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Gingerbread Snowball Cookies Recipe

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4.5 from 127 reviews

These Gingerbread Snowball Cookies are a delightful holiday treat, combining warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with buttery pecans. Soft on the inside and coated with powdered sugar on the outside, these cookies offer a perfect balance of spice and sweetness that’s ideal for festive occasions or cozy winter days.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Finishing Touch

  • Additional powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth texture for the dough.
  3. Add Vanilla: Mix in the vanilla extract thoroughly to infuse the dough with flavor.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves until evenly combined, creating the spice base for the cookies.
  5. Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry spice and flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing continuously until fully incorporated into a cohesive dough.
  6. Fold in Pecans: Stir the finely chopped pecans into the dough, evenly distributing the crunchy nuts.
  7. Shape Dough: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them spaced apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  8. Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are set but have not browned to maintain their tender texture.
  9. Roll in Powdered Sugar: Allow the cookies to cool slightly on the baking sheet, then carefully roll them in additional powdered sugar to create the classic snowball appearance and sweet coating.
  10. Cool Completely: Transfer the coated cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before serving, allowing them to firm up and develop their signature texture.

Notes

  • If you prefer a nut-free version, omit the pecans or substitute with seeds like sunflower or pumpkin.
  • Make sure the butter is softened, not melted, to achieve the best texture.
  • For extra flavor, you can toast the pecans lightly before chopping.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
  • These cookies freeze well — freeze after rolling in powdered sugar and thaw at room temperature before serving.

Keywords: Gingerbread Cookies, Snowball Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Spiced Cookies, Pecan Cookies, Christmas Cookies, Easy Cookie Recipe

Find it online: https://todayfoodrecipe.com/gingerbread-snowball-cookies-recipe/