Easy 5-Ingredient Pecan Snowball Cookies Recipe
These buttery, nutty pecan snowball cookies come together with just five ingredients and about 30 minutes. They’re perfect for busy weeknights, holiday parties, or last-minute gifts.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup powdered sugar (for coating)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Toast the pecans (optional but highly recommended): Spread the chopped pecans on a small baking sheet and toast in the preheating oven for 5-7 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Let cool completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice.
- Beat in the vanilla extract until just combined.
- On low speed, gradually add the flour, mixing until just combined. Fold in the toasted, cooled pecans with a spatula until evenly distributed.
- Scoop out rounded tablespoons of dough (about 1 inch in diameter) and roll them between your palms into smooth balls. Place on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden and the tops are set but not browned.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.
- While the cookies are still warm (but not hot), roll each one in the bowl of powdered sugar until completely coated. Place back on the cooling rack.
- Once the cookies have cooled completely, roll them in powdered sugar one more time for a double coating.
Notes
For best results, toast the pecans to deepen their flavor. Chilling the shaped dough for 20-30 minutes helps the cookies hold their shape. Double coating in powdered sugar gives them a beautiful snowy appearance. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 7
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 13
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
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