Chocolate Snowball Cookies Recipe

Soft Chocolate Snowball Cookies Recipe for Sweet Winter Magic

Nibbling on these delightful chocolate snowball cookies transports you to a winter wonderland of sweet memories.

Powdery sugar coats each morsel like pristine mountain peaks.

Crisp edges crunch softly beneath delicate layers of rich cocoa goodness.

Kids and adults alike adore these melt-in-your-mouth treats that sparkle with festive charm.

Effortless to prepare, these cookies demand minimal ingredients but deliver maximum flavor.

Chocolate lovers will swoon over the subtle nutty undertones and velvety texture.

Trust me, one bite and you’ll be enchanted by these irresistible winter delights.

Dust off your baking skills and let’s create some magic together!

Chocolate Snowball Cookies Everyone’s Sharing This Season

  • Effortless chocolate snowball cookies bring delightful moments to your kitchen with minimal effort.
  • These cookies require just 20-25 minutes total preparation and baking time, perfect for spontaneous sweet cravings.
  • Kids love rolling cookies in powdered sugar, creating fun interactive experience while making delicious treats together.
  • Simple ingredients and straightforward steps guarantee success for bakers of all skill levels, ensuring impressive results without complicated techniques.

Ingredients That Go into Chocolate Snowball Cookies

Main Cookie Ingredients:

Flour Ingredients: – All-Purpose Flour, Cocoa Powder: Essential for creating the rich chocolate base and providing structure to the cookie, with cocoa adding deep chocolate flavor.

Fat and Sweetener Ingredients: – Butter, Powdered Sugar: Butter creates a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture while powdered sugar provides sweetness and helps achieve a soft cookie consistency.

Flavor Enhancers:
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, classic flavor that complements the chocolate perfectly.
  • Salt: Balances and enhances the overall sweetness of the cookies.
Optional Add-In:
  • Chopped Nuts: Provides delightful crunch and nutty flavor to complement the chocolate, optional but recommended for texture variation.
Coating Ingredient:
  • Powdered Sugar: Used for rolling the warm and cooled cookies, creating the signature snowy white exterior that gives these cookies their name.

How to Bake the Perfect Chocolate Snowball Cookies

Step 1: Prepare Baking Space

Warm up the oven to 350F (175C). Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Step 2: Create Creamy Base

In a large bowl, whip butter and powdered sugar until silky smooth. Blend in vanilla and salt thoroughly.

Step 3: Incorporate Dry Ingredients

Gradually fold in:
  • Flour
  • Cocoa powder
  • Chopped nuts (optional)

Mix until dough forms a consistent texture.

Step 4: Form Cookie Rounds

Scoop small portions of dough and roll into delicate balls. Arrange on prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Slide cookies into the oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges look set but not darkened.

Step 6: First Sugar Coating

After removing from oven, let cookies rest for 5 minutes. While still warm, gently roll each cookie in powdered sugar.

Step 7: Final Snowy Touch

Once completely cooled, roll cookies in powdered sugar again for a beautiful winter-like finish.

Smart Tips for Fluffy Chocolate Snowball Cookies

  • Perfectly Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the cookie dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and maintain a perfect round shape.
  • Choose Quality Cocoa: Use high-quality Dutch-processed cocoa powder for a rich, deep chocolate flavor that elevates the entire cookie.
  • Manage Powdered Sugar Coating: Sift the powdered sugar for an even, smooth coating and prevent clumping when rolling the warm cookies.
  • Customize Nut Options: Swap chopped pecans or walnuts for almonds, or omit nuts entirely for a nut-free version of these delightful chocolate snowballs.
  • Control Baking Time: Watch cookies closely during the last few minutes of baking to prevent overcooking, ensuring a soft and tender texture.

Storing and Warming Chocolate Snowball Cookies Without the Crumble

  • Store cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper, keeping them fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
  • Preserve cookies in a freezer-safe container with wax paper between layers, lasting up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for best texture.
  • Warm cookies gently in a preheated 300F oven for 3-5 minutes to restore their soft, crumbly texture. Sprinkle additional powdered sugar after reheating for extra sweetness.
  • Keep cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for 2-3 days, ensuring they remain crisp and delicious.

What to Pair with Chocolate Snowball Cookies

  • Select a sweet port or moscato to complement the chocolate's depth, enhancing the cookies' delicate powdered sugar coating with a luxurious wine experience.
  • Brew a robust espresso or dark roast coffee that cuts through the cookie's sweetness, providing a perfect bitter-smooth contrast that elevates the chocolate flavor.
  • Serve alongside hazelnut or almond liqueur, which harmonizes with the chopped nuts in the cookies and amplifies the rich, decadent chocolate undertones.
  • Prepare a thick, velvety hot chocolate topped with marshmallows to echo the cookie's snowy appearance and intensify the chocolate notes.
  • Nutty Chocolate Delight: Replace chopped nuts with almonds, pecans, or walnuts for added crunch and different flavor profiles.
  • Gluten-Free Chocolate Snowballs: Swap regular flour with gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to make these cookies celiac-friendly and safe for those with wheat sensitivities.
  • Vegan Chocolate Snowballs: Substitute butter with coconut oil or vegan butter, and use plant-based powdered sugar for a dairy-free version that maintains the classic cookie texture.
  • Espresso Chocolate Snowballs: Add 1 tablespoon of instant espresso powder to the dough for a rich coffee undertone that enhances the chocolate's depth and complexity.

FAQs About Chocolate Snowball Cookies

  • What ingredients give these cookies their rich chocolate flavor?

The cocoa powder and butter create a deep, intense chocolate taste, while optional chopped nuts add extra texture and depth to the cookie.

  • Are these cookies difficult to make?

These cookies are super easy to prepare, requiring basic mixing and rolling techniques that even beginner bakers can master quickly.

  • Can I make these cookies without nuts?

Absolutely! The recipe is flexible, and you can easily skip the nuts without affecting the overall texture and taste of the chocolate snowball cookies.

  • How do I ensure my cookies look like perfect snowballs?

Roll the cookies in powdered sugar while they’re still slightly warm, then repeat the sugar coating after they’ve completely cooled to achieve that classic snowy white appearance.

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Chocolate Snowball Cookies Recipe

Chocolate Snowball Cookies Recipe


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4.5 from 27 reviews

  • Total Time: 27 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Sweet, powdery chocolate snowball cookies bring winter magic to holiday dessert tables. Delicate Mexican wedding cookie descendants crumble with rich cocoa charm, inviting chocolate lovers to savor each delightful, sugar-dusted bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (230 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¼ cup (25 g) unsweetened cocoa powder

Flavor and Binding Ingredients:

  • ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (90 g) finely chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Coating Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Calibrate oven temperature to 350F (175C) and prepare baking surfaces with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  2. Blend softened butter and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl, creating a smooth, creamy consistency through thorough mixing.
  3. Incorporate vanilla extract and salt into the butter mixture, ensuring even distribution.
  4. Gradually fold flour, cocoa powder, and chopped nuts into the mixture, gently working until a cohesive dough forms.
  5. Portion the dough into tablespoon-sized segments, carefully rolling each into uniform spherical shapes.
  6. Arrange cookie balls on prepared baking surfaces, maintaining approximately one-inch spacing between each.
  7. Transfer baking sheets to preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for set texture without achieving browning.
  8. Remove cookies from oven and allow initial cooling on baking sheets for five minutes.
  9. While cookies remain slightly warm, delicately coat each in powdered sugar, ensuring complete coverage.
  10. Transfer sugar-coated cookies to wire cooling rack, permitting complete temperature reduction.
  11. Once fully cooled, perform a second powdered sugar coating to create a pristine, snow-like exterior.

Notes

  • Butter temperature matters: Use room-temperature butter for smoother, easier mixing that creates a perfectly tender cookie texture.
  • Nut flexibility: Swap chopped pecans or walnuts based on preference, or omit entirely for a nut-free version that’s equally delicious.
  • Cocoa powder selection: Choose high-quality Dutch-processed cocoa for deeper, richer chocolate flavor and more intense color.
  • Storage secret: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and preserve their delicate powdered sugar coating.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 406
  • Sugar: 30 g
  • Sodium: 212 mg
  • Fat: 32 g
  • Saturated Fat: 19 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 31 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 83 mg
Jessica Martinez

Jessica Martinez

Pastry Chef & Recipe Developer

Expertise

Organic Baking Techniques, Gluten-Free Recipe Development, Southwestern Dessert Specialties, Food Styling and Photography

Education

Santa Fe Community College (SFCC)

  • Program: Certificate in Patisserie
  • Focus: Cultivating disciplined kitchen preparation for a safe, organized, and sanitary workstation; mastering the timely production of nutritious, visually appealing pastries; safely operating standard pastry equipment; and honing core patissier techniques for professional pastry work.

Jessica brings the sweet side to Urban Organic with her passion for baking and love for the Southwest. She trained at Santa Fe Community College and has built a career creating beautiful, gluten-free, and organic desserts that feel both nostalgic and new.

She believes baking should be fun, creative, and open to everyone, no matter your diet or skill level. Jessica’s recipes are simple enough to follow, but special enough to remember.

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