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Home » Recipes » Desserts » Cookies » Russian Tea Cakes (aka Snowball Cookies)

Russian Tea Cakes (aka Snowball Cookies)

December 16, 2020 by Faith 138 Comments

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DSC_6636(small)

Russian Tea Cakes are rich and buttery cookies with a texture similar to shortbread. They’re quick and easy to make and very festive coated in powdered sugar, which looks like snow!

Snowball Cookies in Cookie Tin with Wax Paper

For the last day of my 7 Days of Festive Holiday Treats even, I wanted to share a cookie from my childhood.

My mom has made Russian Tea Cakes/Snowball Cookies every Christmas for as long as I can remember. Which, oddly enough, has nothing to do with the fact that my family is Russian on my dad’s side and “Russian” is in the title of these cookies. (And I have no idea whether these cookies are authentically Russian or not!)

My mom usually refers to them as Butter Balls anyway, lol.

7daysoffestiveholidaytreats

I like to think of these cookies as a sweeter version of shortbread cookies, as a wink and a nudge to my mom’s Scottish roots. They really are very much like shortbread, with the addition of nuts and being rolled in powdered sugar.

These cookies are wonderful; rich and buttery, and so pretty coated in powdered sugar. If you enjoy shortbread, I think you’ll really enjoy these.

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe with Description

What Are Russian Tea Cakes?

Russian Tea Cakes are actually cookies! They are easy to make with a relatively short ingredient list, usually containing flour, butter, nuts, and sugar.

Russian Tea Cakes are typically rolled in powdered sugar while they’re still hot and then cooled to room temperature, and rolled in powdered sugar a second time.

Butter Balls Cookies with Red Christmas Ornament

Other Names for Russian Tea Cakes

You might know Russian Tea Cakes as Mexican Wedding Cakes, Snowball Cookies, and Italian Butterball Cookies.

Are there any other names out there for these little treats? If so, please tell me in the comments below! I know I’m probably forgetting a few.

Russian Tea Cakes Cookies on Small Plate on Top of Books

Russian Tea Cakes aka Snowball Cookies Recipe

Snowball Cookies are so easy to make! The dough is basically mixed up and then rolled into balls and baked. And then of course rolled in powdered sugar!

How to Make Snowballs or Russian Tea Cakes

Ingredients for Russian Tea Cakes

Get out the ingredients to make Russian Tea Cakes, also called Snowball Cookies.

Butter Powdered Sugar and Vanilla

Add the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla to a large bowl.

Pro Tip: Your butter should be softened, but not fully melted.

Creaming Together Butter and Powdered Sugar

You can use an electric beater or just mix the dough by hand.

Mixing Flour and Nuts Into Russian Tea Cakes Cookie Dough

Stir in the flour, salt, and chopped nuts. The dough will be fairly thick and crumbly, but you should be able to shape it into balls when you squeeze it.

Russian Tea Cakes Cookie Dough

Shape the dough into 1-tablespoon size balls with a scoop, and then roll them until smooth.

Scooping Cookie Dough onto Tray

Arrange the dough balls on a large cookie sheet.

Russian Tea Cakes on Tray Ready to Bake

Bake the cookies until they’re set and golden brown on the bottom.

Baked Mexican Wedding Cookies on Tray

Carefully roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar.

Italian Butterball Cookies in Powdered Sugar

Place the rolled cookies on a wire rack to cool completely.

Snowball Cookies Dusted in Powdered Sugar on Wire Rack

Once the cookies are cooled, roll them again in powdered sugar.

Russian Tea Cakes Coated in Powdered Sugar

Pro Tip: Instead of rolling Russian Tea Cakes in powdered sugar a second time, you can generously sift powdered sugar on top once they’re cooled.

Russian Tea Cakes on Silver Plate

FAQs

How Do I Store Russian Tea Cakes?

  1. Make sure the cookies are cooled to room temperature.
  2. Layer the cookies between wax paper in an airtight container.
  3. Store them at room temperature for up to 1 week. Alternatively, you can store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Italian Butterballs Cookies

Do Snowball Cookies Ship Well?

Yes! These cookies are firm and circular so they’re not prone to breaking when shipped.

When shipping, be sure to store them well-wrapped in an air-tight container to keep them as fresh as possible.

What Kind of Nuts Are Usually Used in Mexican Wedding Cakes?

Pecans are the nuts most often found in Mexican Wedding Cakes.

My mom always used walnuts when she made these cookies, referring to them as Butter Balls Cookies.

I like to play around with the type of nut when I make Russian Tea Cakes. Hazelnuts and almonds are a couple of my favorites.


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Top View of Butterballs with Coffee

7 Days of Festive Holiday Treats on An Edible Mosaic

And just in case you missed a post, here my first six recipes for this event:

  • Dark Chocolate Coated Cranberry Cake Bites
  • Peanut Butter Banana Bread Whoopie Pies {vegan; grain-free; naturally-sweetened}
  • Coconut-Vanilla “Honey” Syrup {vegan}
  • Cranberry Flax Cookies {naturally-sweetened}
  • Nutty Biscotti
  • Gingersnap + White Chocolate Truffles

Close Up of Russian Tea Cakes

More Sweet Festive Treats to Try:

  • Chocolate Covered Cherries
  • Ma’amoul (Middle Eastern Date Filled Cookies)
  • Quick and Easy Chocolate Fudge
  • Chocolate Covered Sponge Candy
  • No Bake Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake Bites
  • Chocolate Rum Balls
  • No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Haystacks
  • Cranberry Oatmeal Bars
  • Chocolate Peppermint Bark
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Russian Tea Cakes Recipe in Cookie Tin

Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below because I love hearing from you! You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media. To stay up-to-date FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Xoxo, Faith

Snowball Cookies in Cookie Tin with Wax Paper

Russian Tea Cakes (aka Snowball Cookies)

Russian Tea Cakes are rich and buttery cookies with a texture similar to shortbread. They're quick and easy to make and very festive coated in powdered sugar, which looks like snow!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 22 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 328kcal
Author: Faith Gorsky

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened but not melted
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar divided
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup hazelnuts finely chopped (or walnuts, pecans, or almonds)
  • 1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon salt
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • Mix together the butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl.
  • Stir in the flour, nuts, and salt until the dough holds together when squeezed.
  • Shape the dough into 1-tablespoon-sized balls and roll the balls between your hands until smooth.
  • Place the cookies about 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Bake until the cookies are set and golden brown on the bottom, about 10 to 12 minutes.
  • While they’re still warm, roll the cookies in the remaining 1 cup powdered sugar.
  • Place the cookies on a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Roll the cookies in powdered sugar a second time.

Video

Helpful Tips

  • This recipe makes 36 cookies, which is 12 servings. Each serving is 3 cookies.
  • The butter should be softened, but not fully melted.
  • Instead of rolling these cookies in powdered sugar a second time, you can generously sift powdered sugar on top once they're cooled.
  • Store Russian Tea Cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 3cookies | Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 473IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @anediblemosaic or tag #anediblemosaic!

Russian Tea Cakes Pin

: : GIVEAWAY : :

King Arthur Flour is very kindly giving away a $25 gift certificate to one lucky winner for their online shop, where they have just about every baking ingredient that you can imagine!

You do not need to have a blog to enter this giveaway! To participate, you can do any of the following (please leave a separate comment for each so I can count them as separate entries):

  1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite festive recipe – it could be anything from brunch to dessert, or anything in between!
  2. Like King Arthur Flour on Facebook and leave a comment here telling me you did.
  3. Like An Edible Mosaic on Facebook and leave a comment here telling me you did.
  4. Share this giveaway on Twitter and leave a comment here.

This giveaway ends Friday, December 21, 2012 at 5AM EST; after that the winner will be randomly selected and notified by email. Good luck to all!

This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on December 18, 2012. I updated it with new photos and more information on December 16, 2020. 

Disclosure: I received a sampling of Redpack products to try for free from Red Gold, and they are also sponsoring this giveaway. As always, opinions stated are my own. This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items, which helps me keep this site alive – thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!

Filed Under: Cookies Tagged: Baking, Butter Balls Cookies, Christmas, Cookies, Cookies for a Cookie Exchange, Holiday Baking, Holiday Cookies, Italian Butterball Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cakes, Recipes, Russian Tea Cakes, Snowball Cookies

Comments

  1. Joanne T Ferguson says

    November 30, 2013 at 4:30 am

    G’day Faith! I have very fond memories of these cookies from childhood, true!
    WISH I could come through the screen and try one of these right now too!
    Cheers! Joanne
    Viewed as part of Helene’s Christmas Cookie Collection 2013

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    December 24, 2012 at 4:55 am

    Actually these Russian Tea Cakes (we call them Mexican Wedding Cookies) are my favorite holiday treat! Or anything with peppermint!

    Reply
  3. Carol | a cup of mascarpone says

    December 21, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    My most favorite Christmas cookie…these are lovely, Faith, and your photography is beautiful!

    Reply
  4. Shannon C says

    December 21, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    My grandma’s Croatian star cookies!

    Reply
  5. Jeanne Weeks says

    December 21, 2012 at 9:37 am

    I love the Russian tea cakes. One of many things I am looking forward to this season. I also loved the EVENT that went along with the cookie baking. A joyous occasion filled with laughter, fun, flower and love.
    Although I rarely post on your site Faith, I enjoy it regularly. The butterballs brought back such a nice memory that I had to comment. Thank you. :*} Jeanne

    Reply
  6. Kat Collins says

    December 21, 2012 at 8:58 am

    One of my favorite holiday recipes is the standing rib roast my mom makes every Christmas Day for dinner. It’s absolutely divine!

    Reply
  7. Kat Collins says

    December 21, 2012 at 8:57 am

    I tweeted the giveaway!

    Reply
  8. Kat Collins says

    December 21, 2012 at 8:52 am

    I liked King Arthur on Facebook.

    Reply
  9. Kat Collins says

    December 21, 2012 at 8:51 am

    I liked An Edible Mosaic on Facebook!

    Reply
  10. Jennifer says

    December 21, 2012 at 4:48 am

    I like king Arthur flour on fb!

    Reply
  11. Jennifer says

    December 21, 2012 at 4:47 am

    I liked you on fb!

    Reply
  12. Jennifer says

    December 21, 2012 at 4:43 am

    I love making Pepparkakor every December

    Reply
  13. Anjana Siva says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:57 pm

    I like An Edible Mosaic on Facebook

    Reply
  14. Anjana Siva says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:56 pm

    I like King Arthur Flour on Facebook

    Reply
  15. Anjana Siva says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:56 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway. My favorite festive recipe is Panettone.

    Reply
  16. JenniferB says

    December 20, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    following edible mosaic on Facebook-Jennifer Blanton

    Reply
  17. JenniferB says

    December 20, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    liked King arthur flour on Facebook-Jennifer Blanton

    Reply
  18. JenniferB says

    December 20, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    I love fudge for Christmas

    Reply
  19. Jeffrey says

    December 20, 2012 at 4:31 pm

    I Like An Edible Mosaic on Facebook.

    Reply
  20. Jeffrey says

    December 20, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    I Like King Arthur Flour on Facebook.

    Reply
  21. Jeffrey says

    December 20, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    I love making pizza from scratch, it may not seem festive to some but anytime there’s pizza there’s a party!

    Reply
  22. karen says

    December 20, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    I love sticky toffee pudding! Our new year’s eve tradition.

    Reply
  23. Kimberly C. says

    December 20, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    I follow An Edible Mosaic on Facebook.

    Reply
  24. Kimberly C. says

    December 20, 2012 at 1:45 pm

    I follow King Arthur Flour on Facebook.

    Reply
  25. Kimberly C. says

    December 20, 2012 at 1:21 pm

    My favorite festive food is my Panettone Bread Pudding.

    Reply
  26. Karen D says

    December 20, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    Like King Arthur on FB (Karen Goodwin Delaney)

    Reply
  27. Karen D says

    December 20, 2012 at 1:17 pm

    Like Faith’s Kitchen on FB

    Reply
  28. Karen D says

    December 20, 2012 at 1:17 pm

    Laurel’s Kitchen recipe for vegetarian figgy pudding.

    Reply
  29. June g. says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:50 am

    I like you in fb

    Reply
  30. June g. says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:49 am

    I like KA

    Reply
  31. June g. says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:48 am

    I like to make spritz cookies.

    Reply
  32. Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:41 am

    I like An Edible Mosaic on FB

    Reply
  33. Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:41 am

    I like King Arthur on FB

    Reply
  34. Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:40 am

    My favorite festive food would have to be cookies!

    Reply
  35. Ryan Louise says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:10 am

    Liked you & King Arthur flour on fb!

    Reply
  36. Maggie S. says

    December 20, 2012 at 10:33 am

    My favorite festive recipe is pumpkin pie. With real homemade whipped cream.

    Reply
  37. Maggie S. says

    December 20, 2012 at 10:32 am

    Liked King Arthur Flour on FB.

    Reply
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Hello! I’m Faith and I write An Edible Mosaic. This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics, with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. I focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home. Welcome to my mosaic of recipes.

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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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Pelmeni are Russian meat dumplings frequently serv Pelmeni are Russian meat dumplings frequently served with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of fresh dill. You can boil or fry them, they freeze like a dream (and they cook directly from frozen!), and they make a big batch so you’ll have a freezer stash of easy dinners for busy nights. But fair warning, these are definitely a labor of love. I made them last spring on a Zoom call with ma chérie Evelyne of @cultureatz that involved ridiculous amounts of laughter, and the shenanigans of us hand making about 100 dumplings each! I’m definitely a bad blogger for not sharing the recipe until now lol. But it’s (finally!) up and you can check it out on @anediblemosaic 🥰 —> https://www.anediblemosaic.com/pelmeni-recipe-russian-dumplings/ #dumplings #dumplingsfordays #russianfood #pelmeni #foodstyling #foodstylist #foodphotography #photography #moodygrams #lightandshadow
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