Christmas Pecan Cookies

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When it comes to holiday baking, nothing beats a classic, melt-in-your-mouth Christmas Pecan Cookie (often known as pecan snowballs, Mexican wedding cookies, or Russian tea cakes). True to your toolkit of reliable, low-effort comfort classics, these buttery, nut-studded treats require no fussy decorating or elaborate equipment—just wholesome ingredients and a double coating of powdered sugar.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus an extra 1 cup for rolling after baking)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans (toasted for maximum flavor)

Instructions

  1. Toast and Chop the Pecans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast for 6 to 8 minutes until fragrant, watching closely so they don’t burn. Let them cool completely, then finely chop them.
  2. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar together until smooth and creamy. Mix in the vanilla extract.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the butter-sugar combination, mixing on low speed just until a dough forms.
  4. Fold in the Pecans: Gently fold in the chopped toasted pecans with a spatula until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
  5. Roll the Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into 1-inch balls with your hands. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart (they don’t spread much).
  6. Bake: Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. The bottoms should be lightly golden, but the tops should remain pale.
  7. The Double Powdered Sugar Coating:
    • Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes so you can handle them without breaking. While still warm, roll them individually in the extra powdered sugar.
    • Place them on a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, roll them a second time in the powdered sugar to create that signature, snowy holiday coating.

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