Classic Christmas Snowballs

A melt-in-your-mouth bite that makes you smile and wonder why anyone ever stopped baking with butter.

“A good cookie and a kind word can redeem almost anything.”

— Nora Ephron

Serves

About 32–36 cookies, depending on how much dough goes “missing.”

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup powdered sugar (plus extra for rolling)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts (your choice — the Dames approve both)

Preparation

  1. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy enough to pass as holiday cheer.
  2. Stir in the vanilla, then fold in the flour and salt. Your dough will look a little shaggy at first — keep going.
  3. Add the nuts and gently mix until the dough comes together like a well-rehearsed carol.
  4. Chill the dough for 30 minutes. This keeps the cookies round instead of… interpretive.
  5. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  6. Bake at 350°F for 12–14 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly golden.
  7. While still warm, roll each cookie in powdered sugar. Let them cool completely, then give them a second snow-kiss for good measure.

DAME TIP
These freeze beautifully. Make a batch now, tuck them away, and look suspiciously impressive later.

 

Spiced Orange Rooibos

A Holiday Pairing Worth Savoring

This month’s recommended sip is Spiced Orange Rooibos — a naturally caffeine-free tea blend with notes of citrus, clove, and a whisper of vanilla. It’s not only high in antioxidants but also the perfect companion for a classic Christmas cookie – like the Buttery Snowball.

Together, they taste like the best of memories wrapped in a bow.