Description
This festive snowball pecan meltaways recipe produces a classic tender shortbread-style cookie shaped into small, bite-sized spheres. Unlike soft drop cookies that rely heavily on eggs and leavening agents like baking soda, this dough uses a high ratio of rich butter to flour, combined with finely chopped pecans. This structural balance gives the baked goods their signature crumbling texture that gently dissolves as you eat them.
Ingredients
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1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
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½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar, plus extra for coating
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
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1 cup (100 g) finely chopped pecans
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¼ tsp salt
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½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven: Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cream the butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and creamy, about 2–3 minutes.
3. Add the vanilla: Mix in the vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Combine the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and optional cinnamon.
5. Make the dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Stir in the finely chopped pecans until a soft dough forms.
6. Chill the dough: Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to make the dough easier to handle and help the cookies hold their shape.
7. Shape the cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
8. Bake: Bake for 12–15 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly golden. The tops should remain pale.
9. First sugar coating: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. While still slightly warm, gently roll them in powdered sugar.
10. Second sugar coating: Once the cookies have cooled completely, roll them in powdered sugar again for a beautiful snowball finish.
11. Serve: Arrange on a serving plate and enjoy with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
Notes
These buttery pecan cookies make a lovely addition to holiday dessert platters and homemade edible gifts. Enjoy their delicate crunch and sweet, meltaway texture!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 145 kcal
Keywords: pecan snowball cookies, russian tea cakes, mexican wedding cookies, pecan meltaway cookies