A tender melt-in-your-mouth pecan shortbread cookie recipe (also called Mexican Wedding Cookies and Russian Tea Cakes) perfect for holiday baking!
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These are my all-time favorite cookies! EVER! And that kinda blows my mind because you’d think my all-time favorite cookies would have some chocolate in them somewhere. But nope. These are in the #1 spot.
They literally MELT in your mouth.
I can remember going to Aunt Teeny's house at Christmas and heading STRAIGHT for these cookies (then to the Sausage Balls) and being blissfully satisfied.
Aunt Teeny was actually my dad's aunt but I loved going to her house because A) her granddaughter was one of my favorite cousin's and she was always there too and B) she had a hair salon built in to her garage so we would play and play and PLAY in her swivel chairs and with all the fantastical stuff like hot rollers and industrial strength Aqua Net.
WHY ARE SNOWBALL COOKIES CALLED MEXICAN WEDDING COOKIES AND RUSSIAN TEA CAKES?
There is no definitive answer to this question but the theory that pops up more than others (and that makes sense to me) is that they were most commonly called Russian Tea Cakes until the Cold War then folks didn't like the communist moniker and started calling them wedding cookies which then morphed into Mexican Wedding Cookies. They're all the same cookies except that you will often find walnuts used in Russian Tea cake recipes instead of pecans.
Recipe for Snowball Cookies
Snowball Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup REAL butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
- Additional powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
- Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth and creamy. Slowly add flour then pecans and mix until combined.
- Roll into 1-inch balls and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 275 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until cookies just start to brown on the bottom.
- Remove cookies from oven. Cool 5 minutes then roll in additional powdered sugar. Once cool, store in an airtight container.
I am DELIGHTED to find a kindred spirit! I adore these cookies and I'm a huge tea lover. I will try these this weekend. My Mom used to bake them at Christmas when I was growing up. Sweet memories! Thank you so much and Merry Christmas to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you too!
DeleteI make something similar to these but I add a few choc chips and I cut up maraschino cherries and add. They look the same! I know mine are a huge hit at Christmas parties and I'm sure these would be too
Deletelove these cookies. these are one of the cookies I make every year at Christmas time. the only bad thing is nobody gets any. love having these with a cup of coffee.
ReplyDeleteThese look delicious! =)
ReplyDeleteIm new to your blog, its very pretty!
Thank you! Glad you found your way here!
DeleteI love these cookies....thank you so much ...Merry Christmas to you and yours....
ReplyDeleteThey are my favorite too. You see, you can be walking by and they talk to you - so you pop one in your mouth and unless you have powdered sugar around your mouth the evidence (ahem cookie) is gone. Marisa
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteThank You.... I just love these cookies... HAPPY HOLIDAYS to YOU and YOURS....
ReplyDeleteI'm a Mississippi girl and I love hot tea, too. But I also love iced tea...the sweeter the better!!! All that to say, I think we're okay. :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope so! LOL!
DeleteHow funny! These are my favorite Christmas cookies, too! Even with no chocolate in sight.
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog by way of a comment that was left on my blog - it's just beautiful!
Merry Christmas!
How funny! I'm headed your way now...
DeleteMerry Christmas to you too!
Hi Mandy! I'm so glad I stumbled upon your site. I love these cookies and hot tea. I'm from AL and the first time I ever had hot tea was at a bridal shower in Foley. It was delish! I was told that hot tea is a southern thang so you are safe. :)
ReplyDeleteOoh, I'm making these soon. You've sold me on trying them as I am a chocoholic and am hesitant to bake cookies unless they obtain chocolate. Not only are your recipes divine, but you always provide a good laugh. I'm so glad I found your site ! Keep up the good work as I've shared you with all my friends and they love you too.
ReplyDeleteMy mom made this when I was growing up, then they became one of my traditional Christmas cookies. I make 2 double recipes - I am making them next week as a belated holiday gift for a friend who will be visiting here in SC, as they would not mail well back to Ohio. My friend is EXPECTING them. Oh so yummy -
ReplyDeleteThese look wonderful and NOT difficult to make. One quick question - would it be okay to use parchment paper on the cookie sheet or am I better off going with it being ungreased that you say to use in the recipe? Just thinking about clean-up. 😊
ReplyDeleteYou can never go wrong with parchment! :)
Deleteالمجالس من اكثر الاماكن التى لابد من القيام باعمال التنظيف على اعلى مستوى فالمجالس من اكثر الاماكن التى تتعرض الى الاتساخ والبقع والكثير من التغيرات التى تحدث نتيجة الاتربة فاذا اراد ان تقوم باعمال التنظيف والتلميع والتعطير فى القيام باعمال التنظيف فعليك ان تتعاون مع اكبر شركة تنظيف مجالس بالمملكة العربيه السعودية فنحن نعتمد على افضل الخدمات المميزة فى اقل وقت ممكن بالاضافة الى ان الشركة تعتمد على افضل الاجهزة والالات والمعدات المجهزة التى تساعد فى القيام باعمال التنظيف على اعلى مستوى بالاضافة الى اننا نعتمد على افضل الايدى العامله المميزة المتواجدة التى تساعد فى القيام باعمال التنظيف والوصول افضل النتائج المميزة فاذا اراد ان تقوم بكل ما تتمناه فعليك التواصل والتعاون معنا على الفور للقيام بكل ذلك
ReplyDeleteتعتبر تنظيف وغسيل المجالس من الاشياء التى ينظر اليها الكثير من عملاءنا الكرام على انها من الاشياء التى تحتاج الى الكثير من الاشياء من اجل ان يتم الوصول الى افضل الخدمات فاذا اراد ان تقوم بكل ذلك فعليك ان تتواصل مع شركة بسمة الرياض افضل شركة تنظيف مجالس بالرياض على افضل ما يرام .