Pecan shortbread cookie balls rolled in powdered sugar and stuffed with a chocolate kiss candy in the center. Truly a cookie lover’s delight. These surprise snowballs will make a great addition to your cookie platter.
Everyone has their favorite Christmas cookie recipes. Recipes that have been passed down through generations and make it to our holiday parties year after year. Recipes that family and friends request over and over again. Many of the cookie recipes we know by heart. After all, Christmas baking is a holiday in its self. If you’re looking to make a unique cookie recipe from a classic like these Pecan Snowballs, then you’ll like the addition of chocolate kisses. They are like little surprises when bitten into the center of the cookie and it’s an easy way to jazz up a traditional cookie just in time for the holiday season.
Chances are, your mother, grandmother or great-grandmother made a version of these vintage cookies back in the day. That’s because they’ve been around awhile and also go by Snowball Surprise Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, Pecan Sandies, and Mexican Wedding Cookies, and Snowball Cookies.
HOW TO MAKE HERSHEY KISS SNOWBALLS
- Cream butter, sugar, and powdered sugar.
- Beat in salt, and vanilla extract.
- Mix in flour until combined.
- Mix in ground pecans.
- Scoop 1½ tbsp cookie dough.
- Cut cookie ball in half.
- Place Hershey kiss in the center.
- Roll into a smooth ball.
- Place on to cookie sheet.
- Bake in 350°F oven for 15-18 minutes.
- Roll cookie balls in powdered sugar.
Flavoring the Dough
Looking to take these cookies to the next level with some other flavors? Here are my favorites below.
- Mint: Add mint extract to the dough in place of vanilla. Use a mint chocolate kiss or classic chocolate kiss in the center.
- Peppermint: This one is delicious. Use peppermint extract and peppermint or chocolate kisses.
- Cherry Almond: Use almond extract and a cherry kiss or chocolate cherry candy such as cherry cordials.
HERSHEY SNOWBALL COOKIE INGREDIENTS
■ PECANS: Use a new bag of pecans if it’s the first of the season you are using them. Pecans go bad so be sure to taste them first before using. Finely chop them or ground them in the food processor. Do not substitute pecans for walnuts.
■ BUTTER: I always stock up on good quality butter like Land of Lakes right around Thanksgiving when it’s on sale for the season. For the holidays, be sure to use real butter, not margarine.
■ GOOD VANILLA EXTRACT: A good quality vanilla extract is best for these shortbread cookies. You’ll really be able to taste the vanilla, too so it’s best to use one you really like. I like to use this Mexican vanilla for all of my baking.
■ CHOCOLATE KISSES: I like to use classic chocolate kisses. May use white chocolate, peppermint, mint, or other flavors.
■ SUGAR: Both powdered sugar and granulated sugar give this cookie just the right amount of sweetness.
■ FLOUR: Dough will be very thick once all the flour is added in to the batch. If it is very sticky, add a tablespoon more in at a time but for the most part, the dough should be thick and hold its structure.
HOW TO SERVE SNOWBALL COOKIES
Make this traditional Christmas cookie with a twist for special occasions. Serve the powdered sugar snowballs on a cookie platter or holiday tray with other popular Christmas cookie recipes. For more inspiration on making your own cookie platter this year, check out these top cookie recipes below.
CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES
- Peanut Butter Blossoms – peanut butter cookies with a chocolate kiss.
- Strawberry Thumbprint Cookies – Buttery almond cookies with strawberry jam in the centers.
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies – Classic chewy chocolate cookies!
- Italian Christmas Cookies – Best flavored Italian sugar cookies
- Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies – gingerbread cookies with white chocolate centers
- Christmas Pretzel Hugs – Easy 3-ingredient pretzel chocolate candy!
- Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies – Soft lemon cookies with cream cheese.
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies – Peanut butter cookies baked in a mini muffin tin with Reese’s peanut butter cup in the center.
- Chocolate Chip Maraschino Cherry Shortbread Cookies – Classic chocolate chip shortbread cookies with maraschino cherries.
DO NOT substitute pecans for walnuts. The recipe will not have the same results.
Can I make the dough a few days ahead? Yes, store the dough in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Hershey’s Kiss Snowball Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened 2 sticks
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 3½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2¼ cups pecans 1⅓ cup finely ground/chopped
- 26 chocolate Hershey kisses
- 2 cups powdered sugar to dust
Instructions
- Cream butter, powdered sugar, and sugar until light and fluffy; about 4 minutes.
- Beat in vanilla extract, and salt, wiping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as you go.
- With mixer on low, slowly add flour until incorporated.
- Mix in ground pecans. Turn mixer to high for 2-3 seconds to fully incorporate.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop 1½ tbsp cookie dough. Split the ball in half and add a chocolate kiss to the center.
- Roll the dough between the hands until smooth.
- Place 1½ inches apart on cookie sheet.
- Bake in oven for 15-18 minutes.
- Transfer to rack once cool.
- Roll balls in powdered sugar.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate and it’s accuracy is not guaranteed to be exact.
Save This Recipe To Your Favorites
Create an account on our website and save your favorite recipes. You’ll be able to access your favorite recipes on any device!
