Russian Tea Cakes (Snowballs)

A shortbread-like dough, filled with chopped nuts, bakes to a tender melt-in-your-mouth texture. These irresistible cookies are often enjoyed during the holidays and they are a favorite for cookie exchanges. Russian Tea Cakes are also known as Snowballs or Mexican Wedding Cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened

• ½ cup powdered sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour

• ¾ cup finely chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, or cashews. I used pecans!)

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• powdered sugar for rolling

  
  

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Mix butter, ½ cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.

5. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again. Store in a covered container. Enjoy!