Every year as the weather begins to change and winter makes its way in to stay, we make these wonderful cookies. Sweet simple and classic they are nothing new by far, but that doesn't take away from the fun in making them and the pure delight in eating them.
Although most recipes for these tasty treats call for the use of mixer, we love to make them in a bowl, crumbling the butter with our hands until it forms a pea consistency (lots of fun for kids to do too!), adding the chopped walnuts at the end.
Then we form them into balls and bake them for 30+ minutes in a 300 degree oven until the bottoms are just the lightest golden brown.
We also love to use unbleached white whole wheat flour because it adds a wonderful nutty flavor that compliments the walnuts and the powdered sugar "snow" oh so well.
The only problem is that they disappear almost as quickly as they can be piled on a plate!
Great Great Grandma's Snow Ball Cookies:
1 cup cold butter (cut into cubes)
2 cups four (we like to use unbleached white whole wheat)
6 TBS Powdered Sugar
1 TSP vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts
Powdered sugar for rolling or dusting baked cookies
Combine butter, flour, vanilla and sugar in a bowl and mix with fingers until it is a course pea texture. Add walnuts and toss lightly.
Form into balls and bake on a parchment lined baking sheet for 30+ minutes in a 300 degree oven or until the bottoms are just golden.
Roll in powdered sugar (they might need a second roll if the sugar melts too much) straight out of the oven and allow to cool.
P.S. Don't forget to enter our wonderful holiday giveaway for a convertible handcrafted sled! Ends 12/11/12 at 4pm!
*Last time in Recipes: Marzipan Mushrooms
