Thursday, December 9, 2010

snowballs

snowballs

It doesn't feel like Christmas until I'm licking powdered sugar off my fingers after eating a several snowballs. I've been making these every year since we've been married, and before that my mom made them each Christmas season, for as long as I can remember. 

They taste like Christmas, smell like Christmas, they ARE Christmas to me. And I can never get enough.

We call them snowballs....my mom got the recipe in a little generic sprial bound cook book she got for her wedding. They are often called Mexican Wedding Cookies....but these have chocolate in them, because what is a cooke without chocolate?

Snowballs

3/4 c butter, room temp
1 tsp vanilla (I like to use mexican vanilla in these of course:)
1 TBS water
1/8tsp salt
1/3 c sugar
1 1/2 c flour
1 c chocolate chips
1 c chopped pecans or walnuts (I like pecans)

Cream butter, vanilla, water, sugar and salt. Add flour and mix well. Stir in chocolate and nuts. Form into 1” balls. Bake at 350* for 20 minutes. Cool for a few minutes. Roll in powdered sugar while still warm. Makes about 3 doz.

enjoy!

....and just curious....what is your very favorite Christmasy cookie? Share the recipe if you like!

25 comments:

SoOhCliché said...

Yummy : ) ! A perfect recipe for a snowy day in Paris, yet sunny.

Lillian said...

So, so pretty! Loving your posts lately - they're just the right length when I have limited relaxing time to read blogs!

Favorite cookie(s): Pignoli Cookies - a flourless pinenut cookie made with almond paste, powdered sugar, egg whites. So soft and chewy and yummy! I also LOVE(but have never attempted to make) the little rainbow marzipan cookies. I loved them so much when I was little and our family from New York would come to visit and bring cookie from the yummiest Italian bakeries. Love the Smitten Kitchen description of them here: http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/12/seven-layer-cookies/

Anonymous said...

THESE are my favorite cookies! My grandma makes them (although, without the chocolate) and I eat soooo many of them over the holidays.

Unknown said...

these are what I am making for our cookie swap! only minus chocolate chips. :) they are one of my favorite.. I can't pick just one!

Kenny said...

These are my favorite, although I have never had them with chocolate. Perhaps I'll be making them later!

A Beautiful Life said...

i am making these TODAY! merry christmas. ;)

Moments and Impressions said...

I had had these (similar) before, I always felt like the were good, but missing something - Chocolate!! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

A Christmas favorite of ours as well. And because a cookie isn't a cookie without at least three names, we call them Russian Tea Cakes!

Cheers,

*Heather*

Kimberly June said...

These are my mom's favorite cookies. We've tried several different recipies to get the best ones, the conclusion is the more butter the better. Isn't that true of most baking? :)

Nellie and Jason said...

These are my favorite cookie at Christmas time too. I actually think I got the recipe from your site last year!! We both loooove them, and I usually make 2 batches, cause we end up eating almost an entire batch all by ourselves...holy cow.

Carol said...

Thanks for the recipe. I love those cookies. One of our favorites for Christmas are these:

Jello Cookies
¾ cup shortening
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups flour
Any flavor small jello

Mix together. Roll into balls. Flatten with a glass that has been dipped into sugar. Bake at 350º for 8-10 min. Don’t overcook!

(I make 2 batches / green and red (lime & strawberry) for Christmas cookies)

Enjoy!

Maureen said...

My favorite of all time..Cranberry cookies..http://partywithmartycatering.blogspot.com/ on my food blog..

Tara said...

Yummm! I remember those bad boys from last year. So insanely good! Can't wait to make some! Hope you're feeling better!

abi porter said...

these look delicious!
peanut butter kiss cookies are my favorite christmas cookies.. even though they aren't necessarily christmasy..

summer said...

yumm, sheena! i love anything with powdered sugar. and i'm a big fan of the chocolate chips in there. genius.

so the cookie that IS christmas to me, well, mom apparently hasn't given it up to me yet. (what?!) but here's my newest christmas fave (introduced by grant's family):

Oatmeal Crispies (better than they sound)
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
dash of salt
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
about 2 cups powdered sugar for topping

Mis first 3 ingredients together, add dry ingredients, chill 20-30 min. Scoop small balls onto a parchment-lined pan, then flatten cookies with the bottom of a glass dipped in flour. Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 until edges start to look golden. Pile a rounded T. of powdered sugar immediately on top of cookie while on the pan. Move cookies with a spatula a bit so they don't stick as they cool.

doesn't sound like much.. but they're addicting!

Zoe said...

They look delicious. We desperately need these snowy little balls for our warm and humid Christmas at down-under Australia :D

Kelly said...

Just have to say... this blog of yours is truly inspiring. Thru serendipity I found your blog. My niece, myself and 3 others now follow you. You've made me carry a camera at all times,, magic may be happening at any time.. food - make it more healthy, exercise - the answer to all that ails you (and I'm a nurse) and always find the joy in a day.. keep it up and thank you... (but snowball cookies with chocolate chips.. that's radical!! :) )

Eva said...

Making these tonight! Can't wait! They will be perfect for our xmas party this weekend, Thank you :)

Rachael said...

Yummy! Wish I could have one right now!

Rachelle said...

thanks sheena for this one! i love this cookie and never make it. what?

my favorite holiday cookie is peanut blossoms. the one's with the hershey kiss in the middle. :)

Rachelle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Fredy Family said...

Use brownie mix to make flat soft cookies. make a peppermint filling (i think it is powered sugar, butter, milk). make into a sandwich cookie with extra filling squeezing out the edges, then roll the sides of the cookies in broken candycanes! yum!

Unknown said...

So I have to admit that I am not a fan of christmas cookies? Maybe its because my grandma always made them and they were rock hard??
Favorite cookies, lets call them holiday cookies since they have a touch of cinnamon. I dont have the recipe with me but it has oats, peanut butter (just a small amount), cinnamon, chocolate chips, brown sugar, white sugar, flour, eggs, butter (you can brown this if you'd like), baking soda and powder. That basically sums it up. Let me know if you want the recipe!

Kasey @ Turntable Kitchen said...

This is one of my favorite cookies, too! Tis the season!

Melody Fury // GourmetFury.com said...

This recipe is perfect for my holiday contest to win a Foodista cookbook! It's not too late to enter. Share your delicious holiday cheer with more food-lovers! Would love for you to win :) http://ow.ly/3j61M