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Walnut Snowball Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose or cake flour
- 1 1/2 cups walnuts
finely chopped
- 2 to 3 Tbsp sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
at room temperature, 4 ounces
- Pinch of salt
- Powdered sugar
to coat, about 1 cup
Directions
- 1
Make the dough: Mix all the dry ingredients—flour, walnuts, salt, sugar—in a large bowl. Add the vanilla extract. Add the butter in little pieces, and combine everything together with your (clean!) hands until the mixture looks like a coarse meal with nut bits in it.
- 2
Chill the dough: Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes in the fridge or up to overnight.
- 3
Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or silicon baking mats.
- 4
Form the dough into balls: Form the dough into small balls no larger than a walnut and place on the cookie sheet, spaced at least an inch apart from each other.
- 5
Bake: Bake the cookies for 35 minutes.
- 6
Roll in powdered sugar: When cookies are still warm, but cool enough to touch, roll them in the powdered sugar. Set aside on a rack to cool completely. When cool, dust again in powdered sugar.
Walnut Snowball Cookies
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Ratings & Reviews
Based on 26 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Craving a classic cookie that evokes cozy memories and holiday cheer? These Walnut Snowball Cookies are your answer, delivering a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture with a comforting nutty flavor that's perfect for any festive occasion.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe shines by combining finely chopped walnuts with a tender, buttery dough, ensuring every bite is rich with flavor and a satisfying crumbly texture. The simple yet elegant preparation, culminating in a generous dusting of powdered sugar, makes these festive cookies not only delicious but also incredibly charming. Plus, they're renowned for how well they freeze and ship, making them ideal for gifting or enjoying throughout the season.
What to Expect
Prepare for a truly delightful experience. Each Walnut Snowball Cookie is a small parcel of buttery richness, offering a delicate snap that quickly melts away, leaving behind the warm, earthy notes of walnuts and a cloud of sweet powdered sugar. The finely chopped walnuts integrate seamlessly into the dough, providing flavor without overpowering the cookie's tender structure. You'll find these cookies are moderately easy to make, resulting in a batch of beautifully coated treats that look as good as they taste.
Customization & Variations
This recipe is wonderfully classic, but you can tailor it slightly. The choice between all-purpose or cake flour allows you to fine-tune the cookie's tenderness—cake flour will yield an even more delicate crumb. While walnuts are the star, ensuring they are finely chopped is key to their texture and flavor distribution. You can also adjust the initial sugar content slightly, within the suggested 2 to 3 tablespoons, based on your preference for sweetness before the powdered sugar coating.
Serving & Context
These Walnut Snowball Cookies are quintessential holiday fare, perfect for cookie exchanges, dessert platters, or simply enjoying with a cup of coffee or tea. Their elegant appearance and delicious flavor also make them wonderful edible gifts.