Description
Delightful chocolate snowball cookies melt hearts with their powdery charm, bringing European baking traditions to your kitchen. Buttery, rich morsels dusted with confectioners’ sugar promise a sweet escape you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Flavoring and Sweeteners:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus extra for rolling
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional Add-ins:
- 1 cup finely chopped nuts
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal cookie performance.
- Create a creamy base by whipping softened butter and powdered sugar until the mixture becomes light, airy, and smooth. Incorporate vanilla extract to enhance the flavor profile.
- Craft the dry ingredient blend by whisking flour, cocoa powder, and salt together in a separate mixing vessel. Gradually integrate this mixture into the butter combination, ensuring minimal mixing to maintain cookie tenderness. Gently fold in chopped nuts if desired.
- Transform the dough into perfectly uniform spheres using gentle hand-rolling techniques or a precise cookie scoop. Arrange these delicate orbs across the prepared baking surface, allowing sufficient spacing for potential expansion.
- Initiate the baking process for 10-12 minutes, monitoring carefully to achieve a set texture without excessive browning. Allow cookies to rest briefly on the baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack for complete temperature reduction.
- Finish the cookies by generously enrobing each cooled sphere in a luxurious coating of powdered sugar, creating a delightful snow-like exterior that transforms the treats into elegant confections.
Notes
- Adjust cocoa intensity by selecting different cocoa powder types like Dutch-processed or natural cocoa for varied flavor profiles.
- Enhance texture by chilling dough for 30 minutes before shaping, which prevents spreading and creates more compact cookies.
- Consider gluten-free alternatives by substituting all-purpose flour with almond or coconut flour for those with dietary restrictions.
- Toast chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts briefly before adding to dough to elevate their nutty flavor and create a deeper, more complex taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg