Description
Delight in these classic Cinnamon Sugar Snowball Cookies, a perfect holiday treat featuring buttery, nutty dough rolled in a sweet cinnamon sugar coating. Soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies with a hint of vanilla and warm cinnamon, ideal for festive cookie trays or cozy afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Coating
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which typically takes a few minutes with an electric mixer.
- Add vanilla extract: Mix in the vanilla extract thoroughly to infuse the dough with rich flavor.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and ground cinnamon to evenly distribute the spices and salt.
- Mix dry ingredients into wet: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the butter mixture and stir gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Fold in nuts: Carefully fold in the finely chopped pecans or walnuts to add crunch and flavor to the cookie dough.
- Shape cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch diameter balls and place them about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow room for baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12–14 minutes or until the bottoms turn lightly golden while the tops stay pale and soft.
- Prepare cinnamon sugar coating: While the cookies bake, mix granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon in a shallow bowl to coat the cookies after baking.
- Coat warm cookies: Once baked, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then gently roll each warm cookie in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat evenly.
- Cool completely: Transfer the coated cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely for best texture.
- Optional second coating: For an extra sugary finish, roll the cookies again in the cinnamon sugar mixture once fully cooled.
Notes
- These cookies freeze well, making them perfect for preparing ahead of holiday celebrations.
- For a nut-free version, omit the nuts or substitute mini chocolate chips for a delicious variation.
