Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (2024)

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Russian Tea Cakes are tender, buttery cookies with a light nutty flavor all covered in powdered sugar! Also called “Snowballs,” these cookies are delicious and a wonderful holiday classic. One of my most requested Christmas cookie recipes!

Looking for more Christmas cookie ideas? Try my easy sugar cookies recipe, or these Italian Christmas cookies!

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (1)

Table of Contents

  • The Best Russian Tea Cakes (Snowball Cookies)
  • What Are Russian Tea Cakes?
  • How to Make Russian Tea Cakes
  • How Long Can You Store these Cookies? Can They Be Frozen?
  • More Great Holiday Cookie Recipes:
  • Get the Recipe

The Best Russian Tea Cakes (Snowball Cookies)

There are so many things to love about these cookies! For starters, they are quick and easy to make. The cookie dough comes together with only 6 ingredients. I do like to refrigerate them for about an hour before baking them, but you don’t have to. I personally think the cookies stay a little more tender on the inside if they’ve been refrigerated first.

Another reason to love them is that they are literally covered in sugar. Yes! Two layers of it, in fact. That outside layer of powdered sugar just melts right in your mouth. Completely addicting! And after you get past the outside, the inside is soft, buttery and also melts in your mouth. So darn good!

Of course one thing that adds great flavor to these cookies is the light nutty flavor, bit if you aren’t a nut fan, you could certainly leave them out. I’ve even left out the nuts and added coconut for a fun Easter version that I called “Bunny Tails”, ha!

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (2)

What Are Russian Tea Cakes?

Russian Tea Cakes are a simple cookie, similar to shortbread, known for the nuts included in the cookie and the powdered sugar used to decorate them. They are also often referred to as Snowballs and Mexican Wedding Cakes.

From a history perspective, the connection to Russia is unclear. It seems they may have originated in Europe as a popular snack with tea, hence “tea cake”, then they migrated to Mexico with European nuns where they became a popular wedding cookie. They are now also very popular in the U.S. at Christmas time.

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (3)

How to Make Russian Tea Cakes

It doesn’t get much easier than these Russian Tea Cakes. To start, you’ll combine the butter and powdered sugar, then add the vanilla extract.

From there, you’ll add the flour and salt and mix just until the dough comes together. Finally, you’ll stir in your nuts. I used chopped, toasted pecans but other nuts like walnuts or macadamia nuts would work as well.

Create tablespoons sized balls and refrigerate them for an hour. You don’t have to refrigerate them, but I think the cookies are even better if you don’t skip that step.

Bake them just until the bottoms are turning slightly brown. The time will vary based on your oven, but 7-8 minutes was just right for me.

When you take them out of the oven, let them cool just long enough so that you can handle them, then roll them in the additional powdered sugar. The sugar will melt a little from the heat, so after they cool, roll them in the powdered sugar one more time.

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (4)

How Long Can You Store these Cookies? Can They Be Frozen?

These cookies last very well for about a week when stored in an air tight container. They could also be made ahead and frozen, but you’ll want to freeze them prior to adding the powdered sugar, which would just dissolve when they thaw. Instead, thaw the cookies in the fridge when you’re ready for them and then dip them in the powdered sugar.

These Russian Tea Cakes are wonderful, sugary little bites of heaven! They are nice and small, so they are easy to snack on with a cup of coffee or eggnog (or tea!) and just enjoy the holidays. I hope you love them!

Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (5)

More Great Holiday Cookie Recipes:

Italian Ricotta Cookies
Classic Spritz Cookies
Best Gingerbread Cookie Cutouts
Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
Classic Chewy Snickerdoodles
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Candy Cane Cookies
Soft and Chewy Eggnog Cookies
Southern Pecan Pralines
Reindeer Cookie Balls
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Cutout Sugar Cookies

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”WwpKqAlq” upload-date=”2019-12-11T10:00:00.000Z” name=”Russian Tea Cakes-BLOG” description=”Russian Tea Cakes are tender, buttery cookies with a light nutty flavor all covered in powdered sugar! Also called Snowballs, these cookies are delicious and a wonderful holiday classic!” ]


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Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (6)

Recipe

Russian Tea Cakes (Snowball Cookies)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
  • Yield: 40 cookies
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Russian Tea Cakes are tender, buttery cookies with a light nutty flavor all covered in powdered sugar! Also called “Snowballs,” these cookies are delicious and a wonderful holiday classic!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (224g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups (173g) powdered sugar, divided
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups (293g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup (85g) finely chopped nuts (I used toasted pecans)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. In a large mixer bowl, beat the butter and 1/2 a cup (58g) of powdered sugar together until smooth.
3. Add the vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
4. Add the flour and salt and mix on low speed just until the dough comes together.
5. Stir in the chopped nuts.
6. Scoop tablespoon sized balls of dough and shape into a ball. Refrigerate for about 1 hour, then place on the prepared cookie sheet 1-2 inches apart.
7. Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until the bottoms are just lightly brown.
8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes, until you can handle them.
9. Add the remaining 1 cup (115g) of powdered sugar to a small bowl and roll each cookie in it until well coated. The sugar will melt a little bit. Allow the cookies to cool completely, then re-roll in powdered sugar.
10. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 99
  • Sugar: 4.5 g
  • Sodium: 29.9 mg
  • Fat: 6.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10.2 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 12.2 mg

Categories

  • Christmas
  • Cookies
  • Easter
  • Holidays
  • Recipes
  • Recipes with video
  • Sweets and Treats
  • Thanksgiving
Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - Classic Christmas Snowball Cookies! (2024)

FAQs

Why are they called Russian tea cakes? ›

Some people believe that Russian Tea Cakes originated in Eastern Europe, but as far as I could tell, they inherited the name from the 19th-century American fascination with Russian tea culture.

Why do my snowball cookies go flat? ›

Snowball Cookie Tips

If your cookies go flat, check the oven temperature. An oven temperature that's too low can result in your cookies spreading out more. Butter that's too soft or melted can also lead to flat cookies.

How many calories are in a Russian tea cake? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
101Calories
7gFat
8gCarbs
1gProtein
Nov 29, 2023

What are snowball cookies made of? ›

Snowball cookies are part butter, part flour, and part confectioners' sugar. Sometimes they include chopped nuts, as well (try them with toasted pecans!). The confectioners' sugar not only goes into the cookie dough, but also coats the outside of the cookie for that iconic snow-dusted exterior.

What is the white stuff in tea cakes? ›

The Tunnock's Teacake is a sweet food often served with a cup of tea or coffee. It was developed by Sir Boyd Tunnock in 1956. The product consists of a small round shortbread biscuit covered with a dome of Italian meringue, a whipped egg white concoction similar to marshmallow, although somewhat lighter in texture.

Is tea cake white or black? ›

In the Southeastern United States, a teacake is a traditional dense large cookie, made with sugar, butter, eggs, flour, milk, and flavoring. They are particularly associated with the African-American community and were originally developed as an analog of the pastries served to guests by white women when entertaining.

Why did my snowball cookies spread? ›

Why did my snowball cookies flatten? The cookies will flatten slightly when baked, but they shouldn't flatten completely. If you skipped the chilling time, this may be why they spread. Another reason is if you place the dough on a hot baking sheet; if you have to reuse baking sheets, let them cool first.

Why is my snowball cookie dough crumbly? ›

It is probably because the cookie dough needs more liquid or fat or the dry or wet ingredients are unbalanced.

How do you make cookies flatten more? ›

What are the best techniques to promote cookie spread?
  1. Try the creaming method. ...
  2. Chill the cookie dough overnight. ...
  3. Have the proper cookie dough portioning. ...
  4. Cookie baking temperature and time. ...
  5. Choose the right baking sheet or parchment paper.
Nov 25, 2023

Can you freeze tea cakes? ›

The baked tea cakes freeze like a dream [as soon as they are cold], then pop them into your microwave for a few seconds to defrost for a just baked teacake to toast.

What is a tea cake in China? ›

Tea cakes are often misunderstood as those cakes that you consume as sides with your tea or any other beverage. However, tea cakes are compressed tea leaves given the firm shape of a cake with certain aromas and flavors.

What does tea cake taste like? ›

Here at the Texas Tea Cake Company we say that tea cakes taste like a less buttery shortbread cookie with vanilla, spices, and a hint of sweetness. But the best way to know what a tea cake tastes like, is to try one yourself! Click here to order your tea cakes today.

What is Snoop Dogg cookies? ›

Snoop Dogg's peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe - His original cookie features creamy peanut butter and semisweet chocolate morsels, making it the perfect indulgence this holiday season. #

What are snowball kisses? ›

Snowball kisses have a decadent Hershey's Kiss surprise in the middle, the perfect special treat for your loves. Once they take a bite of these soft, buttery cookies, they will find a sweet chocolate center in this decadent delicacy.

What are pink snowballs made of? ›

Ingredients: SUGAR, WATER, CORN SYRUP, ENRICHED FLOUR (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE OR REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), COCONUT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS: SOYBEAN OIL, PALM OIL, TALLOW, GLYCERIN, GELATIN, ...

Why is Russian cake called Russian cake? ›

Theories abound as to the origins of Russian cake. The popular legend goes that it was created by a New Orleans baker who ran out of ingredients to bake a proper cake for the Russian Grand Duke Alexis when the latter visited New Orleans for Mardi Gras in 1872.

Why is Russian tea called Russian tea? ›

**Origin and Evolution**: Russian Tea originated in Russia in the early 1800s and was traditionally made with black tea, lemon, sugar, juices, spices, and honey. Initially enjoyed by the elite, it became popular across all social classes and evolved to include different ingredients over time.

Why are tea cakes called tea cakes? ›

Tea also gained popularity in Britain at this period. Afternoon tea, typically served with sandwiches, scones, and cake, was where the higher classes would gather. The term "tea cake" is said to have originated from the custom of serving cake with tea.

What is the difference between Mexican tea cakes and Russian tea cakes? ›

Epicurious has two recipes for these cookies, one labeled “Russian” one labeled “Mexican” and they are exactly the same except for two things: the Russian ones have a quarter-cup of additional nuts replacing a quarter-cup of flour, and the Mexican ones suggest you add an eighth of a teaspoon of cinnamon to the powdered ...

References

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