Our Nut-Free Snowball Cookies are delicate, powdered sugar-dusted treats that promise to melt in your mouth and transport you to a winter wonderland. They take just about 35 minutes to make, allowing you to bring the magic of winter into your home with minimal effort.
These delightful cookies offer a perfect balance of sweetness and texture. These snowball cookies are an ideal addition to your Christmas cookie collection.
There are so many easy christmas cookies you can bake up like dipped chocolate cookies, christmas pinwheels and linzer cookies just to name a few. But these Russian tea cake cookies are a whole different flavor, taste and texture.
Ingredients
- Butter - unsalted + softened
- Powdered Sugar
- Salt
- Vanilla
- Flour
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
There aren't many ingredients in these cookies, but if you want to change them up a little here are a few ideas:
- Add nuts - add in chopped walnuts or pecans for a nutty and crunchy taste.
- Change up the flavors - you can really make these any flavor you want, switch out the vanilla for almond, lemon, peppermint. Add in candies or cocoa powder as well.
Like powdered sugar on your cookies? Try these chocolate crinkle cookies also.
Instructions
Use these easy step-by-step directions to bake up your own batch of Russian tea cake cookies without nuts.
Step one: preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Step two: add butter and sugar and vanilla to mixing bowl. Cream together on medium high for 2 - 3 minutes.
Step three: add in salt and flour. Mix on medium low until thoroughly combined. Dough will be thick.
Step four (optional): we made these nut free, but this is the step where you would add extra flavors, nuts or candies.
Step five: scoop tablespoon sized balls of dough and place them a few inches apart on baking sheet. Bake for around 15 minutes. After baking roll in powdered sugar.
Hint: for the best taste, roll each cookie in powdered sugar right before serving.
Recipe Tips for Success
- Dough will be very thick - this is normal and helps the cookies to hold their round shape. It should start to pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl when ready.
- Cookies are done when they are slightly browned on the bottom/edges.
Storage
These can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 - 5 days.
Or, you can freeze them in a freezer bag or airtight container for 3 - 6 months.
Nut Free Snowball Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Hand or Stand Mixer
- measuring cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter unsalted + softened
- .5 cup Powdered sugar
- .25 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 2.25 cups Flour
Instructions
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add 1 cup butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla and ½ cup powdered sugar to mixing bowl. Cream together on medium-high for 2 - 3 minutes.
- Add .25 teaspoon salt and 2.25 cups flour and mix on medium-low until well combined. Dough will be thick and will pull away from sides of the bowl.
- If adding any nuts or other candies or flavors, mix those in now.
- Scoop tablespoon sized balls of dough out, roll into balls and place a few inches apart on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes and then immediately roll in powdered sugar.
Notes
- Change up the flavor by substituting lemon, almond, peppermint or other extracts for the vanilla.
- Add in ¾ cup of chopped nuts, candies or cocoa powder for other flavor options.
- Roll cookies in powdered sugar again just before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is just an estimate and may vary based on specific ingredients used.
