Ingredients:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup finely chopped nuts (e.g., walnuts or almonds)
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
  • Zest of 1 lemon or orange (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add vanilla extract and optional almond extract, mixing until combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
  4. Gently fold in the finely chopped nuts until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
  5. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop out portions of the dough and roll into balls (about 1 inch in diameter).
  6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the dough balls, spacing them a few inches apart.
  7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden; make sure not to overbake.
  8. Allow the snowballs to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet
  9. Let the snowballs cool completely before serving, ensuring the powdered sugar remains intact.