Walnut Snowball Cookies

The Story & Intro

If there’s one holiday treat that takes me straight back to childhood, it’s walnut snowball cookies. I remember being barely tall enough to peek over my grandmother’s marble countertop, watching her roll those delicate buttery balls one by one. The whole kitchen smelled like toasted nuts and warm vanilla, and I’d wait (very impatiently!) for that magical moment when they came out of the oven so I could help coat them in powdered sugar and sneak a warm one for myself.

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 walnut snowball cookies? Oh mon dieu… they’re the perfect example of a treat that’s simple, rustic, melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and absolutely irresistible during the holiday season. Here in the US, I quickly discovered that everyone has their own version Mexican wedding cookies, Russian tea cakes, butterballs but the walnut version will always have my heart.

These cookies are buttery, crumbly, lightly sweet, and kissed with a dreamy snowfall of powdered sugar. They look like tiny snowdrifts on a plate, making them a must-have for cookie exchanges, family gatherings, or cozy nights by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa.

So grab your apron, turn on your favorite holiday playlist, and let’s make a batch of magical walnut snowball cookies together. ❄️🍪

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⏱️ Time

• Prep: 15 minutes
• Chill: 30 minutes
• Bake: 12–14 minutes
• Total: ~1 hour

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🛒 Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to bring these buttery snowballs to life:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup finely chopped walnuts, toasted for best flavor
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Additional powdered sugar for rolling

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

Follow these cozy, simple steps:

1. Cream the butter & sugar
   In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and ½ cup powdered sugar until light, fluffy, and dreamy. This should take about 2 minutes.
2. Add the vanilla
   Mix in the vanilla extract until everything smells like a holiday hug.
3. Add dry ingredients
   Stir in the flour and salt. The dough will look a little crumbly that’s exactly what we want.
4. Fold in walnuts
   Gently mix in the chopped walnuts. Toasting them beforehand makes the flavor pop, but it’s optional.

1. Chill the dough
   Cover and place the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This helps the cookies hold their shape.
2. Roll into balls
   Scoop and roll tablespoon-sized balls, placing them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Bake
   Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12–14 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly golden.
4. Let the magic happen
   Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes, then roll them in powdered sugar while they’re still warm.
   Once completely cool, roll them again for that thick, snowy finish.

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Serving Suggestions

These walnut snowball cookies are versatile little treasures:

• Serve with hot chocolate, mulled wine, or spiced tea
• Add them to your Christmas cookie platter for a snowy touch
• Sprinkle with a cinnamon-powdered sugar blend for a warm twist
• Pair with vanilla ice cream for a gorgeous contrast of warm & cold
• Gift them in a festive tin lined with parchment paper

They store beautifully too up to a week at room temperature or months in the freezer. Perfect for holiday prep!

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📝 Notes

• Walnut variations: Swap walnuts for pecans, hazelnuts, or almonds.
• Flavored twist: Add ½ teaspoon almond extract or orange zest.
• Extra melt-in-your-mouth effect: Use European butter if you can — it’s higher in fat and richer in flavor.
• Powdered sugar tip: Roll twice! Once warm, once cooled. It’s the secret to a perfect snowball coating.

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🍽️ Nutrition (per cookie, approx.)

• Calories: 110
• Fat: 8g
• Carbs: 9g
• Protein: 1g
• Sugar: 3g

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Recipe Card

Walnut Snowball Cookies ❄️🍪

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped
• ¼ tsp salt
• Extra powdered sugar (for rolling)

Instructions

1. Cream butter + powdered sugar.
2. Add vanilla.
3. Mix in flour + salt.
4. Fold in walnuts.
5. Chill 30 minutes.
6. Roll into balls.
7. Bake at 350°F for 12–14 minutes.
8. Roll in powdered sugar twice.

A buttery, nutty, melt-in-your-mouth holiday classic! 🎄✨

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Conclusion

There’s something magical about a cookie that’s both simple and nostalgic and walnut snowball cookies check every box. They’re soft, buttery, lightly sweet, and beautiful enough to feel like little edible snowflakes.

From my Parisian childhood to my cozy American kitchen today, these have always been a cookie that brings people together. I hope they fill your home with warmth, sweetness, and the irresistible scent of toasted walnuts.

Happy baking, my friends and may your winter be full of snowflakes, sugar, and love. ❄️💛