-3 minutes, then place some powdered sugar on a plate or shallow bowl.
11. While the cookies are still warm, roll each one in powdered sugar, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
12. Once cooled, give them a final roll in powdered sugar before serving or storing.
These pecan snowballs deliver that perfect mix of buttery richness and nutty crunch, dusted with a snowy coating of sweetness. They are perfect for a cookie exchange, a Christmas party, or to enjoy with a cozy cup of coffee.
More Christmas Treats
- Candy Cane Fudge
- Christmas Fudge with Swirls
- Layered Christmas Fudge
- Reindeer Sugar Cookies
- Christmas Haystack Cookies
- Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies
Pecan Snowball Cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar, plus extra sugar for rolling the cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup toasted pecans, chopped
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside for later.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and ¾ cup powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy.
- Mix in the vanilla extract and salt until everything is well blended.
- Gradually add the flour, stirring just until the dough comes together – don’t overmix.
- Gently fold in the chopped pecans until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Use a 1½-inch cookie scoop to portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart.
- Place the tray in the refrigerator and let the dough chill for about 45 minutes to help the cookies hold their shape while baking.
- When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden but the tops remain pale.
- Let the cookies rest on the pan for 2-3 minutes, then place some powdered sugar on a plate or shallow bowl.
- While the cookies are still warm, roll each one in powdered sugar, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- Once cooled, give them a final roll in powdered sugar before serving or storing.
