Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (2024)

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Russian Tea Cakes are tender, buttery cookies with a light nutty flavor all covered in powdered sugar! Also called “Snowballs,” these cookies are delicious and a wonderful holiday classic. One of my most requested Christmas cookie recipes!

Looking for more Christmas cookie ideas? Try my easy sugar cookies recipe, or these Italian Christmas cookies!

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (1)

Table of Contents

  • The Best Russian Tea Cakes (Snowball Cookies)
  • What Are Russian Tea Cakes?
  • How to Make Russian Tea Cakes
  • How Long Can You Store these Cookies? Can They Be Frozen?
  • More Great Holiday Cookie Recipes:
  • Get the Recipe

The Best Russian Tea Cakes (Snowball Cookies)

There are so many things to love about these cookies! For starters, they are quick and easy to make. The cookie dough comes together with only 6 ingredients. I do like to refrigerate them for about an hour before baking them, but you don’t have to. I personally think the cookies stay a little more tender on the inside if they’ve been refrigerated first.

Another reason to love them is that they are literally covered in sugar. Yes! Two layers of it, in fact. That outside layer of powdered sugar just melts right in your mouth. Completely addicting! And after you get past the outside, the inside is soft, buttery and also melts in your mouth. So darn good!

Of course one thing that adds great flavor to these cookies is the light nutty flavor, bit if you aren’t a nut fan, you could certainly leave them out. I’ve even left out the nuts and added coconut for a fun Easter version that I called “Bunny Tails”, ha!

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (2)

What Are Russian Tea Cakes?

Russian Tea Cakes are a simple cookie, similar to shortbread, known for the nuts included in the cookie and the powdered sugar used to decorate them. They are also often referred to as Snowballs and Mexican Wedding Cakes.

From a history perspective, the connection to Russia is unclear. It seems they may have originated in Europe as a popular snack with tea, hence “tea cake”, then they migrated to Mexico with European nuns where they became a popular wedding cookie. They are now also very popular in the U.S. at Christmas time.

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (3)

How to Make Russian Tea Cakes

It doesn’t get much easier than these Russian Tea Cakes. To start, you’ll combine the butter and powdered sugar, then add the vanilla extract.

From there, you’ll add the flour and salt and mix just until the dough comes together. Finally, you’ll stir in your nuts. I used chopped, toasted pecans but other nuts like walnuts or macadamia nuts would work as well.

Create tablespoons sized balls and refrigerate them for an hour. You don’t have to refrigerate them, but I think the cookies are even better if you don’t skip that step.

Bake them just until the bottoms are turning slightly brown. The time will vary based on your oven, but 7-8 minutes was just right for me.

When you take them out of the oven, let them cool just long enough so that you can handle them, then roll them in the additional powdered sugar. The sugar will melt a little from the heat, so after they cool, roll them in the powdered sugar one more time.

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (4)

How Long Can You Store these Cookies? Can They Be Frozen?

These cookies last very well for about a week when stored in an air tight container. They could also be made ahead and frozen, but you’ll want to freeze them prior to adding the powdered sugar, which would just dissolve when they thaw. Instead, thaw the cookies in the fridge when you’re ready for them and then dip them in the powdered sugar.

These Russian Tea Cakes are wonderful, sugary little bites of heaven! They are nice and small, so they are easy to snack on with a cup of coffee or eggnog (or tea!) and just enjoy the holidays. I hope you love them!

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (5)

More Great Holiday Cookie Recipes:

Italian Ricotta Cookies
Classic Spritz Cookies
Best Gingerbread Cookie Cutouts
Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
Classic Chewy Snickerdoodles
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Candy Cane Cookies
Soft and Chewy Eggnog Cookies
Southern Pecan Pralines
Reindeer Cookie Balls
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Cutout Sugar Cookies

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Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (6)

Recipe

Russian Tea Cakes (Snowball Cookies)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
  • Yield: 40 cookies
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Russian Tea Cakes are tender, buttery cookies with a light nutty flavor all covered in powdered sugar! Also called “Snowballs,” these cookies are delicious and a wonderful holiday classic!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (224g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups (173g) powdered sugar, divided
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups (293g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup (85g) finely chopped nuts (I used toasted pecans)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. In a large mixer bowl, beat the butter and 1/2 a cup (58g) of powdered sugar together until smooth.
3. Add the vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
4. Add the flour and salt and mix on low speed just until the dough comes together.
5. Stir in the chopped nuts.
6. Scoop tablespoon sized balls of dough and shape into a ball. Refrigerate for about 1 hour, then place on the prepared cookie sheet 1-2 inches apart.
7. Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until the bottoms are just lightly brown.
8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes, until you can handle them.
9. Add the remaining 1 cup (115g) of powdered sugar to a small bowl and roll each cookie in it until well coated. The sugar will melt a little bit. Allow the cookies to cool completely, then re-roll in powdered sugar.
10. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 99
  • Sugar: 4.5 g
  • Sodium: 29.9 mg
  • Fat: 6.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10.2 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 12.2 mg

Categories

  • Christmas
  • Cookies
  • Easter
  • Holidays
  • Recipes
  • Recipes with video
  • Sweets and Treats
  • Thanksgiving
Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (2024)

FAQs

How do you freeze Russian tea cookies? ›

But it's best to freeze Russian tea cakes before you roll them in powdered sugar. Arrange them on a baking sheet, cover, and flash freeze for a few hours or up to overnight. Transfer the now-frozen cookies to a zip-top bag or another freezer-safe container.

Why are my snowball cookies spreading? ›

If you found your cookies to spread too much in the oven, there are a host of things that can cause this. Your butter could be too warm. You may have improperly measured the flour or the sugar (use that scoop and level method!). You could have placed the dough balls on a sheet pan that was warm.

How long can you store snowball cookies? ›

How Long Do Pecan Snowball Cookies Last? Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. Freeze for up to three months for longer storage.

How do you freeze cookies and keep them soft? ›

For cookies that are already baked, here's how to freeze them successfully for up to two months.
  1. Be sure the cookies are completely cooled before freezing.
  2. Place the cookies into an airtight container lined with aluminum foil or plastic food wrap.
  3. For best results, wrap the cookies individually in plastic food wrap.

What is the best method for freezing cookies? ›

Wait for the cookies to cool completely, then transfer them to a reusable freezer-safe bag or container lined with wax or parchment paper. I like to place them in a single layer to avoid any cookies breaking. Cookies will keep well for up to 2 months. Once ready to eat, simply thaw out at room temperature and enjoy.

Why do my snowball cookies go flat when they? ›

Snowball Cookie Tips

If your cookies go flat, check the oven temperature. An oven temperature that's too low can result in your cookies spreading out more. Butter that's too soft or melted can also lead to flat cookies.

Why did my snowball cookies flatten in the oven? ›

Why did my snowball cookies flatten? The cookies will flatten slightly when baked, but they shouldn't flatten completely. If you skipped the chilling time, this may be why they spread. Another reason is if you place the dough on a hot baking sheet; if you have to reuse baking sheets, let them cool first.

Why is my snowball cookie dough crumbly? ›

Try using a different type of flour, or sifting your flour before you add it to the wet ingredients. If your cookie dough is too dry and crumbly, it might not have enough fat. This is a common problem with recipes that use all-purpose flour. To fix this, you can add more fat to the dough.

Why are they called Russian tea cakes? ›

Some people believe that Russian Tea Cakes originated in Eastern Europe, but as far as I could tell, they inherited the name from the 19th-century American fascination with Russian tea culture.

What is special about Russian tea? ›

It was traditionally composed of black tea with lemon and sugar, orange and pineapple juices, cinnamon, clove, honey, and lemon or orange wedges for garnish. It was typically afforded only by the elite at this time and enjoyed during the cold of winter as a way to warm up.

What is the most famous Russian tea? ›

Traditionally, black tea is the most common tea in Russia, but green tea is becoming more popular.

How many days before Christmas should you make cookies? ›

Aim to make them about two weeks in advance if you keep them at room temperature. Making them one week or a few days in advance is even better if you are going for the freshest possible cookies. Remember that you can always make a new batch if you accidentally keep your cookies out for too long and they become stale.

Can I freeze cookies with powdered sugar on them? ›

You can freeze filled cookies, such as thumbprint cookies and cookies that are coated in powdered sugar, such as Mexican wedding cookies either after they are baked or freeze the cookie dough. If you're freezing the baked cookies, wait to fill them or roll in powdered sugar until you're ready to serve.

Does freezing cookies keep them fresh? ›

Freezing is the best way to store cookies long term. Freezing a freshly baked cookie preserves that fresh flavor and texture so you can enjoy it any time. For best results, let your cookies cool completely, and then freeze right away. You'll need to make sure the cookies are well wrapped and protected from air.

Do tea biscuits freeze well? ›

Most biscuits freeze well. Use these tips to guide you: Completely cool baked biscuits, scones and shortcakes on a wire rack before wrapping and freezing. To protect flavor and prevent the baked products from drying out, wrap tightly in heavy duty aluminum foil or freezer wrap, or pack in freezer bags.

How do you store tea cookies? ›

Tea Cookies storage

However, they need to be stored in an airtight container so that they can stay fresh for up to 5 days. You can make and freeze the dough in advance at the dough chill step, but let it rest at room temperature until it's soft enough to roll out and cut circles.

How do you freeze cookies without freezer burn? ›

Be sure to label them with the cookie type and date for easy identification. Place the wrapped portions in an airtight container or a freezer-safe resealable bag. Ensure there's no excess air to prevent freezer burn.

Can Russian tea cookie dough be frozen? ›

Russian tea cakes, also called Mexican wedding cookies, are delicate hazelnut-based cookies that freeze well without losing their flavor or texture. For best results, freeze cookies the same day they are baked, after they have cooled completely. You can also freeze unbaked cookie dough for ...

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