Holiday Baking: Snow Ball Cookies (Russian Tea Cakes)

Russian Tea Cakes or Mexican Wedding Cookies? Whatever you want to call them, in December they are Snow Ball Cookies. These are a family favorite, not only because they are delicious, but because they are fun to make with family and friends.

You should start by making the dough early, chill the dough, then invite over friends and family, young and old to help make the Snow Ball Cookies. Not much attention is needed, so stir up a batch of Eggnog and have fun!

Russian Tea Cakes

adapted from Bon Appetit Magazine

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup of unsalted butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup finely chopped, toasted black walnuts

powdered sugar

Sift flour ans salt. In a another bowl, cream together the butter.

Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and beat until fluffy.

Add vanilla.

Mix in dry ingredients in 3 batches.

mix in nuts.

Chill dough for at least 1 hour.

When you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 400 degrees.

form dough into 1-inch balls.

Space balls on a lined cookie sheet, 1 inch apart.

Bake until the cookies are firm, about 15 minutes.

Roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar and transfer to parchment lined rack.

Cool completely. Roll in powdered sugar again. Enjoy!