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12/8/10

Snowballs, Russian Tea Cakes or Mexican Wedding Cakes... many names!

My cookies cooling after the first powdered sugar rolling


Last weekend I started my holiday baking by getting 6 goodies done and into the freezer. One of them was my favorite... Russian Tea Cakes! Also known as Mexican Wedding Cakes or Snowballs, they are a buttery, melt-in-your mouth, not too sweet cookie that is baked to still be white, rolled in powdered sugar while still warm and then rolled a second time to give it its trademark 'snowball' look. A holiday favorite for years - and yet another recipe that I play with. Yes... remember I always tell you to play with your food!

Have fun with this one by changing the nuts you use and the flavoring you add.

Russian Tea Cakes
Mexican Wedding Cakes
Snowballs

1 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 c powdered or confectioner's sugar
1 t vanilla
2 1/4 c flour
3/4 c finely chopped nuts (typically walnuts)
1/4 t salt
more powdered sugar for rolling

Preheat oven to 400. Mix butter, powdered sugar and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt. Shape into 1 inch balls. Bake 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet for about 10-12 minutes. They should not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly and then roll in powdered sugar and let cool. Roll a second time. Can freeze for later use.Print Friendly and PDF