Friday, December 6, 2013

Snowball Cookies with a Twist



Sorry that I have been MIA for awhile, but I am having medical issues with my lumbar spine.  Instead of baking cookies and making fudge, I will be having an MRI of my spine, and then going to the same Neurosurgeon that removed my husband's benign pituitary tumor this past summer.  Not exactly holiday activities.  I will be cutting back on my posting, because I just don't have the time.  Yikes! Christmas is 3 weeks way, and I am far from ready.  It takes me much longer to do anything, because I can't sit or stand for any period of time.  I still might be peeking on Facebook or your blog, though.


 I did find time to make cookies; Snowball, Mexican Wedding Cake, or Russian Tea Cake cookies They go by many names.  What do you call them?  I have made them for many years, but not recently, so I decided to make them this year.   I added holiday morsels, red, green and chocolate to the cookie dough for a different twist on an old favorite.  These rich, buttery balls with walnuts have been dressed up for the holidays. You can use pecans, instead of the walnuts. The holiday morsels give the cookies an added touch of flavor and color, then sprinkled with powdered sugar, mmmm!

These Snowball Cookies are easy to put together, and the dough can be made a couple of days ahead refrigerated, and then baked. when the cookies are slighly cool, they are gentlydusted with powdered sugar, and stored.  Right before serving, dust with powdered sugar for the final effect.



Snowball Cookies
Yield: about 30 cookies- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans 
 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup Holiday Morsels
1/3 cup powdered sugar, sifted for dusting the cookies
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the butter and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar until smooth and creamy, for 2-3 minutes. Add in vanilla extract and mix until combined.

3. Mix in the flour, walnuts or pecans, and salt. Mixing until just combined.

4. Stir in Holiday Morsels until well combined.

5. Roll about 1 tablespoon of dough  into balls and place on prepared baking sheet. The cookies can be placed quite close together since they do not spread during the baking process.

6. Bake in preheated oven for about 12- 15 minutes – taking care not to over bake. Allow cookies to cool on baking pan for about 5 minutes.

7. Sift 1/3 cup powdered sugar into a medium bowl. While cookies are still warm, dust them with confectioners' sugar. Place cookies on cooling rack, once they have cooled completely, dust them in powdered  sugar again.

l linked up my recipe to Brandie@The Country Cook's Weekend Potluck #96
 Stop by and say Hi to Brandie


 

18 comments:

  1. you poor thing, I hope your back gets fixed soon! :(

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  2. Becky, sorry to hear about your back. Hope you're as good as new very soon! Love these cookies and I make them every Christmas. I've never seen holiday morsels. Guessing I can find it at Jewel. Take care. Hugs

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    Replies
    1. Pam,
      I got mine at Meijer. The morsels just a bit color and flavor to these wonderful cookies.

      Delete
  3. I'm sorry things have been so rough. I can't believe you found time to make cookies with all the appointments you've been juggling. I hope things get easier soon. I don't know where my time is going either, it feels like I didn't sit down all week and the next three will go just as fast I'm sure. I hope you have the merriest xmas ever and I will check in with you soon.
    Hugs,
    -Gina-

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    Replies
    1. Gina,
      I made these cookies in stages; made the dough. then refrigerated it. Baked them.
      Put powdered sugar on a few, and put the rest in the freezer. I will only to make a few kinds of cookies this year, but I made fudge last night, which is easy. Hope that you can rest before Christmas, Cookie Queen:)
      Hugs!

      Delete
  4. I'm so sorry about your back, Becky! I hope you can heal with some PT and avoid surgery. Your snowballs look terrific...I added some toffee to a batch I made last week :)

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  5. Liz,
    Thank you for your concern. I saw the snowballs. I'll have to try your version:)

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  6. Dear Becky, may your back return to good health soon. I'm sorry to learn of this development. The cookies look scrumptious and I love the twist! Take care...you're in good hands with Scott at your side.

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    Replies
    1. Brooks,
      Thank you for your concern. The cookies are wonderful, especially with the twist.

      Delete
  7. I do hope you feel better soon! The cookies do look fantastic!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your concern! the cookies are marvelous!

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  8. Hi Becky! I'm so sorry to hear about your health issues. My mom has had severe back issues so I know how debilitating they can be. Thank you so much for sharing these sweet cookies with us!

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    Replies
    1. Monet,
      Thank you Monet, these cookies melt in your mouth! Hug Lucy for me.

      Delete
  9. I'm so sorry to hear about your back, I hope you feel better Becky! I love following your recipes, these snowballs look so yummy!

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