Vegan Snowball Cookies (Italian Wedding Cookies Recipe) (2024)

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Christmas vegan snowball cookies a.k.a. Italian wedding cookies made with walnuts and hazelnuts then coated in fluffy powdered sugar just like a snowball. One bowl, only 7 ingredients and ready in 30 minutes start to finish. Technically shortbread rolled in powdered sugar, who can resist?!

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Vegan Snowball Cookies

Also known as Italian wedding cookies or Christmas cookies, Mexican wedding cookies or Russian tea cakes, the holidays are simply not complete without a big batch of these snowball goodies.

And neither are traditional Italian weddings of course, where you’ll always find a large dessert table loaded with cookies for the guests. Sometimes even the cake itself is made out of actual cookies, imagine that!

With all the vegan butter options available to us nowadays there’s really no excuse not to make these little treats more often, and make them totally dairy-free! You won’t miss a thing, I promise!

Now please excuse me while I do my happy dance!

Why you’ll love them…

Quick & Easy Recipe

Nutty + Crumbly

Egg Free

Blissful Melt in Your Mouth

Fail Proof

Santa’s Favorites

Authentic Italian Recipe.

FAQ

  • Can I freeze wedding cookies? – Yes but only do so before baking, not after. Shape the dough into golfball sizes and place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet in freezer for a couple of hours or until solid. Transfer to a freezer proof glass container with parchment paper in between each layer of the cookies and cover with a tight lid. Best to bake within two months of freezing.
  • Can I use other types of nuts? – Yes, you can use a mix of your favorite unsalted nuts; pistachios, almonds, pecans, they all work great here as well. You could even add a handful of mini dark chocolate chips into the mix. Go wild!
  • Gluten Free – I haven’t done a test run, however I bet the recipe would work great using a gluten-free flour mix. Report back if you do try them.
  • Storage – Store your cookies at room temperature in a glass container and loosely cover with a lid or tent with aluminum foil for up to 10 days. Best enjoyed within 3 days of baking in my opinion.

Favorite Desserts

  • Vegan Olive Oil Cake
  • Vegan No Bake Cookies
  • Vegan Custard Puff Pastry
  • Raw Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
  • No Bake Coconut Snowballs
  • The Best Baklava
  • Vegan Pumpkin Bread
  • Dairy Free Shortbread Cookies.

Vegan Snowball Cookies (Italian Wedding Cookies Recipe) (7)

5 from 1 vote

Vegan Snowball Cookies (Italian Wedding Cookies)

The best vegan snowball cookies / Italian wedding cookies recipe a.k.a. Christmas cookies made with walnuts and hazelnuts then coated in fluffy powdered sugar like a snowball. One bowl, only 7 ingredients and ready in 30 minutes start to finish.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:20 minutes mins

Total Time:30 minutes mins

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 325”F.

  • In a large mixing bowl cream together the butter and 3/4 cup of the powder sugar until fluffy.

  • Add the vanilla extract and then little by little add the ground walnuts and hazelnuts. Mix until combined.

  • Start adding in the flour little by little until mixed in.

  • Prepare your largest cookie sheet and using a small spoon form the cookies into rounds, the size of a golfball or smaller. You should have about 45 cookies. (try your best not to make them too big)

  • Arrange all the cookies on the baking sheet without touching each other.Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

  • Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool off for a few minutes before rolling them over in powdered sugar.Dust with more powdered sugar on top before serving.

Video

Notes

  • Can I freeze wedding cookies? - Yes but only do so before baking, not after. Shape the dough into golfball sizes and place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet in freezer for a couple of hours or until solid. Transfer to a freezer proof glass container with parchment paper in between each layer of the cookies and cover with a tight lid. Best to bake within two months of freezing.
  • Can I use other types of nuts? - Yes, you can use a mix of your favorite unsalted nuts; pistachios, almonds, pecans, they all work great here as well. You could even add a handful of mini dark chocolate chips into the mix. Go wild!
  • Gluten Free - I haven't done a test run, however I bet the recipe would work great using a gluten-free flour mix. Report back if you do try them.
  • Storage - Store your cookies at room temperature in a glass container and loosely cover with a lid or tent with aluminum foil for up to 10 days. Best enjoyed within 3 days of baking in my opinion.

Nutrition

Calories: 484kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 220mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1295IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2.4mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Christmas cookies, Italian Wedding Cookies, snowball cookies

Servings: 10 people

Calories: 484kcal

Author: Florentina

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Vegan Snowball Cookies (Italian Wedding Cookies Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Why did my Italian wedding cookies flatten? ›

The Problem: Your Oven Is Too Hot

If your cookies repeatedly turn out flat, no matter the recipe, chances are your oven is too hot. Here's what's happening. The butter melts super quickly in a too-hot oven before the other ingredients have firmed up into a cookie structure.

Why do my snowball cookies go flat? ›

Why did my snowball cookies turn out flat? Snowball cookies should not flatten. Since they do not contain a leavening agent, the main factor to check is that the dough is chilled before baking.

Why are Mexican wedding cookies called wedding cookies? ›

It could be a coincidence, but no one knows for sure," Parra explains. Most assume the cookie's name is due to its occasional appearance at some Mexican weddings. It's probably not shocking to you, but because of their complex history and origin, there are numerous other names for Mexican wedding cookies.

What are wedding cake cookies made of? ›

Today, cookies like these are still made in countries across the world! At their most basic, Mexican wedding cookies consist of flour, butter, finely chopped nuts, confectioner's sugar, and vanilla extract. I add a few extra ingredients to my recipe for an even cozier, Christmasy taste.

How can I make my cookies fluffier instead of flat? ›

Try using baking powder instead of baking soda. Baking soda encourages spreading while baking powder puffs the cookies up. If your recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of baking soda, you would use 3 to 4 teaspoons of baking powder. Caution: This could result in an unwanted flavor shift.

What ingredient makes cookies flatten? ›

Using too much butter in your dough can lead to flat and greasy cookies. As previously noted, baking is a science, and it is essential to closely follow recipe measurements to ensure the best results.

How to keep snowball cookies from spreading? ›

Chill the dough for just 30 minutes to help that creamed butter solidify, which helps guarantee your rounded cookies stay… well, rounded! Without chilling, your cookies could spread flat.

Why is my snowball cookie dough crumbly? ›

Overmixing the dough

If you overmix the dough, the cookies will be dry and crumbly. The best way to fix this is to add more liquid to the dough. This can be done by adding milk, water, or even melted butter. You may also need to add more flour to the dough if it is too wet.

What is the difference between Mexican wedding cookies and Italian wedding cookies? ›

Italian wedding cookies typically contain almonds or hazelnuts and are flavored with almond extract, vanilla extracts and spices like cinnamon or anise. Mexican wedding cookies, on the other hand, use a combination of ground nuts such as pecans and walnuts, as well as butter, sugar and sometimes chocolate chips.

Why are they called Jesus cookies? ›

She found a delicious recipe for gluten-free “Jesus cookies.” My daughters call those really puffy, soft sugar cookies with lots of icing and sprinkles you find in the grocery store “Jesus cookies” because they seemed to get them during Sunday School A LOT.

Why are they called cowboy cookies? ›

Some claim cowboy cookies hail from Texas, a state many cowboys call home. Others say the treats were named for their ability to withstand long days in saddlebag. Whatever its origin, the combination of oats, chocolate, pecans, and coconut is undeniably delicious.

What are Danish wedding cookies made of? ›

Made from simple ingredients such as flour, sugar, butter, and ground almonds or pecans, they are rolled in powdered sugar for a snowy finish. Their rich taste and elegant presentation make them a perfect addition to your coffee -breaks or tea time. Danish wedding cookies also come in several varieties.

Did Keebler discontinue Danish wedding cookies? ›

However, these beloved treats are no longer available on the shelves. Keebler, one of the largest cookie manufacturers in the U.S., has been known for its diverse range of products. Yet, their decision to discontinue Danish Wedding Cookies has left many consumers like me disappointed and longing for their unique taste.

Who invented snowball cookies? ›

The origin for pecan snowball cookies is unknown. Beloved in many parts of the world, these cookies may have traveled to the U.S. by way of immigrants from Eastern Europe or Mexico. Since the 20th century, they've become part of traditional American offerings for weddings and holidays, including Christmas and Easter.

Why did my cookies turn out so flat? ›

Too much sugar and not enough flour could lead to flat cookies. If your cookie recipe calls for a high ratio of white sugar, it's likely that your cookies will turn out flat. A great way to prevent this is by using a mix of white and brown sugar instead.

How do you fix flat cookies? ›

To fix this, refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to firm up the butter. For cookies that don't spread enough and remain flat, try using slightly softened butter instead of fully softened or melted butter. Measure flour accurately: To get the right balance of ingredients, it's important to measure flour accurately.

Why did my wedding cookies fall apart? ›

The recipe you used probably had too much butter, not enough dry ingredients to hold them together, or the cookie dough was too soft when you baked them.

References

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