Christmas Snowball Cookies Recipe
Introduction
These Christmas Snowball Cookies are festive, buttery treats filled with colorful M&Ms and coated in sweet powdered sugar. Perfect for holiday gatherings, they combine a tender crumb with a delightful crunch and a snowy finish.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- ½ cup confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup Christmas M&Ms
- 2 cups confectioners sugar (for coating)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners and set aside.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, beat the butter, ½ cup confectioners sugar, and almond extract until light and fluffy.
- Step 3: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a dough forms. Fold in the Christmas M&Ms.
- Step 4: Scoop about 1.5 tablespoons of dough and roll it into a ball. Place each ball on the prepared cookie sheet. Repeat until all dough is used.
- Step 5: Bake for 12–14 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly browned. Let cookies cool on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes, or until they can be handled.
- Step 6: Pour 2 cups of confectioners sugar into a shallow bowl. Roll each warm cookie in the sugar, then place on a cooling rack. Once completely cool, roll the cookies in powdered sugar again before serving.
Tips & Variations
- For a nutty flavor, replace almond extract with vanilla or add finely chopped nuts to the dough.
- Use white chocolate chips or festive sprinkles instead of M&Ms for a different holiday twist.
- Ensure the butter is fully softened to get a smoother dough and lighter texture.
Storage
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. To keep them fresh longer, refrigerate and bring to room temperature before serving. If desired, re-roll in powdered sugar after reheating slightly in a warm oven.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of candy instead of M&Ms?
Yes, you can substitute M&Ms with other small candies like chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or chopped candy bars for variety.
Why do I roll the cookies in powdered sugar twice?
Rolling them first while warm helps the sugar stick to the cookies, and doing it again after cooling ensures a nice, even coating that looks and tastes like snowy snowballs.
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Christmas Snowball Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Description
These festive Christmas Snowball Cookies are soft, buttery, and filled with colorful M&Ms, then generously coated with powdered sugar for a sweet, snowy finish. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these cookies combine a tender crumb with a delightful crunch and a touch of almond extract for a classic seasonal flavor.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- ½ cup confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup Christmas M&Ms
For Coating
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350℉ (175℃). Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners and set aside to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the room temperature butter, ½ cup confectioners sugar, and almond extract together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt to distribute the salt evenly.
- Form Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing continuously until a smooth dough forms. Gently fold in the Christmas M&Ms to evenly distribute them without breaking.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop approximately 1.5 tablespoons of dough and roll it into a ball. Place each ball on the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them adequately for even baking. Repeat until all dough is used.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned, indicating they are cooked through but still tender inside.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool for about 5 minutes, or until they can be handled without breaking apart.
- First Sugar Coating: Place 2 cups of confectioners sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll each warm cookie thoroughly in the powdered sugar to create the initial coating layer.
- Final Cooling and Coating: Transfer the sugar-coated cookies to a cooling rack and let them cool completely. Once fully cooled, roll the cookies in powdered sugar once more to achieve the traditional snowball cookie snowy appearance and extra sweetness.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature butter to ensure the dough mixes evenly and achieves the desired texture.
- Handling the cookies gently when rolling them in powdered sugar prevents breakage.
- You can substitute Christmas M&Ms with other colorful chocolates or mini chocolate chips for variety.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Make sure cookies are completely cooled before the second sugar coating to avoid melting the sugar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookies, Snowball cookies, Holiday baking, Almond extract cookies, M&M cookies, Festive desserts
