Learn to make buttery, crunchy gluten free snowball cookies in a few simple steps. These gluten free snowballs, also known as gluten free Mexican wedding cookies, are easy to make and they are perfectly sweet.

If you love holiday cookies you’ll want to make my Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies. My Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies are also a classic and perfect any time of year.

This snowball cookies recipe is from my cookbook Sweet and Simple Gluten Free Baking.

Gluten Free Snowball Cookies

You know those little ball-shaped cookies dipped in powdered sugar that have been super popular at holiday gatherings the past 40 years? Yes, this recipe produces those little mouthwatering, palate-satisfying cookies, and they’re gluten‐free!

Gluten Free Snowball cookies are a traditional Christmas cookie that have been around for generations. They’re also known as Mexican Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, and Italian Wedding Cookies.

We typically make gluten free snowball cookies for Christmas day and we often make extra to share with friends, as a holiday gift. If you can’t have pecans, you can use sliced and chopped almonds, or walnuts.

Do you call these gluten free snowball cookies “snowballs”, or “gluten free Mexican wedding cookies” or “gluten free Russian teacakes”?

Dairy Free Snowball Cookies

Make these gluten free snowball cookies dairy-free by using a dairy-free butter instead of regular butter.

Working with Gluten-Free Flours

When working with or measuring gluten-free flour, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level. Do not scoop your measuring cup into the gluten-free flour. The best method really is to weigh the gluten-free flour but I don’t have the ingredient weights for all my recipes yet.

Gluten Free Flour Blends for Making Cookies

For this gluten free snowball cookie recipe I used Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour (not their all purpose gluten free flour). I’ve also used my gluten free flour blend + 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum. You can use your preferred gluten free flour to make these gluten free snowball cookies just be sure that it has xanthan gum in it. If it doesn’t simply add 1 teaspoon to the flour mixture.

How to make Gluten Free Snowball Cookies

1. In a medium mixing bowl, cream butter and vanilla until smooth.
2. In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine the ½ cup powdered sugar, gluten free flour, and xanthan gum (omit if using a blend with xanthan included).
3. Add the flour mixture to the butter.
4. Work the flour into the butter mixture. It may appear to be too dry, you may need to use your hands.
5. Stir in the chopped nuts.
6. Roll dough into 1-inch balls, and place them two inches apart on the baking sheet.
7. Bake for 16–18 minutes until set, but not brown. Immediately remove from the cookie sheet to a wire rack.
8. Cool cookies for 5 minutes, then roll in powdered sugar.

You can roll these gluten free snowball cookies in powdered sugar a second time, if you wish.

Freezing Snowball Cookies

You can make the dough ahead of time and freeze it. Be sure to bring it to room temperature before you roll the dough into balls. You can also store baked snowball cookies in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Bring them to room temperature before rolling in powdered sugar.

Tips for making gluten free snowball cookies

• Room temperature ingredients works best.
• The butter should be at room temperature, not hard and not melted.
• When you add the flour to the butter mixture, you’ll want to first stir it. The dough will appear dry. You’ll need to work it the rest of the way with your hands.
• Make sure the nuts are finely chopped before you work them into the cookie dough.
• Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop for uniform cookies.

Did you make these gluten free snowball cookies? Please leave a comment below letting me know what you thought.

Yield: 24

Gluten Free Snowball Cookies

Print

Learn to make gluten free snowball cookies in a few simple steps. Gluten free snowballs are a round, buttery shortbread cookie also known as Gluten Free Mexican Wedding Cookies or Gluten Free Russian Teacakes.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Additional Time 5 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
• 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2¼ cups all-purpose gluten-free flour blend (I used Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour)
• 1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if using a blend with xanthan gum)
• 1 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts, or almonds)
• ½ cup powdered sugar for rolling cookies

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, cream butter and vanilla until smooth.
3. In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine the ½ cup powdered sugar, gluten free flour, and xanthan gum (omit if using a blend with xanthan included).
4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture.
5. Work the flour into the butter mixture. You may need to use your hands.
6. Add the chopped nuts. Continue to work the dough until it sticks together and the butter is well incorperated.
7. Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough and roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Place them two inches apart on the baking sheet.
8. Bake for 16–18 minutes until set, but not brown. Immediately remove from the cookie sheet to a wire rack.
9. Cool cookies for 5 minutes, then roll in powdered sugar. If desired, roll cookies a second time in powdered sugar.
10. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

• Dairy-Free Option: Use dairy-free butter to make this dairy-free.
• Nut Options: If you can't have pecans, you can use chopped walnuts or sliced and chopped almonds.
• Make sure your butter is at room temperature before you begin.
• When working with or measuring gluten-free flour, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level. Do not scoop your measuring cup into the gluten-free flour.
• For this gluten free snowball cookie recipe I used Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour (not their all purpose gluten free flour). I've also used my gluten free flour blend + 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1 cookie
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 143Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 65mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g

This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands that I used a the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.