Molasses adds a sweet twist to this traditional Snowball Cookie Recipe!

Snowball fight! These famous cookies are also called butterballs, Italian wedding cookies, Russian tea cookies, Mexican wedding cookies, or molasses butterball cookies depending on which nuts or extract is used to make the cookies.

This unique cookie recipe has a sweet molasses twist but you can always substitute powdered sugar for a more traditional snowball cookie!

Make a batch of these melt-in-your-mouth snowball cookies and curl up to watch all of the holiday specials or Hallmark movies! 

What are snowball cookies?

A traditional holiday cookie, snowballs are a sweet, crunchy cookie typically made with butter, flour, sugar, and some type of nut. They are coated in a layer of powdered sugar to give them the look of a snowball. 

How long do snowball cookies stay fresh?

I don’t like to leave snowball cookies out longer than 3-4 days, even in a sealed container, for fear they will get hard. I do refrigerate them for about a week or freeze them for longer storage. 

Can snowball cookies be frozen?

Yes! I freeze my snowball cookies for up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw before eating. 

These cookies would be delicious with a sweet cup of Hot Chocolate made in the slow cooker (perfect for a crowd!). 

 

Snowball Cookie recipe

Prep: 10 minutes

Bake: 20-25 minutes

Makes: 3 Dozen

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup softened butter (room temperature is best)

• ¼ Cup molasses*

• 2 Cups sifted flour

• ½ Teaspoon salt

• 2 Cups chopped hazelnuts**

• ½ Cup powdered sugar

*NOTE: If you prefer a very white snowball cookie or just don’t have molasses, you can substitute 1/4 cup powdered sugar in place of the molasses.

**NOTE: Can substitute any nut of your choice.

How to make snowball cookies

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with cooking spray and parchment paper. Set Aside.

• Chop your hazelnuts and toast them until golden brown. Watch them carefully and set aside.  (You can substitute any nut!) I like this method for roasting hazelnuts if you want instructions!

• In a large bowl cream your butter until fluffy. You can do this with a stand or hand mixer.

• Next, add in your molasses and cream this with the butter. 

• In another bowl whisk together your flour and salt. Add this to the butter and molasses mixture.

• Mix together until a dough forms. (It will be thick)

• Add in your chopped nuts and mix together until combined. 

• Roll into dough balls about 1 inch in size and place on a baking sheet one inch apart.

• Bake for 20-25 minutes.

• While they are still warm, roll the cookies in powdered sugar. Give them a second coat if you like a lot of “snow”!

• Enjoy!