These buttery nutty cookies have various names – Mexican wedding cookies, snowballs and polvorones to name just a few – making them the perfect treat to enjoy any time of year – be it Christmastime, winter or beyond.
These easy cookies require just a few pantry essentials and will please both kids and adults! Plus they make for great holiday gifting options!
Polvorones
These soft and buttery cookies share similarities with Snowball Cookies and Almond Cookies in terms of texture, taste and ease of preparation. Ideal for any dessert table or coffee break setting Polvorones are delicious year-round snacks; Mexican Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes or Sandies (description vary according to source) come to mind as examples.
Polvorones is a simple cookie to make, with infinite customization possibilities depending on your mix-in choices and nuts of choice. Toasting all-purpose flour and ground almonds first before mixing the other ingredients is essential in creating its signature texture for best results.
Toasting ingredients will enhance their flavors and add sweetness to the final cookie. For the best Mexican Wedding Cookies, use only high-grade butter if possible; margarine or vegetable shortening work just as well if necessary.
Dependent upon the region in Mexico where these cookies originate, they could contain either pecans, walnuts or both. Once made, they may be formed into balls or flat discs covered with powdered sugar before baking.
People believe Moorish bakers brought a version of these cookies from Spain during their occupation from the late Middle Ages until around 1400, sharing this recipe with nuns who worked in convents – eventually leading them to adopting their Mexican name: polvorones.
Sugar levels must be carefully calculated to achieve an appealing flavor profile in these buttery cookies, while adding spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves is optional. I prefer keeping to the classic recipe without adding any spices; but feel free to experiment if desired!
Cookie dough can be prepared and stored in the fridge for up to one month; for longer storage times, freezing it works better but requires defrosting for several hours prior to baking. Best enjoyed the day after being made, when flavors and textures have had time to settle down.
Pecan Snowballs
These soft, buttery Mexican wedding cookies feature chunks of pecans throughout and are coated in powdered sugar after baking for an irresistibly soft bite! Their combination of buttery flavor and toasted pecans creates a delicious dessert suitable for any special event or celebration; easy enough for any kitchen! Plus they only require minimal ingredients that most households already possess!
This recipe for Mexican wedding cookies can easily be adjusted to your preference by changing the type of nuts used and flavor of powdered sugar you use – simply replace pecans with coarsely ground almonds! Also feel free to experiment with different powdered sugar options until you find something you prefer best!
Cream the butter and powdered sugar with a hand mixer until light in color and fluffy, adding vanilla extract as needed. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, salt, and pecans in another bowl, before gradually adding this mix into your butter-sugar mix and mixing until just combined. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, roll into 1-inch balls. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes prior to baking.
Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes or until they become lightly golden-brown in color. Remove from oven, while still warm, and dust them with additional powdered sugar before letting cool completely and storing in an airtight container or freezer-friendly bag.
These pecan snowballs are an irresistibly delicious Mexican wedding cookies recipe that are sure to wow any guest at your gathering. Easy and fun to make, the dough can even be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge before it needs to be baked – ideal for holiday parties or any gathering that requires mass catering! You can also freeze these bite-size morsels; simply make sure that they’re packaged securely within an airtight container separated with wax paper!
Walnut Snowballs
Mexican wedding cookies (polvorones or snowball cookies) are delicious delights that are an annual holiday staple and perfect anytime of year. All it takes for this delicious dessert to come to fruition are a few key ingredients and a bit of effort; cookie dough can even be prepared early and kept chilled until ready to bake, while rolled cookies can even be coated in powdered sugar before being ready for powdering sugar coating.
Walnuts give these cookies their signature nutty flavor, and for maximum effect it is best to toast them before grinding in your food processor. Toasting also creates a finer texture in the dough than when using untoasted nuts which tend to have an uneven or paste-like consistency in cookie dough. Pecans or both nuts may be substituted based on family preferences.
As with other Mexican wedding cakes, this recipe calls for powdered sugar to give these cookies their signature bright white hue and make a stunning centerpiece at any holiday table. Furthermore, vanilla adds subtle yet sweet notes of flavor that enhance the sweetness of their nuttiness, all-purpose flour helps bind these cookies, while butter provides moisture and flavor while salt brings balance to their richness.
Once a buttery cookie dough has been prepared, it should be chilled for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator before it can be formed into balls and covered in powdered sugar for a delectable treat.
These cookies are easy to make and make an excellent addition to any cookie tray! Additionally, they make great presents as they can be stored at room temperature for several weeks at a time or frozen up to one month! Any chocolate and nutty fan will love these tasty treats!
Almond Snowballs
These simple snowball cookies are the ideal bite-sized cookie recipe to create for special events and holidays. Their powdered sugar coating adds an elegant touch, making them great additions to holiday dessert plates – or enjoy any time! Buttery and nutty goodness makes these treats delicious year-round; enjoy!
These cookies don’t utilize eggs to act as binding agents in other recipes, resulting in crumblier dough than some others. While this may appear problematic at first, this won’t alter their taste or texture – simply be more gentle handling the dough when handling.
To prepare cookie dough, in a mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar until light in color and fluffy. Stir in vanilla extract and flour; set aside. In another bowl combine ground almonds with kosher salt before incorporating these nuts into the butter mixture. Refrigerate the dough for 20 minutes before rolling it out into 1″ balls on a lined baking sheet for 20 minutes of baking time. When still warm, roll your cookies in powdered sugar – using either as much powdered sugar for rolling as was used to coat them or adding additional if desired for decorative effect!
Once your cookies are cool, store them in an air tight container at room temperature for several days before moving them to the refrigerator or freezing for up to two months – to get maximum shelf life and efficiency, freeze the cookie dough first before shaping into balls and coating in powdered sugar.
This quick and delicious cookie recipe is easy to prepare and absolutely irresistible! From their nutty flavor and soft texture to being covered in powdered sugar – they will please everyone in your family. Plus, kids will have fun helping out!
