Perfect Russian Tea Cakes — Powdered Sugar Cookies

Russian tea cakes (also called Mexican wedding cookies, snowballs, butterballs) are nutty, buttery, rolled in powdered sugar.

The recipe

Ingredients (makes 30)

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus more for rolling)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans (or walnuts)
• 1/4 tsp salt

Method

1. Cream butter, sugar, vanilla
2. Mix in flour, salt, nuts
3. Roll into 1-inch balls
4. Bake 350°F for 15 minutes (just set, not browned)
5. Cool 5 minutes, roll in powdered sugar
6. Cool completely, roll AGAIN in powdered sugar

Why two rolls?

• First roll: melts and coats
• Second roll: clean white finish
• Looks like snowballs

Variations

• Walnut, pecan, almond, hazelnut
• Add cinnamon to sugar coating
• Mini chocolate chips instead of nuts

Storage

• Airtight at room temp
• 1 week
• Re-dust with sugar before serving

Cross-references

For Shortbread cookies — adjacent.

For Thumbprint cookies — adjacent.

For Best Christmas cookies — broader.

Perfect Russian tea cakes are buttery, nutty, double-rolled in powdered sugar. Classic Christmas snowballs on every cookie tray.