There’s nothing like warm cookies during the holiday season, and these easy snowball cookies are the perfect Christmas cookie! They have an adorable snowy look, use basic ingredients, and have a decadent, nutty taste thanks to the ground pecans and cream cheese.
These melt-in-your-mouth cookies will be a hit with friends and family members and are a great addition to any holiday cookie exchange or gift basket. You can even make them ahead of time and freeze them until ready to serve!
When our recipe developer, Rosie, developed these cookies we all fell in love. We had a taste test and then we all ended up having 3 or 4 each. We just couldn’t stop!
Snowball Cookies – What You’ll Need
Many ingredients in these classic snowball cookies will likely already be in your pantry, making them a quick and easy cookie to make. Cream cheese is the key ingredient here, as it adds moisture and flavor to the cookies.
You’ll also need chopped pecans to give the cookies their signature nutty taste and texture. Other ingredients include powdered sugar, flour, vanilla extract, and a small cookie scoop for even portions.
Our Fav
Hand Mixer
We absolutely love having a cordless hand mixer on hand for easy mobility throughout the kitchen.
Variations and Substitutions
Chopped pecans: You can use another type of nut, like macadamia nuts, almonds, or walnuts can be substituted for the chopped pecans if desired. You can also use a combination of nuts for a more unique flavor.
All-purpose flour: For a gluten-free version, you can use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend in place of all-purpose flour.
Powdered sugar: Instead of rolling them in the remaining powdered sugar, you can use granulated or confectioners’ sugar for a sweeter and crunchier coating.
Tasty additions: These festive treats would taste great with a touch of holiday spice. Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough for an extra layer of flavor.
Make it!
Homemade Cream Cheese
Did you know that you can make homemade cream cheese with 3 ingredients — milk, lemon juice and salt? So the next time you’re all out, use our homemade cream cheese tutorial!
Storage + Freezer Directions
Store any leftover snowball cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
To freeze: You can freeze snowball cookie dough! This is a great option if you want to make the dough ahead of time and bake it fresh later. Simply form the dough into balls and place them on a lined baking sheet. Freeze the dough balls for 1-2 hours, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container.
When ready to bake, let the dough thaw in the refrigerator overnight before rolling it in powdered sugar and baking as directed.
What to Serve with Buttery Snowball Cookies
These holiday cookies would be absolutely delicious on a serving table accompanied by this Chocolate and Cheese Board.
For savory appetizers, these Baked Goat Cheese Balls, Buffalo Chicken Nachos, or Homemade Pimento Cheese Dip will wow everyone’s tastebuds.
Snow Ball Cookies
Ingredients
- 2.25 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans ~4oz.
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened (~1 stick)
- 4 oz. cream cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉.
- Place the flour, pecans, and salt into a large bowl and mix. Set aside.
- Add the butter, cream cheese, ½ cup powdered sugar, and vanilla in a separate bowl. Cream together until light and fluffy.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter cream cheese and blend until combined.
- Using a 1.5-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop out the dough and place it on the cookie sheet.
- Bake for 11 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes, then roll them in the remaining powdered sugar. Then set it on a cooling rack to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Tips & Notes
- Use parchment paper in between cookies when storing in a container.
- Switch up the flavors by using walnuts instead of pecans. Or almond extract in place of vanilla.
