Description
Snowball cookies, also known as Russian tea cakes or Mexican wedding cookies, are a delightful treat, especially during the holiday season. These Grinch-themed Snowball Cookies bring a whimsical twist to a classic recipe, making them perfect for holiday parties, family gatherings, or as a fun baking project with kids. Inspired by the beloved Dr. Seuss character, these cookies are not only tasty but also charmingly festive with their bright green color and heartwarming red candy decorations.
Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter: 1 cup, softened
- Powdered Sugar: 1/2 cup, plus extra for rolling
- Vanilla Extract: 1 tsp
- All-Purpose Flour: 2 cups
- Salt: 1/4 tsp
- Finely Chopped Pecans or Walnuts: 1/2 cup (optional)
- Green Food Coloring: A few drops (adjust based on desired color intensity)
- Red Candy Hearts or Red M&M’s: For decoration
Instructions
Preparing the Dough
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar until light and fluffy. This creates a smooth base for your cookies.
- Add Flavor: Mix in the vanilla extract, which adds a subtle but essential flavor depth to the cookies.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add this to the butter mixture, beating on low speed until just combined to form a cohesive dough.
- Add Nuts and Color: If using, fold in the chopped pecans or walnuts. Then, add green food coloring to the dough, mixing thoroughly until you achieve a consistent Grinch-green color.
Shaping and Baking
- Form the Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced about 2 inches apart.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until they are just set and not yet starting to brown.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Decorating and Finishing
- Roll in Sugar: While still slightly warm, roll the cookies in additional powdered sugar. Let them cool completely.
- Final Touch: Press a red candy heart or M&M into the center of each cookie for that quintessential Grinch heart.
Notes
Here are three insightful notes from the article on Grinch Snowball Cookies:
- Flexible Recipe Variations: The article highlights several creative variations to tailor the Grinch Snowball Cookies to different tastes and dietary needs. Suggestions include adding citrus zest for a fresh flavor, incorporating different types of chocolate, and options for making the recipe nut-free, ensuring that the cookies can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of dietary restrictions.
- Practical Baking Tips: To ensure optimal results, the article provides practical baking tips such as chilling the dough to make it easier to handle, using gel food coloring for a more vibrant color without altering the texture, and the importance of letting cookies cool slightly before moving them to prevent breaking. These tips are designed to help both novice and experienced bakers achieve perfect cookies every time.
- Serving and Presentation Ideas: The article offers creative ideas for serving and presenting the Grinch Snowball Cookies, making them ideal for holiday events and gifts. It suggests serving them alongside other holiday treats on a dessert platter or packaging them beautifully for festive gift-giving, enhancing the overall holiday experience and making these cookies a memorable part of holiday celebrations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 20 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: Grinch Snowball Cookies, Christmas Cookies, Holiday Baking, Festive Treats