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Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe
Mexican Wedding cookies are a favorite buttery pecan shortbread cookie recipe that is known by many names. You might know Mexican Wedding Cookies as Russian Tea Cakes, Snowball Cookies or Mexican Wedding Cakes.
Mexican Wedding Cookies are a favorite Christmas cookie recipe I make every year because they are so easy to make with only 5 ingredients and they taste amazing!
Day #3 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes
We are each sharing a favorite Christmas cookie recipe to help you plan for the upcoming holiday season. Don't miss out on the giveaway below. It's a good one!
12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes Day #3
- Flour On My Face: You are here: Mexican Wedding Cookies
- Walking On Sunshine Recipes: Candy Cane Sugar Cookies
- Glenda Embree: Snickerdoodles
- Fat Dad Foodie: Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies
Christmas Shortbread Cookies
I call them Mexican Wedding Cookies but you may know them by Italian Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, Snowball Cookies or Mexican Wedding Cakes.
They are one of our favorite Christmas cookies to bake and eat.
I first shared this favorite Christmas cookie recipe back in 2011.
While I was baking the Mexican Wedding Cookies for my Christmas Cookie exchange I decided to re-shoot the photos and share it again.
This is a great Christmas Cookie Exchange recipe that everyone loves.
Easy Holiday Cookies for a Cookie Exchange
Mexican Wedding Cookies are sweet and delicious. Imagine if you can a sweet and crunchy shortbread cookie balls that melt in your mouth.
This easy holiday cookie recipe for a cookie exchange calls for 5 simple ingredients that when combined create a buttery shortbread cookie that is crunchy and sweet.
Chopped pecans give it a little extra crunch and the powdered sugar coating makes a Mexican Wedding Cookie look just like mini snowballs. The powdered sugar coating adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the flavor of the shortbread cookie.
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Cookie Exchange Recipes
These cute little snowball shaped cookies are perfect for a cookie exchange. They are easy to make and very easy to package in cellophane bags or cookie boxes to share with family and friends.
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What Nuts Should I Use for Mexican Wedding Cookies
What nuts should you use to make Mexican Wedding cookies? I have always used chopped pecans to make Mexican Wedding Cookies.
I have been making these bite size snowball cookies for 25 years or longer with pecans.
It really depends on your preference, the recipe you are following and the region you live in. If you don't like pecans or you have walnuts on hand you can use chopped walnuts to make Mexican Wedding cookies.
How To Make Mexican Wedding Cookies
These easy Christmas cookies only need 5 ingredients to make and use one mixing bowl to make the dough in.
New to the 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipe event? Check out the other cookie recipes.
- Day #1 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: Almond Spritz Cookies Recipe
- Day #2 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: Old Fashioned Coconut Washboard Cookies
- Day #3 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: Mexican Wedding Cookies
- Day #4 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: Big Soft Ginger Cookies
- Day # 5 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: Chocolate Peppermint Blossom Cookies.
- Day #6 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: Raspberry Linzer Sandwich Cookies.
- Day #7 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: No-Bake OREO Snowball Cookies
- Day #8 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: German Spice Cookies
- Day #9 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: Easy Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
- Day #10 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: German Spritz Cookies
- Day #11 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies
- Day #12 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: Christmas Sandwich Cookies
Mexican Wedding Cookies Ingredients
You only need 4 basic baking ingredients (which you probably have in your pantry right now) and some chopped pecans or walnuts to make Mexican Wedding Cookies.
- butter, softened
- powdered sugar, divided in half
- pure Vanilla Extract (I used my homemade Vanilla Extract)
- all-purpose unbleached flour
- finely chopped pecans
Directions To Make Mexican Wedding Cookies
Mexican Wedding Cookies are one of these easiest one bowl cookie recipes you will ever make.
- All you need to do is beat the butter and powdered sugar together. Add vanilla extract to the bowl and beat in well.
- Then slowly begin adding the flour to the bowl and beat it in slowly until the cookie dough gets too thick for your mixer.
- Then use a wooden spoon to mix the small amount of remaining flour and the chopped nuts into the dough.
- Roll the cookie dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet.
- Bake the Mexican Wedding Cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until golden.
- Cool the cookies slightly and roll in powdered sugar to coat. Cool the cookies completely on a cooling rack before storing in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
- This recipe will make about 48 one and a half inch round cookies.
Basic Christmas Cookie Baking Supplies
- My Favorite Christmas Cookie Cutters for cut out cookies.
- Large Baking Sheets: I have 4 of these and they really make baking cookies so much easier.
- Cookie Dough Scoops: This is the secret to making perfectly shaped cookies every time.
- Parchment Paper: Keeps cookies from sticking and over browning. Makes clean up a breeze.
- Wooden Rolling Pin: A good rolling pin is a must for rolling out perfect Christmas cookies every time.
- Cooling Racks: Cookies need to cool and a cooling rack allows air to circulate and helps the hot cookies cool quicker. It also makes drizzling baked cookies with melted chocolate or powdered sugar drizzle easier.
- Thin Metal Spatula: A wide flat metal spatula helps lift the cookies off the baking sheet without damaging the edges and keep the hot cookies from breaking when transferring them to the cooling rack.
- Spritz Cookie Press: A must have for making tradition Spritz Cookies for Christmas.
- Christmas Cookie Boxes: Planning a cookie exchange or love to share your Christmas cookies? Cookie Gift Boxes are perfect to keep the cookies from getting crushed.
12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveawayHosting a Cookie Exchange this year? Grab the free Cookie Exchange Printables pack.
Pin or Print the Mexican Wedding Cookies recipe below
Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 19 minutes
- Yield: 48 1x
- Category: Christmas Cookies
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Mexican
Description
Mexican Wedding Cookies Sweet and delicate authentic Mexican Wedding Cookies recipe is a great Christmas Cookie Exchange recipe everyone will love. These cute little shortbread snowball cookies are filled with chopped pecans and rolled in powdered sugar.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar, divided in half
- 1 teaspoon of pure Vanilla Extract (I used my homemade Vanilla Extract)
- 2 cups of all-purpose unbleached flour
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F. degrees.
- Beat the butter and ½ cup of the powdered sugar in a (affiliate links) kitchen-aid mixer or a bowl with a handheld mixer until light and fluffy- about 5 minutes.
- Add vanilla extract and beat until vanilla is completely incorporated.
- Slowly begin to add the flour to the bowl 1 cup at a time. Mixing with your mixer until the dough becomes too much for your mixer to handle.
- Added the remaining flour and the finely chopped pecans and mix well with a wooden spoon. Continue mixing until the pecans are evenly distributed through out the dough.
- Shape the dough into one and half inch balls and place on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper leaving 2 inches between the cookies.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until slightly browned.
- Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Drop each cookie one at a time into a mixing bowl with the remaining ½ cup of powdered sugar and roll the warm cookies in a bowl thickly coating all sides.
- Place sugar dipped cookies on a cooling rack and cool completely.
- Store in single layers in an air tight container.
- Makes about 48 cookies
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 Cookies
- Calories: 131
Keywords: Mexican Wedding Cookie recipe, Christmas Cookie recipe, Snowball cookies, cookie exchange recipe, Rissian Tea Cake recipe
Pete (female)
Can you post without the highlighted area? When printed out those words do not print, have to write them in. Thanks
Arlene Mobley
Hi Pete
Sorry you're having a problem printing the recipe. I just printed it myself and all of the words are printing correctly. It may be an issue with your browser. If you copy and paste the recipe into a text editor you should be able to print the recipe as it appears on my website. Enjoy the recipe and Happy Holidays!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
I am a shortbread lover. Christmas would not be the same without them. These cookies look like delicious snowballs, and would make a great addition to any holiday tray of goodies.
★★★★★
Jolina
These look like Christmas! Little snowballs of deliciousness. And I love how simple and straightforward they are to do. Can't wait to try them.
★★★★★
Arlene Mobley
Jolina
They make the perfect Christmas cookies!
Papa G
Arlene, please help this old Papa out. You mention cooking but no where have I found at what temperature.
Arlene Mobley
Papa G the cookies are baked at 375 F. for 11-14 minutes or just until they start to get golden around the edges.
Papa G
Just need the cooking temperature ? please
★★★★★
Arlene Mobley
Sorry 375 F. degrees
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
I just learned something new -- Mexican Wedding Cakes are considered a shortbread cookie. For years I've said that I've never made shortbread cookies. Well, I guess it's not true! I've been making these balls of goodness for years. It wouldn't be a Christmas Cookies Tray without them.
★★★★★
Arlene Mobley
Ah Marisa shortbread cookies are so much easier than most people think. Just a fancy name for a cookie with a high butter ratio. They are also known as butter cookies.
★★★★★
Denise Wright
These are my favorite cookies....I didn't know what they were called and I just discovered them a few years ago. I didn't realize they only require 5 ingredients. My cookie exchange is tonight and I wish I had seen this earlier! Looks delicious!
★★★★★
Arlene Mobley
Denise
These are the best Christmas Cookie Exchange cookie recipe!
★★★★★
Veena Azmanov
We have a very similar cookie in India and we call it Nankatia - but with almond meal instead of pecans. The Pecan sounds so delicious. I love how pretty these look like snow balls. Perfect name..
★★★★★
Arlene Mobley
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