Snowball Cookies (A Melt-in-Your-Mouth Holiday Favorite!)

Are you searching for the ultimate, iconic Christmas cookie? The kind of nostalgic, “from-scratch” treat that tastes just like the ones grandma used to make—impossibly tender, rich with butter, and with that signature, thick, snowy-white coating of powdered sugar? This incredible, “Grandma Minecci’s” Classic Snowball Cookie is that perfect, timeless tradition. We’re talking a rich, buttery, and unbelievably tender shortbread-style cookie, loaded with pecans, that literally melts in your mouth.

This isn’t just another cookie recipe; it’s a guide to mastering a legendary, multi-generational secret. Forget the cookies that spread flat or the powdered sugar that just melts away. We’ll show you the simple but crucial “old-world” secrets to a flawless, foolproof cookie that holds its perfect, round “snowball” shape and gets that beautiful, powdery coating every single time. This is the perfect, big-batch recipe for all your holiday parties, cookie exchanges, and festive gift-giving.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: The Ultimate “Melt-in-your-Mouth” Holiday Cookie

What makes this “Grandma’s” Snowball Cookie so spectacularly delicious is its incredible, rich flavor and its wonderfully soft, “short” texture. This recipe is a masterpiece of classic, old-fashioned baking. The star of the show is the cookie dough itself, which gets its signature, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness from a brilliant “Grandma-approved” secret: a combination of butter and shortening. This is the key that makes them so tender! The dough is enriched with eggs for a slightly richer, sturdier cookie, and studded with classic, chopped pecans. The final, and most crucial, step is the “double-roll” technique in powdered sugar, which is the secret to that beautiful, thick, snowy-white coating.

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	1 hour 30 minutes
Active Prep Time	25 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy
Servings	About 5-6 dozen cookies

The Baker’s Pantry: The Essential Ingredients

This iconic dish uses a handful of high-quality, simple ingredients to create its signature rich and comforting flavor.

• The Cookie Dough (The “Melt-in-your-Mouth” Secret!):
  • The “Magic” Fat Duo: This is the number one, old-school secret to the most incredible texture! Butter provides that rich, delicious, unmistakable flavor, while vegetable shortening is the key that provides an incredibly tender, “short” texture and, most importantly, prevents the cookies from spreading in the oven.
  • Pecans: A classic, holiday staple! Using finely chopped pecans adds a wonderful, toasty, and nutty flavor that is the signature of this cookie.
  • The Eggs: Unlike many “Mexican Wedding Cookie” or “Russian Tea Cake” recipes (which are often eggless), this recipe includes 2 eggs, which is the key that makes the cookie richer, sturdier, and slightly less “sandy” or crumbly.
• The “Snowy” Coating:
  • Confectioners’ Sugar: The key to the “snowball” look! It’s used to give the cookies their beautiful, powdery coating and their final, delicate sweetness.

The Baker’s Masterclass: The Secrets to a Perfect Snowball Cookie

This recipe uses two simple but brilliant professional techniques that guarantee a flawless, impressive result.

1. The Butter-Shortening Combo is KEY!: The secret to a cookie that has the rich flavor of butter but the perfect, tender, non-spreading “ball” shape of a classic shortbread is to use both fats. All-butter cookies can spread and become greasy, while all-shortening cookies can lack flavor. This 50/50 blend is the absolute best of both worlds and the key to a foolproof, tender cookie.
2. The “Double Sugar Roll” is NON-NEGOTIABLE!: This is the single most important, professional secret to a snowball cookie that is perfectly and thickly coated in a beautiful, snowy-white layer.
   • The First Roll (Warm): The first roll, when the cookies are just slightly cooled, is the “primer coat.” The warmth of the cookie will melt the sugar just slightly, creating a sticky, sweet base layer.
   • The Second Roll (Cool): The second roll, when the cookies are completely cool, is the “top coat.” This is the key that allows the powdery sugar to adhere beautifully and build up into that thick, picture-perfect, snowy-white finish that won’t just absorb into the cookie.

Step-by-Step to the Best Classic Snowball Cookies

This elegant, festive dessert is a joy to prepare.

Part 1: The Art of the Tender, Melt-in-Your-Mouth Dough

Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 350°F ($175^{\circ}C$).

Step 2: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together your 3/4 cup of shortening, 3/4 cup of softened butter, and 3/4 cup of white sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Add your 2 large eggs and 4 teaspoons of vanilla extract and beat until the mixture is smooth.

Step 4: In a separate bowl, sift together your 4 cups of all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon of salt. With your mixer on a low speed, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix only until the dough is just combined.

Step 5: Gently fold in your 1/2 cup of chopped pecans.

Part 2: The Bake and the “Magic” Double-Sugar Roll

Step 1: Shape your dough into small, 1-inch balls and arrange them on an ungreased baking sheet.

Step 2: Bake for about 20 minutes. You will know they are perfectly done when they are set and just lightly browned on the very bottom edges.

Step 3 (The First Roll!): Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for just a few minutes, until they are just cool enough to handle but are still warm. Roll the warm cookies in a bowl of confectioners’ sugar.

Step 4: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let them cool completely.

Step 5 (The Second Roll!): Once the cookies are completely cool, roll them in the confectioners’ sugar one more time for that beautiful, thick, snowy coating.

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What to Serve With Your Snowball Cookies

These beautiful and nostalgic cookies are a fantastic and essential part of any holiday celebration.

• The Perfect Pairing: They are absolutely perfect served on a holiday cookie platter alongside other classics like gingerbread, spritz, and thumbprints.
• A Cozy Treat: They are the perfect, delicate bite to enjoy with a cup of hot coffee, a cup of tea, or a rich, homemade hot chocolate.

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Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

These are the ultimate make-ahead holiday cookie!

• Make-Ahead: You can prepare the unbaked dough up to 3 days in advance and store it, well-wrapped, in the refrigerator.
• Storage: Store the finished, baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, with sheets of wax paper between the layers, for up to 2 weeks. Their flavor and texture actually get even better as they sit!
• Freezing: These cookies freeze beautifully! You can freeze the unbaked dough balls or the fully baked cookies.

Frequently Asked questions (FAQs)