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mexican wedding cookies

Mexican Wedding Cookies (Snowball Cookies)

Laura
Deliciously powdered and melt-in-your-mouth perfect, Mexican wedding cookies are a timeless holiday bake sale idea for Christmas.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Rest Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 32 minutes
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 25 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup pecan pieces
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar sifted
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Lightly toast the nuts in a medium skillet on medium heat for about 5 minutes.
  • Once the nuts have cooled, put them in a food processor and pulse a few times, until the nuts are crushed into very small pieces. If you don’t have a food processor, put the nuts in a quart-size sealable freezer bag and use a meat mallet or rolling pin crush the nuts into very small bits. Set aside.
  • Mix the butter and 3/4 cup powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until the smooth mixture sticks to the side of the bowl. Add the vanilla and beat for 30 seconds to combine.
  • Add the flour and salt. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients begin to incorporate, then return to medium speed until a stiff dough is formed.
  • Mix the crushed nuts in with the dough. Stir on low speed to combine.
  • Scrape the dough from the bowl into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight. The dough must be firm and thoroughly cold for best results.
  • When you're ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 375F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
  • Form small balls of no more than 1 tbsp of dough. Place the balls on the baking mat, spaced evenly.
  • Bake for 17 to 19 minutes, or until the cookies start to brown slightly on the bottom. There should be very little color on the tops. Allow the cookies to cool to “warm”, then roll them in the remaining powdered sugar.

Notes

  • It’s very important that the cookie dough is very cold before baking. This will ensure the cookies maintain their shape as they cook.
  • Don’t substitute the powdered sugar for regular sugar. The powdered sugar ensures the cookies don’t fall when baking.
  • Cookies can be stored in an air tight container on the counter for up to a week.
  • You can re-roll the cookies in powdered sugar before serving to brighten them up again.
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