Mexican Wedding Cookies

With a buttery pecan flavor, these Mexican wedding cookies are a melt-in-your-mouth dessert.  Made with only six pantry staples these cookies come together easily and are great for any type of gathering.

Rich in taste and slightly crumbly, Mexican wedding cookies are a classic cookie that no one can refuse. They have a nutty flavor but the cookies themselves are delicate to make them almost melt when you take a bite.

These cookies are also known as Russian tea cakes or snowballs and are a staple for any holiday dessert table. People love making them because they come together so easily but the result is a rich and indulgent taste in each bite.

Ingredients for Mexican Wedding Cookies

• 1 cup of butter
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup of pecans, chopped
• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar (for rolling)

Preparation time:

Total Time: 35-45 minutes

• Making the Dough: 10 minutes (mixing ingredients)
• Baking time: 10 minutes
• Cool the cookies: 15 minutes.

Serves: 18 cookies

How to Make Mexican Wedding Cookies

1.Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

2.In a large bowl, beat the butter with the powdered sugar until creamy and
smooth.

3. Add the vanilla extract to the mixture and beat until well incorporated.

4.Add the all-purpose flour, salt, and chopped pecans directly to the same bowl
with the butter and sugar mixture. Mix until all ingredients are well combined.

5. No need to refrigerate the dough. Using a spoon or a #20 scoop, form balls
the size of a walnut.

6. Place the balls on a baking sheet, leaving a small space between them.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until the cookies are lightly
golden on the bottom.

8. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely.

9. Once cool, roll the cookies in powdered sugar until fully coated.

Variations and Substitutions

Nuts: Classically made with pecans, you can try switching up the nutty flavor with something like almonds or hazelnuts for variety.

Seasoning: Adding a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg to the flour mixture brings out an extra level of comfort. You could also add this to the powdered sugar you roll them in for a fun look.

Extracts: Adding in some almond extract brings out the nutty flavor even more.

Toasting: If you toast the nuts before you need them the flavor is much more indulgent and potent.

Chocolate: For all the chocolate lovers out there, instead of rolling the cookies in just powdered sugar you could mix the powdered sugar in with some cocoa powder for a light chocolate twist.

Bright citrus: If you adore a bright lemon flavor, add some fresh lemon zest or extract to the cookies and then garnish with more lemon zest.

Tips To Make The Best Mexican Wedding Cookies

Make sure that the pecans are chopped into small pieces so that they distribute evenly. However, you do want a bit of crunch in the cookie so don’t turn them into a powder.

To properly measure your flour, spoon the flour into a measuring cup and level it off with a knife. This ensures you don’t add too much and affect the texture.

Let the cookies cool fully before rolling them in sugar. Otherwise, the warmth of the cookie will melt the sugar and you’ll have a sticky mess.

For an extra layer of sweetness, roll the cookies in the sugar again after they have rested a minute or two from the first rolling.

Store cooked cookies once cooled in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

You can freeze the cookies as well between layers of parchment paper for up to 3 months. To enjoy them, let them thaw in the fridge overnight.

If you find that the dough is too crumbly to hold together, flick it lightly with water and work it in with your hands. This should help it hold together.

You can prep these cookies in advance if you need to. Go through the steps and make the dough but instead of portioning it, wrap the dough into a ball with plastic wrap before placing it into a freezer bag. It will stay fresh for one month. When you need it, thaw the dough in the fridge overnight and then let it come to room temperature before you begin to portion the balls.

Recipe card: A melt-in-your-mouth treat with a buttery pecan flavor, these Mexican wedding cookies are the perfect dessert for any occasion.