Snowball Russian Tea Cake Cookies
The BEST Powdered Sugar SNOWBALL Cookies! This is my favorite Christmas cookie recipe! These Russian Tea Cake Cookies are so easy to make! They’re made with pecans and then rolled in powdered sugar after baking! I make a few batches to hand out for gifts around the holidays – everyone always love them!
What do you call these cookies?
Snowballs?
Russian Teacakes?
Mexican Wedding Cakes?
Butterballs?
I call them delicious.
Snowballs are commonly baked around the holiday season. They are a form of Jumble which was a popular cookie pastry made in the Middle Ages. Jumbles were popular during that time because they traveled and kept so well, thanks to their hard nature being made with nuts or seeds. Although in the Middle Ages they were known to keep these cookies around for a year without becoming stale, I dare you to keep them around for a week without eating them.
These are one of my favorite cookies due to the crunch of the finely chopped pecans and powdered sugar you roll them in. Do you love powdered sugar as much as I do? I hope so.
I prefer using pecans for these cookies. You want to make sure they are finely chopped so they don’t overwhelm the cookies so just take a handful and throw them in your food processor. A few pulses later you’ll have exactly what you want.
You’ll also want to chill the dough for about 20 minutes. Why do you want to chill? These cookies have flour in them, so chilling the dough permits the gluten strands in the flour to cause a rubbery texture in the final cookie. Also, having the chilled dough makes it much easier to roll some balls when it’s time to bake them.
Enjoy our family’s favorite cookies, Snowball Russian Teacake Cookies!
Pin for later:
Snowball Russian Teacake Cookies
The BEST Powdered Sugar SNOWBALL Cookies! This is my favorite Christmas cookie recipe! These Russian Tea Cake Cookies are so easy to make! They're made with pecans and then rolled in powdered sugar after baking! I make a few batches to hand out for gifts around the holidays - everyone always love them!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter - softened
- 1/4 cup confectioners powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
- confectioners powdered sugar to roll cookies in
Instructions
- Mix butter, sugar and vanilla together in bowl.
- Mix flour and salt together in other bowl.
- Combine flour mixture with butter mixture, stir so blended together nicely.
- Add pecans and stir so they are equally distributed.
- Chill dough for 20-30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Roll dough in 1 inch balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheet.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until set but not browned.
- While still warm, roll each cookie in powdered sugar.
- Let cool, store in airtight container.
Recipe Notes
Makes 18 Snowball Cookies.
I remember making jumbles many Christmases ago! These look delightful, delicate and snow like 🙂 I love the melt in the mouth texture too of snow balls. Beautiful!
Delicious does sound like the best possible name for these cookies! I love seeing unique cookies, and these are definitely some I want to try – Pinned!
These look delicious Pamela!
These are so pretty! I love snowballs, I’ve never made them before – always the first I steal off everyone else’s cookie plate 🙂
I call them gorgeous and delicious!!! I am also in love with your hair color it looks nice 🙂
So pretty! My Mom and I make a Greek version of these called Kourabiedes around the holidays, but use almond extract instead of actual nuts. I’d love to try it out with the pecans!
Russian teacakes make an appearance every year at our family gatherings! So good!
Just beautiful Pamela… They’re one of my most favorite cookies! <3
Love these cookies. Would love to be the recipient of one of your gift baskets.
How did you know snowball cookies are my favorite?!
I don’t care what you call them, these just look straight up awesome!
These cookies remind me of my mom… it’s her favorite. She calls them Russian Tea Cakes as well 🙂
Snowballs!!!! I love these cookies too, especially when made with pecans.
I know them as snowballs. These look so pretty and delicious, Pam.
Oooh – snowballs! Love these Pamela!
These look great! I haven’t had these kind of cookies in so long, I want to make some myself now!
Whatever they’re called, they are delicious. I love eating them, but have never tried making them. I think it would be too tempting to have them on hand.
I call these cookies “I almost choked on them because of the powdered sugar”! LOL!
I swear if you stuff too many in your mouth its dangerous! LOL
They are sooo good with chai tea!
Call them what you want because these cookies are delicious! Can’t get enough of them!
These were so good!
These are my FAVORITE Christmas cookie! You’re pictures make them look even more mouth watering.
And I agree with you… I also just call them delicious 🙂
Oh yum!! These look so delicious!! I love snowball cookies… they are just so tasty!! Thanks for sharing!
I don’t think it matters what you call them! Anything with pecans in it is good in my book 🙂 Happy holidays Pamela!
P.S. I LOVE your silver locks!
I love these Russian Teacakes/Mexican Wedding cookies. I call them delicious too!
Love these! They are one of my favorite holiday cookies too and I love that you shared the story behind them:) Hehe delicious sounds like the perfect for name for these cookies and I can never get enough of these snowy beauties:)
We call them snowballs around here and I love them!! yours look delicious!!
These are my absolute favorite cookie! And I agree, whatever you call them….we all know they’re GOOD! Thank you for sharing!
My mom makes these for Christmas because her dad loved them. He was Italian, so they called them Italian Wedding Cookies – and they were shaped into little crescents. They always make me wish I liked pecans!
We love Snowball Cookies in our family! We call them Russian Teacakes as well. I’ve made them with cocoa and called them ‘Dirty Snowballs’, ha! No matter what you call them, a Christmas cookie tray is lacking if there aren’t any of these scrumptious cookies on them! Thank you for sharing along with the history of jumbles, Pamela! And… best wishes to you and your family for a meaningful and joyous Christmas holiday!
from now on we sure are going to call these terrific cookies delicious too….adorable treats…perfect for a celebration 🙂
I love the name snowballs but I dont think I´ll have time to pronounce the name cause
I´ll be popping a few of these into my mouth..lol Happy weekend! Xx
These look awesome Pamela! And I love the vertical photography!
I have got to make myself some snowballs! The people from the Middle Ages knew good food, apparently. These are great for the holidays and I adore nuts in any kind of cookie.
I will call them delicious because that is what they are!!
I’ve always called them snowballs, but the.boy calls them some random greek name. Whatever their name, I love them!
I call them delicious, too! There are one of my favorite Christmas cookies. You’ve been rocking the cookie week, Pamela! And your photos have been so pretty!
Thanks for sharing a little of the history! I would have never guessed their origin.
I see such a variation of names but I call them crazy delicious!! They look so yummy!
We call them snowballs! And make some every Christmas : ) I can’t wait to make a batch with my mom on Christmas Eve – with my grandma’s recipe! These of course look delicious – you’re making me want them now!
They look festive and absolutely delicious!
These teacakes sound delicious.
Buttery, nutty, and magical! These are definitely on my top ten list for cookies!
I absolutely love these cookies. One of my holiday favorites. There is no way they would last a year in my house.
Mmmm I would like to eat these in your rooftop vegetable garden with you!!!
Fun =)
Ooooh snowball cookies (though I like to call them delicious as well) are my favorite! I’m trying your recipe tomorrow, I think!! Holy Moly, these look fantastic! x
These cookies are so adorable! I think I usually call them snowballs, but I’ve heard most of those other names as well. I love that you included some of the backstory of these cookies. I learned something new today! 🙂
Delicious indeed!
I love the name and sound of these!
Yep, I will call them delicious too!
Yes, I love powdered sugar as much as you do! These cookies look melt in your mouth delicious! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, enjoy the holiday season.
Me too, me too…I call them delicious! 🙂 ela
These cookies are so pretty! I love them. I’ve never tried snowball cookies before, but I’m sure they must be totally delicious.
Pinned!
these look beautiful pamela! i love pecan nuts in anything, so i bet these are delicious! 🙂
the hobbit kitchen x
These are my favorite cookies to make also. Been making them since I was a kid. We called them Pecan Sandies in the middle of Kansas. And that’s before Keebler made their commercial ones. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I just made a version of these too – they are so good and perfect for the holidays!
So festive and adorable! I want to stack three up and make it into an edible snowman.
These were called snowballs when I was growing up and I haven’t had them since I left home. I loved them as a kid and yours look smashing.
love these will be making them soon thanks for sharing following from weary chef I’m lorraine at http://lorrainesresources.blogspot.com
they have so many names, and they’re probably the quintessential christmas cookie. lovely images and great post! merry christmas. 🙂
Doesn’t matter how you call them, they are super delicious!!
I can just seriously imagine these melting into my mouth…so scrumptious!
Gorgeous photos Pam, so Christmasy! Love the idea of these cookies-teacakes-biscuits-balls-of-infinite-goodness, they sound delicious. Definitely going to put these on my to-bake list. I hope that you guys have truly wonderful Christmas and an even happier, art/food/garden/love/cat filled new year! xx
Perfection, love the teacakes. One of those cookies which are so addictive.
I always love a Russian Tea Cake! I’m pretty sure it’s the powdered sugar that gets me every time! Same thing with powdered sugar doughnuts. I can’t believe anyone could keep these cookies around for more then a day! They disappear like hot cakes in our house! Have a Merry Christmas!
Umm yum this is fabulous and I call them Snowball cookies but I have heard most people call them Snowball Russian Teacakes. Never butterballs… butterball makes me think of ham. Haha. Merry Christmas to you and yours, love!
Look great – I love snowball cookies!
I like the name, Snowball Russian Teacake cookies 😉 perfect and gorgeous!
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Delicious looking snowballs Pamela! Pecans are my favorite nut!
What a lovely, classic cookie, Pamela! My late Mom had a recipe for something similar that we used to make. We used to call them Snowballs. Thank you so much for sharing and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link party. I hope your week is going well!
I always knew them as snowballs, and they were a childhood favorite. I’ll have to test recipe this against my own version. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Yum! Thanks for the recipe. Pinned it.
I think these are just about my favorite kind of cookies. But I never think about making them until I see a recipe on Pinterest or something. So thank you for the reminder!
Awesome, just love the simplicity of the wonderful treat. I have tweeted and pinned as I want to make this. Unfortunately, I have already made all my edible treats for Christmas but this will be one that I will try for sure. Thanks for sharing.
Is it plain or self rising flour?
Hey Meg, just regular all-purpose flour.
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I’ve had these cookies before and, let me tell, you they are so delicious! I had never known what to call them, but now I know! And although I’ve eaten them before, I’ve never made them myself – so glad you shared the recipe. Going to have to try this!
Pamela, your edible snowballs look amazing! I’ve never had such cookies before but I’m stoked to try them! I have featured you at the Friday Favorites linky party this week. Come check it out! https://be-alice.blogspot.com/2017/12/friday-favorites-week-403.html Hope you pop by and visit again this week 🙂
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These cookies are delicious. I did some research and they’re called polvorones in Mexican bakeries. Does anyone know if they can be mailed I would like to send my daughter a box of bees in New York.
Bees should have read “these” ☺
Hey BJ, you could definitely mail the cookies to your daughter. I would suggest using a 2 day delivery service.
PS. I would not recommend mailing bees! 😉
Does the recipe call for powdered sugar in the cookie mix or regular sugar? The powdered sugar is for rolling the cooked ball in, right?
Hi Christie – both! You use 1/4 cup confectioners powdered sugar for the cookie dough and then additionally roll the cookies around in it.
Thanks, Pamela
Pamela, I have mixed up all the ingredients according to your recipe. I must have done something wrong/ I chilled the mixture and attempted to roll into balls. The mix is soooooo dry it will NOT form into anything remotely resembling a ball. I can’t believe the only WET ingredient is butter. Please help me. Can I just add some water? I have put the mixture in a baggie in the fridge. I await your input.
Hey Christie, this is a old family recipe so I can confirm this is the right recipe! I just made them last week for Christmas! 🙂 I would add a little bit of water – like one tablespoon at a time until you can roll into balls – this should not take much more than that! Send me a picture of your final cookies – would love to see them! Enjoy!