Can I skip chilling the dough?

Yes, but chilled dough is easier to handle and produces a rounder cookie.

What’s the best way to keep powdered sugar coating thick?

Roll cookies while still warm, then coat again once cooled for a double layer.

How do I prevent cookies from baking flat?

Pat cherries dry and add a bit more flour if dough feels too soft.

Can these cookies be frozen before baking?

Yes — freeze dough balls on a baking sheet until firm, then store in freezer bags for up to a month. Bake directly from frozen, adding 2–3 extra minutes to the baking time.

Cherry Snowball Cookies – The Best Holiday Cookie Recipe

Cherry Snowball Cookies

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Cherry Snowball Cookies are buttery shortbread-style cookies filled with maraschino cherries, mini chocolate chips, and finely ground pecans, rolled in powdered sugar for a festive holiday treat.

Author: gemma
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Yield: 44 cookies
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

1½ cups butter, at room temperature (salted or unsalted)
¾ cup powdered sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1½ tsp almond extract
1½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp cherry extract or emulsion
½ cup maraschino cherries, drained well
1 cup pecans, finely ground
4½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1½ cups powdered sugar, for dusting

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Beat butter, powdered sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
Mix in salt, almond extract, vanilla extract, and cherry extract.
Drain cherries, pat dry, chop finely, and add to the dough.
Stir in finely ground pecans.
Gradually beat in flour, ½ cup at a time, until dough forms.
Fold in mini chocolate chips.
Chill dough for 30–60 minutes.
Roll dough into 1½-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on baking sheet.
Bake for 15–17 minutes, until set but not browned.
Cool for 5 minutes, then roll warm cookies in powdered sugar.
Once cooled completely, roll again in powdered sugar for a snowy coating.

Notes

Dry cherries thoroughly to prevent flat cookies.
Chilling the dough helps maintain round shape.
Adjust flour if dough feels too wet.
For a thicker powdered sugar coating, roll twice — once warm, once cooled.
Cookies can be frozen before or after baking.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 179
Sugar: 11g
Sodium: 127mg
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 1g
Carbohydrates: 22g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 1mg

Find it online: https://recipeeasily.com/cherry-snowball-cookies-recipe/