Name: Almond Snowball Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 30
Ingredients: 1 3/4 cup (245g) all purpose flour; 1/2 cup (50g) ground almonds; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened; 1/2 cup (65g) powdered sugar; 1/2 teaspoon (2.5mL) almond extract; 1 cup powdered sugar

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Easy to make, melt in your mouth, almond snowball cookies. These crumbly little almond flavoured cookies are perfect for Christmas!

Watch how to make these Almond Snowball Cookies here:

Almond snowball cookies. My favourite kind of snowball cookie. Or Russian tea cake. Or whatever you may call them.

We always called them snowball cookies. And we actually always made them with a candied cherry inside when I was little. But…I don’t really like candied cherries. I still put them on my whipped shortbread cookies, because, well, they’re pretty. And the kids love them. And it’s kind of a tradition.

But I don’t like them. They’re just too sweet or something.

Although this is coming from the girl that doesn’t like maraschino cherries either, and I know I’m basically all on my own in the world on that one. Everyone likes those things and thinks I’m insane. What can I say – I don’t like them.

So I don’t put candied cherries in my snowball cookies anymore.

I do, however, still make them almond flavoured like my mom always did. Clearly I have a thing for almond flavouring – I shared one of my favourite Christmas treats last year, this almond cake – and these almond snowball cookies might run a pretty close second.

Although….I may just say that about a whole host of Christmas treats. Maybe it’s because we only make these things once a year, but I have a LOT of favourites. Um…maybe we eat too many cookies at Christmas time?

Oh well, it’s only once a year. Totally worth it.

Anyways. These almond snowball cookies. Cute little crumbly shortbread like cookies flavoured with almond and dredged in icing sugar. They’re the perfect little bite-sized cookie to add to your Christmas cookie list.

Especially if you’ve never made them. Super easy cookies to make and oh so tasty. Especially when they’re almond snowball cookies…and there’s no cherry in the middle!

Yield: 30 cookies

Almond Snowball Cookies

Quick and easy almond flavoured snowball cookies make the perfect addition to your Christmas cookie tray!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 27 minutes

Ingredients

1 3/4 cup (245g) all purpose flour
1/2 cup (50g) ground almonds
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (65g) powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon (2.5mL) almond extract
1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, ground almonds and salt until combined.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer, or in a stand mixer, cream the butter with the 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the almond extract until well combined.
Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
Form the dough into one tablespoon sized balls and place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
Remove from the oven and immediately dredge the cookies in powdered sugar, placing on a wire rack after to cool completely.
Once the cookies have completely cooled, dredge them a second time in the icing sugar.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Source: Adapted from Ricardo Cuisine.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1 cookie
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 100Total Fat: 5.5gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 45mgCarbohydrates: 11.9gFiber: 0.4gSugar: 6gProtein: 1.1g

Patti

Saturday 12th of December 2020

What is the difference between icing sugar and powdered sugar I thought they were the same thing???

Stacey

They are totally the same thing - just a typo putting the two line items differently in the ingredients. Sorry about that, I've fixed it now. I automatically put "icing sugar" because that's what I've always called it, but I try to write recipes with "powdered sugar" as more people tend to call it that. Just messed up writing this recipe up apparently!

Darlene

Tuesday 27th of December 2016

Hi. I have been looking for a recipe for snowball cookies for a long time. These are great. Love them. They bring back great memories baking with my grandmother. She was always looking for new recipes. Gone for 37 years but it seems like yesterday. Thanks again. Darlene

stacey

So glad you liked them Darlene! Thanks!

Peg

Monday 12th of December 2016

I love snowball cookies, and I normally make them with pecans. I will try your version this year! Suggestion, radioacitve red maraschino cherries should be avoided so try these instead - https://smile.amazon.com/Luxardo-Maraschino-Cherries-400G/dp/B011PK0CFQ/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481591435&sr=8-1&keywords=marichino+cherry

Ashley

Sunday 11th of December 2016

hi!! Quick question, when does the other 1/2 cup of sugar come into play?

Thanks!

Hi Ashley - the first 1/2 cup of sugar is added in step #2 and creamed with the butter. The other 1 cup of sugar is used for dredging the baked cookies twice (step #4), once when they're warm and again when they're cooled.

Susan

I've never heard of "icing sugar". Can I use granulated sugar?

Hi Susan - it's also called powdered sugar or confectioner's sugar depending on where you are. I'll add that in to the recipe, I usually put both, just forgot this time! You can find it in the baking aisle with all the other sugars.