These tender, buttery vegan snowball cookies are filled with chopped pecans, baked to perfection and tossed in powdered sugar. Sweet, nutty perfection! Let's learn how to make them!
Snowball cookies are also known as Italian wedding cookies. These bite-sized, melt in your mouth cookies are snowy in appearance and sweet, buttery and nutty in taste!
Their festive appearance makes them perfect for the holidays. Check out our vegan Christmas cookies for more holiday options!
If you're new to vegan baking, you'll want to read our post on how to make vegan cookies. Here you'll find all the most up to date tips and tricks!
Vegan snowball cookie ingredients:
Here's a breakdown of vegan snowball cookie ingredients:
- vegan butter: Provides moisture and fat, creating a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- powdered sugar: Sweetens the dough and contributes to the light, delicate texture. Powdered sugar dissolves more easily than granulated sugar, which is crucial for these tender cookies.
- vanilla extract: Adds a warm, sweet flavor and enhances the overall taste of the cookies, balancing the richness of the butter.
- salt: Enhances and balances the sweetness, bringing out the flavors of the other ingredients.
- all-purpose flour: Forms the structure of the cookies, giving them the stability needed to hold their shape during baking while maintaining a crumbly texture.
- pecans: Adds a nutty flavor and a pleasant crunch, which complements the softness of the cookie dough.
- powdered sugar for coating: Creates the classic "snowball" appearance and adds a final layer of sweetness.
Why you'll love these cookies:
- Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture: These cookies are incredibly tender and crumbly, dissolving deliciously with each bite.
- Rich and Buttery Flavor: Luxurious, rich taste that feels indulgent yet balanced.
- Nutty Crunch: The chopped pecans add a great crunch and nutty flavor, making every bite satisfying.
- Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, these cookies are beginner-friendly and quick to whip up.
- Festive and Fun: The powdered sugar coating gives them a snowball-like appearance, perfect for holiday gatherings or wintry treats.
How to make vegan snowball cookies (with pictures!):
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full instructions and ingredient measurements.
Begin by creaming together the softened vegan butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt until light and fluffy. Beat in the flour until just combined. Fold in the chopped pecans.
Chill the cookie dough for at least one hour or overnight.
Scoop heaping tablespoons of cookie dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place baking sheet on center rack of an oven preheated to 350 degrees F (175 C) for about 12 minutes.
Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes before tossing in powdered sugar. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Toss cookies in powdered sugar once more right before serving.
Vegan snowball cookie tips:
Here are some tips for making the perfect vegan snowball cookies:
- Sift the Powdered Sugar: Sift the powdered sugar before adding it to the dough. This helps eliminate any lumps and ensures a smooth and consistent sweetness throughout the cookies.
- Chop Pecans Finely: Chop the pecans finely to ensure even distribution throughout the cookie dough. Finely chopped pecans contribute to the desired texture without overpowering the cookies.
- Roll Uniform-sized Balls: When forming the dough into balls, aim for uniform sizes to ensure even baking. Use a cookie scoop to help with this.
- Roll While Warm: Coat the cookies in powdered sugar while they’re still warm, so it sticks better and forms a smooth, snowy coating.
- Double-Coat the Sugar: After the first coating cools, roll the cookies in powdered sugar again just before serving to achieve a thick, even layer for that classic look.
How to decorate snowball cookies:
Decorating snowball cookies is simple yet adds a festive and personalized touch. Here are some ideas:
- Classic Powdered Sugar Coating: Leave the cookies as they are! They look stunning and festive in their simplicity.
- Drizzle with Chocolate: Melt vegan chocolate and use a spoon or piping bag to drizzle it over the cooled cookies for a decorative and delicious touch.
- Add Edible Glitter or Sprinkles: Dust the powdered sugar coating with edible glitter or sprinkle festive, colorful sugar sprinkles on top to make them sparkle.
- Tint the Sugar: Mix a small amount of vegan food coloring into the powdered sugar for a pastel effect, perfect for seasonal themes like pink for Valentine’s Day or green for Christmas.
- Add a Nut Garnish: Press a whole pecan, almond, or candied nut into the center of each cookie before baking for a decorative touch that hints at the nutty flavor inside.
- Layer Flavors: Sprinkle the powdered sugar with a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cocoa powder for subtle flavor variations and visual contrast.
Frequently asked questions:
This could be due to too much flour or insufficient creaming of the butter and sugar. If the dough is too dry, mix in a teaspoon of plant-based milk until it holds together.
Yes, you can omit the nuts. The cookies will still be delicious, but you may want to consider adding a bit more flour to compensate for the loss of volume and texture provided by the nuts.
Definitely! While pecans are a classic choice, you can experiment with other nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or even hazelnuts. Ensure they are finely chopped for the best texture.
Absolutely! Feel free to get creative with add-ins like vegan chocolate chips, dried fruit, or even shredded coconut. Just be mindful not to overload the dough, as these cookies are typically known for their simplicity and delicate texture.
Make sure to roll the cookies in powdered sugar while they’re still warm for their first coating as the heat helps the sugar adhere.
Storage
Proper storage is crucial to maintain the freshness and texture of vegan snowball cookies. Here are steps to store them effectively:
- Place the cookies in an airtight container. You can add a slice of bread to absorb excess moisture if you'd like.
- Set the container in an area that will be safe from large temperature fluctuations.
Cookies will keep like this at room temperature for 2-3 days or can be frozen for up to 1 month.
If you make this recipe be sure to tag @censoredbaker on Instagram!
PrintVegan Snowball Cookies
Tender, buttery vegan cookies filled with chopped pecans and tossed in powdered sugar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Bake Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 Cookies 1x
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
1 cup vegan butter, softened
¾ cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
¾ cup chopped pecans
1 cup powdered sugar for coating
Instructions
- Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the vegan butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and salt using an electric hand mixer. Continue until light and fluffy. This should take about 1 minute. Beat in the flour until just combined. Do not over-mix. Fold in the pecans.
- Chill: Cover the bowl of cookie dough with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour. Cookie dough can be kept like this for up to 48 hours.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place heaping tablespoons of cookie dough on the sheet 2 inches apart. Do not flatten! Bake in preheated oven for 12 minutes.
- Coat: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Once 5 minutes have passed, toss the cookies in powdered sugar one at a time and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Toss the cookies in powdered sugar once more right before serving.
Notes
*Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or can be frozen for up to 1 month.
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