Description
Mom’s Classic Russian Tea Cakes are a beloved family favorite, often known as snowballs or wedding cookies. These buttery, nutty, and melt-in-your-mouth cookies are coated generously in powdered sugar, perfect for holiday gatherings or any special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (57g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups (279g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup finely chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds)
Coating
- Powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Prepare the Dough: Using an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter, ½ cup powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is fluffy. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until the dough just comes together. Fold in the finely chopped nuts. If the dough feels too soft to handle, chill it briefly until it firms up enough to scoop easily.
- Shape the Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a ball. Place them evenly spaced on the prepared cookie sheets.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 7-8 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies are just starting to turn golden brown. Avoid overbaking to keep the texture tender.
- Cool and Roll in Sugar: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for about one minute until they are cool enough to handle. Roll each cookie in powdered sugar until thoroughly coated.
- Final Cooling: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. For an extra sugary finish, once cooled, you may roll the cookies again in powdered sugar.
- Storage Tips: These cookies freeze well and can be made up to four days before serving, making them easy to prepare ahead of time.
Notes
- This recipe is a cherished family classic often referred to as snowballs, teacakes, or wedding cookies.
- Chilling the dough is recommended if it’s too soft to scoop easily, ensuring easier handling and better shape retention during baking.
- Use your preferred nuts—pecans, walnuts, or almonds—for slight flavor variations.
- For best results, re-roll cooled cookies in powdered sugar to enhance their signature snowy appearance.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for several days or frozen for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 71 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 13 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
