Snowball Cookies or Russian Tea Cakes Recipe – Rich, buttery, delicate and delicious shortbread cookies that melt in your mouth. It is a traditional Christmas cookie recipe and perfect for the holidays!
What are Snowball Cookies?
Snowball Cookies are one of the traditional and popular Christmas cookies. They are tiny shortbread cookie balls rolled in powdered sugar when they are still warm. The cookies are so rich, addictive and they just melt in your mouth. Snowballs are also known as Mexican Wedding Cookies, Italian Wedding Cookies and Russian Tea Cakes.
Ingredients for Snowball Cookies
You just need 6 simple ingredients to make these classic cookies at home.
All-Purpose Flour
Corn Flour or Corn Starch
Unsalted Butter
Powdered Sugar
Vanilla Essence
Salt
Italian Wedding Cookies Variations:
These simple little Mexican Wedding Cookies are so versatile and can also be made with almonds, pecans, walnuts, chocolate chips, lemon or pistachios.
How long can you store the unbaked cookie dough?
You can store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or freeze it for about 2 months.
How long can you store Russian Tea Cakes or Cookies?
They can stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Can you freeze Mexican Wedding Cookies?
Yes, they freeze extremely well. Once the cookies are baked and rolled in powdered sugar, arrange them in an airtight container and separate the layers with parchment papers. You can freeze them for up to 2 months. Let them thaw at room temperature and roll them in some powdered sugar again before serving.
Why did my Russian Tea Cakes flatten?
The traditional Russian Tea Cakes should be round in shape. Make sure the oven is preheated well and the dough is chilled before baking.
Tips to Make the Best Snowball Cookies:
- Follow the exact measurements to make them perfect.
- Make sure the dough is firm and chilled when you bake.
- Shape the dough into 1-inch size balls to bake them evenly.
- Be careful not to overbake the cookies. They are done when the edges of the cookies just start to brown and the bottoms are very lightly browned.
- You will need to roll the baked cookies in powdered sugar when they are still warm.
- Once they are cool, roll them again in powdered sugar if needed.
- If you want to make super white snowball cookies, roll them twice in powdered sugar.
Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe with Step by Step Photos:
- Combine the flours and salt in a bowl and keep it aside.
- In a mixing bowl. add unsalted butter and powdered sugar. Beat until it is creamy and smooth.
- Add vanilla essence.
- Mix until well combined.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix well with a spatula until incorporated.
- Lightly knead the mixture to make a soft dough.
- Wrap the dough with a cling film and refrigerate for an hour or until it becomes firm.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
- Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator.
- Roll the dough into 1 inch small balls and place them on the lined baking tray.
- Bake them immediately in the preheated oven for 12 – 15 minutes or until the edges are just starting to brown at 180 degrees C.
- Remove from the oven and let them cool for about 3 – 5 minutes.
- While cookies are still warm, roll them in powdered sugar.
- Arrange them on a wire rack and let them cool completely.
- Roll them twice in powdered sugar if needed. Store in an airtight container.
More Christmas Recipes on the blog:
- Eggless Fruitcake Cookies
- Eggless Cherry Almond Cake
- Nutella Sandwich Cookies
- Vegan Avocado Brownies
- Chocolate Chip Crescent Cookies
- Orange Tutti Frutti Cake
- Wheat Oat Almond Cookies
- Eggless Dates Cake
- Condensed Milk Cashew Cookies
- Goan Kulkuls
Recipe Reference: Joy of Baking
How to Make Snowball Cookies Recipe Video below:
Snowball Cookies Recipe or Russian Tea Cakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup All-purpose flour
- ½ cup Corn Flour / Corn Starch
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter at room temperature
- ¼ cup Powdered Sugar
- 2 tsp Vanilla Essence (or 1 tsp Vanilla Extract)
- ¼ tsp Salt
For Topping
- ½ cup Powdered Sugar
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the cornflour, all purpose flour and salt. Keep it aside.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar until creamy and smooth.
- Add the vanilla essence and combine it well.
- Then add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix well until incorporated.
- Lightly knead to make a soft dough. Wrap it with cling film
- Refrigerate the dough for an hour or until it becomes firm.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
- Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator.
- Roll the dough into 1 inch small balls and place them on a greased or lined baking tray.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 – 15 minutes or until the edges are just starting to brown at 180 degrees C.
- Remove from the oven and cool for about 3 – 5 minutes.
- While cookies are still warm, roll them in powdered sugar.
- Transfer them to a wire rack and let them cool completely.
- Roll them twice in powdered sugar if needed. Store in an airtight container.
- If you want, sprinkle the top of the cookies with more powdered sugar before serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only.
I rolled mine in cinnamon sugar before they baked, they were amazing!
1/2 cup of corn starch?? Oven 180 degrees?? Those two don’t sound right. Is that correct? I would like to make these
Yeah, this is a tried and tested recipe like all my recipes on the blog. It should work. please give it a try.
Can you use lemon extract instead of vanilla?
Thank you
Absolutely! You can also add a tablespoon of lemon juice and some lemon zest for the flavor. 🙂
180 Celsius
350 F
180 C is same as 350 F
180 C equals 356 F. I set my oven to 350 degrees.
Thanks for your response.
Can you use margarine instead of butter?
Yes, you can!