Mexican Wedding cookies /snow ball cookies delicious nutty cookies that are rolled in powdered sugar. Traditionally made during christmas and weddings. 
Can I tell you a secret, I miss snowy Christmas. I was born and grew up in a part of world where winter means really just a cool weather that’s all. Snow is only mentioned in the stories and songs. Then in Japan where I stayed, it snowed for a few a days in February. After moving to Sweden I experienced what is snowy Christmas. The white light reflects from the snow when there is no sun, and is beautiful. After coming to US, I stayed in two states where snow is prominent. Currently I am in a part of Texas where snow is an occasional visitor. I am happy, as on one end as it helps my plant and tree can survive through the year, but I can’t help missing that white snow. To compensate this I made this snowy white Mexican Wedding cookies/ snow ball cookies.
As Christmas is near, I have started baking few cookies, and yesterday I made this Mexican wedding cookies/ Snow ball cookies/ Russian tea cakes/Polvorón/Butter balls. Whatever you call them they are delicious and melt in mouth. These are famous cookies that made during the Christmas. According to wisegeek these cookies originated in medieval Arab world, and spread to Europe, and along with Spain invasion it comes to Mexico. In Mexico, the cookies are handed out to guests at weddings and other celebrations. In Mexico it is called Boscochitos, and served during wedding and other functions. It is usually made in round or crescent shape. It has a powdered sugar coating and makes it looks like a snow ball. I was planning to make them with pecans; however I don’t have pecans in my hand, so decided to use almonds. I found this recipe at King Arthur flour baking center’s blog and also in Craft YouTube video. For these cookies, the almonds were first blanched and then toasted.
I ground into powder along with ½ tablespoon of powdered sugar to prevent them from getting into nut butter. Then this ground almonds was mixed with All-purpose flour and powdered sugar along with butter. Reduce the butter amount from the original recipe. I used vanilla extract and almond extract to get an extra flavor. However after mixing everything the dough was still powdery, hence added 2 ½ tablespoon of water to bring together into a stiff dough. I spooned 1 teaspoon of dough into balls and baked at 325 °F for about 15 minutes or until sides are starting to brown. I allowed them to cool in the baking sheet for about 10 minutes and then coated with powdered sugar. It is better to cool the cookies very well and then coat with sugar, otherwise sugar will starts melting. You can do two or three coating of powdered sugar/confectioners’ sugar so that you will get exact snow ball cookies.
These are delicious melt in mouth taste like shortbread. Try it if you have some almond, pecans, and walnuts in your hand. Here comes the recipe.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper if needed. I bought a cookie sheet that doesn’t need any pre working I like that part. Preheat oven to 325F.
Blanch and toast the almonds and set aside. Powder almond with confectioners’ sugar to prevent them from become almond butter. Cream butter and sugar add vanilla extract, almond extract and salt. To this add ground almond and all purpose flour combine well to form stiff dough. I used less butter so needed 2 ½ tablespoons water to make it stiff dough.
Scoop 1 teaspoon dough and make ball and place it cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake them for about 15-20 minutes or until the bottom part is slightly brown and sides start to get brown.
Once the cookies are cooled rolled them in confectioners’ sugar, do two to three times to make exact snowy white in color.
Enjoy as much you wish.
Mexican Wedding Cookies /Snow Ball Cookies
Mexican Wedding cookies /snow ball cookies delicious nutty cookies that are rolled in powdered sugar.
Servings: 12 no
Calories: 97kcal
Ingredients
- Dough
- ¼ cup unsalted butter*
- ¼ cup confectioners' sugar/Powdered Sugar
- ¾ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon almond extract optional
- ⅛ teaspoon salt.
- ¼ +⅛ cup almond flour or ¾ cup blanched almonds finely ground
- 1 ⅛ cup King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 2 ½ tablespoon of water
- * you can increase the amount of butter to ½ cup then no need of water
- Coating
- ¼ cup confectioners' sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) one baking sheets
- In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt.
- Beat in the almond flour, then the all-purpose flour. Add water if needed to form a stiff dough.
- Scoop chestnut-sized (1") pieces of dough, and roll them into balls. A level teaspoon cookie scoop will give you just the right amount of dough. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving 1" between them.
- Bake the cookies for 15 to 20 minutes, until they feel set on top: and some of them are MAYBE beginning to barely brown around the edges.
- While the cookies are baking, put the topping sugar in a shallow bowl.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them, 5 or 6 at a time, to the bowl. Roll them in the sugar to coat, and then transfer them to a rack to cool.
- When the cookies are cool, roll them in the sugar again; they should be thoroughly coated and snowy white.
- Store airtight at room temperature.
Notes
Variations:
You can use pecans, walnuts or any nut of your choice instead of Almond.
You can use pecans, walnuts or any nut of your choice instead of Almond.
Nutrition
Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 118IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @nidhinikhil or tag #zestysouthindiankitchenrecipes!
Favorite recipes: Christmas Recipes hosted here.
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
cookingvarieties says
hi swathi, i feel i am gonna love eating these snow ball cookies- there are lots of nuts...hmm my favorite. bookmark with thanks .
wishing you and family a merry christmas and happy holidays.. happy baking more cookies for the fiesta 🙂
Rita Bose says
Delicious,yummy looking snowballs! Happy Christmas!
My today's recipe:
http://www.rita-bose-cooking.com/2012/12/banana-nut-cake.html
Lora CakeDuchess says
I haven't seen a white Christmas in ages. I miss it too:)We get a white (sandy)Christmas over here;) This is one of my favorite cookies:)
Maha Gadde says
Looks Delicious..nice expalnation vth step wise cliks..
maha
Vineetha says
Thats a beautiful cookies Swathi...loved the name and perfct for a snowy christmas day 🙂
Happy Holiday to u Swathi !
Amy says
very delicious & lovely!!
Reeni Pisano says
I know what you mean about missing the snow Swathi! Even if you live in the North you may not get any. Last year it hardly snowed all winter and this year is unseasonably warm too. Hoping for a white Christmas! Your cookies are perfect and sound great with almonds!
Shailaja Reddy says
Looks delicious & different taste.
Priya says
So cute and very attractive cookies, feel like having some.
Suja Manoj says
Wow looks cute,adipoli aayitundu,perfect for this season.
Beena.stephy says
Lovely cookies
divya says
Looks yum...love it...
Hema says
Gorgeous cookies, feel like having some now..
Archana Potdar says
Looks delicious. Will definitely melt in the mouth.
Navaneetham Krishnan says
I have never experienced snow before and our weather here is either burning sun or raining. I don't think I take the freezing feeling with snow but maybe in the near future will plan a holiday to a country with snow downfall.
Lovely treats this looks. I can imagine the melting moments the moment the cookies goes into my mouth.
Latha Madhusudhan says
wow love the snowy balls.
Sanoli Ghosh says
Cute snowballs, absolutely yummy dear.
today's recipe:
http://sanolisrecipies.blogspot.in/2012/12/banana-chocolate-puffs.html
PT says
cute looking balls.. love it..
Sanoli Ghosh says
Very cute snowballs dear. Absolutely yummy...
today's recipe:
http://sanolisrecipies.blogspot.in/2012/12/banana-chocolate-puffs.html
Nandini says
Delicious cookies!! They look cute:)
Angie's Recipes says
I love your snowy sweets. Have to make some too as we will have a snow-less X'mas this year.
Rani's gourmet says
lovely post......delicious cookies...
Vimitha Anand says
Cookies are looking perfect for the season dear.. Loving it
kausers kitchen says
Luvly cookies dear...wanna have some ryt nw:)
Sangeetha Priya says
Wow perfect n cute cookies!!! mouthwatering!!!
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Mélange says
New to me.A very interesting nice recipe.Nice clicks too.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Hi Swathi, What a coincidence...I just posted my cookies this morning...Almost same, except I made them with Hazelnuts:) Looks adorable 🙂
Faseela Noushad says
Great recipe Swathi....yum
prathibha Garre says
Those cookies look irresistable..yummmy
Rebecca Subbiah says
wow its so cool all the countries you have lives in which you had pics to share :-), and love these cookies must try making them
Achu says
Amazing dear love those cute whitey snowy balls 🙂
Sangeetha Nambi says
Cute tiny balls... Love this Swathi...
http://recipe-excavator.blogspot.com
Hamaree Rasoi says
Delicious and yummy snowballs.
Deepa
Zoe says
Hi Swathi,
We didn't have a snowy Christmas here in Australia but your snowy treats, everything look so white and pretty in my view 😀
Zoe
Arthy Suman says
Yummy snowballs...perfectly done...
kala says
Wanna grab some of them 🙂
Nivedhanams Sowmya says
Simply irresistible!!! so delicious and so mouthwatering!!!
Sowmya
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Veena Theagarajan says
cute little balls who can resist
http://great-secret-of-life.blogspot.com
Savitha Ganesan says
beautifully done swathi.cool.
Julie says
Melt in mouth cookies,Swathi..perfectly done dear..I too posted a cookie recipe today,Same pinch:)
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Lizzy Do says
I always make mine with chopped nuts! I bet they taste amazing with ground nuts...I'll have to give this recipe a try 🙂
ramya anand says
Looks yumm
Shabbu says
Cute and yummy cookies..
Priya R says
cute little snow cookies 🙂 i love snow Swathi and looking forward for a white christmas this year... lets hope so
DivyaGCP says
Cookies looks nice and delicious.. Perfect for the holiday season.