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Pecan Snowball Cookies

Pecan Snowball Cookies are buttery, tender cookies filled with finely chopped pecans and coated twice in confectioners' sugar for their signature snowy finish. They’re delicate, nutty, and melt-in-your-mouth, making them a classic choice for holiday cookie trays, gifting, or afternoon treats.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Cooling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 30 cookies
Course: Christmas Treats, Cookies, Dessert, Holiday Baking, Nut Cookies
Cuisine: American
Calories: 155
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup pecans very finely chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar or more as needed, for coating

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper if desired.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
  3. Gradually add the flour, finely chopped pecans, and salt.
  4. Mix until a soft dough forms. The dough may look slightly crumbly but should hold together when pressed.
  5. Scoop small portions of dough and roll them into walnut-sized balls.
  6. Arrange the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  7. Bake for 12–15 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly golden while the tops remain pale.
  8. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for several minutes, then gently transfer them to wire racks.
  9. Place about 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar in a shallow bowl.
  10. While the cookies are still warm, roll each one in confectioners' sugar until fully coated.
  11. Return the cookies to the wire rack and let them cool completely.
  12. Once fully cooled, roll the cookies in confectioners' sugar a second time for a thick, snowy coating.

Notes

Toasting the pecans before chopping gives the cookies a deeper nutty flavor. Handle the warm cookies gently because they are delicate until fully cooled.