The Story & Intro
Bonjour my friends! 👋 I’m Lacamorea, a 31-year-old French girl who traded the cobblestone streets of Paris for the cozy kitchens of America 🇫🇷➡️🇺🇸. Ever since I could reach the countertop, I’ve been whisking, stirring, and sneaking tastes of cake batter when no one was looking 🍰😋. Cooking isn’t just my passion it’s my love language, my therapy, and my favorite way to make people smile.
And today? Ohhh, we’re diving into one of my Hazelnut Snowball Cookies obsessions a cookie that practically melts into a sweet, buttery whisper the moment you bite into it. I still remember the first time I made snowball cookies back in Paris. It was one of those frosty December mornings when the rooftops looked like they’d been dusted with powdered sugar. I was five, sitting on a tiny wooden stool beside my Mamie, rolling cookie dough in my clumsy little hands. She’d laugh every time I snuck a hazelnut into my mouth instead of the bowl. “Tu es un petit écureuil!” she’d tease you’re a little squirrel!
Fast forward to now, where I’m blending my French roots with my American life, baking batch after batch of these Hazelnut Snowball Cookies to share with neighbors, friends, delivery drivers honestly anyone who needs a little sweetness. They’re cozy, nutty, nostalgic, and unbelievably simple. And the moment those warm cookies get snowed under a fluffy layer of powdered sugar? Magic. Pure magic ✨
So if you’re craving a holiday cookie that tastes like childhood, winter mornings, and warm kitchens or you just want something spectacularly easy these Hazelnut Snowball Cookies are going to become your new go-to treat. Let’s get baking, mon ami! 💛
⏱️ Time
- Prep: 15 minutes
- Chill: 30 minutes
- Bake: 12–14 minutes
- Total: ~1 hour
🛒 Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need for a generous batch of cozy, melt-in-your-mouth hazelnut bliss:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus extra for rolling)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup finely chopped toasted hazelnuts
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon almond extract for extra nuttiness
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Cream the butter and sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with powdered sugar until the mixture is fluffy and pale. This step creates that signature tender snowball texture.
2. Add vanilla (and almond extract if using)
Pour in the vanilla, and if you’re feeling a little extra add almond extract. It gives these Hazelnut Snowball Cookies a beautiful, fragrant lift.
3. Mix in the dry ingredients
Gradually add the flour and salt. The dough will look a bit crumbly at first keep mixing! It’ll come together into a soft, cookie-friendly dough.
4. Fold in the hazelnuts
Stir in your finely chopped hazelnuts. You want them small enough to blend smoothly but large enough to feel that nutty crunch.
5. Chill the dough
Cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes. Chilling prevents the cookies from spreading and helps them keep their iconic round snowball shape.
6. Roll into balls
Scoop a tablespoon of dough and roll between your palms to create little snowballs. Place them on a lined baking sheet with a bit of space between each.
7. Bake
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12–14 minutes. They should be firm but not browned snowballs stay pale!
8. Coat in powdered sugar
While still warm, gently roll each cookie in powdered sugar. Once cooled, roll them again for that dreamy snow-kissed finish ❄️
Serving Suggestions
Hazelnut Snowball Cookies are delicious on their own trust me, you’ll be popping them like little nutty truffles but here are my favorite ways to elevate them:
- Serve with hot cocoa piled high with whipped cream
- Pair with a latte or café au lait for a cozy afternoon treat
- Wrap in festive tins for holiday gifting
- Drizzle in melted chocolate for an extra indulgent version
- Add a sprinkle of cinnamon or cocoa powder to the powdered sugar coating
Recipe Card
⭐ Hazelnut Snowball Cookies Recipe
⏱️ Time
- Prep: 15 min
- Chill: 30 min
- Bake: 12–14 min
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup toasted hazelnuts, finely chopped
👩🍳 Instructions
- Beat butter + powdered sugar.
- Add vanilla.
- Mix in flour + salt.
- Fold in hazelnuts.
- Chill 30 minutes.
- Roll into 1-inch balls.
- Bake at 350°F for 12–14 minutes.
- Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool and roll again.
📝 Notes
- For deeper flavor, toast hazelnuts first.
- Add almond extract for extra nuttiness.
- Roll cookies twice in sugar for best “snowy” look.
🍽️ Nutrition (per cookie)
Approx. 110 calories • 8g fat • 9g carbs • 1g protein
Conclusion
And that’s it, my sweet friend the perfect Hazelnut Snowball Cookies, dusted like winter mornings in the French countryside and infused with buttery, nutty magic. They’re charming, nostalgic, endlessly giftable, and absolutely irresistible warm from the oven. I hope they bring as much joy to your home as they do to mine. 💛
If you bake them, promise you’ll sneak at least one warm cookie before sharing it’s practically tradition in my family. 😉