Italian Wedding Cookies are a classic treat that's easy to love. These buttery, nutty bites are rolled in powdered sugar for a sweet finish. Also known as Snowball Cookies, they're perfect for special occasions or just because. Making these cookies from scratch is simple and rewarding - the hardest part is not eating them all at once!
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🗝️ Recipe's key points
- These Italian Wedding Cookies are buttery, nutty, and coated in powdered sugar - a classic treat that's great for special occasions or just because.
- With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, this recipe makes 4 dozen melt-in-your-mouth cookies.
- Toasting the pecans before chopping makes them taste even better. Don't skip the double roll in powdered sugar - it's what gives these cookies their signature look and sweetness.
Italian Wedding Cookies are a timeless classic. This recipe makes 4 dozen melt-in-your-mouth treats that are perfect for special occasions or satisfying your everyday sweet tooth.
🛒 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
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- Butter - unsalted, softened to room temperature
- Confectioners' sugar - for the dough and for coating the cookies after baking
- Vanilla - for a subtle flavor
- All-purpose flour - sifted, do NOT use self-rising flour
- Kosher salt - just a pinch to balance the sweetness
- Pecans - finely chopped and toasted for extra flavor
🗒 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large bowl add the softened butter.
- Add ½ cup of powdered sugar and vanilla. and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Mix with an electric mixer until thoroughly combined.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour and salt.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until well combined.
- Add the toasted pecans to the cookie dough bowl.
- Stir in the finely chopped toasted pecans until evenly distributed.
- Shape the dough into 1-inch balls.
- Place the dough balls on an ungreased baking sheet or a parchment-lined one. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The cookies should be set but not brown. Then, take the cookies out of the oven and let them cool.
- While the cookies are still warm, roll them in confectioners' sugar.
- Place the sugar-coated cookies on a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, roll the cookies in confectioners' sugar again for a generous coating.
🥫 Storage
Italian Wedding Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. For longer storage, you can keep them in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
📚 Variations
- Chocolate Chip: Add ½ cup mini chocolate chips to the dough for a sweet twist.
- Almond: To create an almond version of the Italian wedding cookies, use finely chopped almonds instead of pecans. Also, add ¼ teaspoon of almond extract.
- Lemon: Add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest to the dough and replace the vanilla with lemon extract for a citrusy flavor.
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- Make sure your butter is at room temperature for easy mixing and better incorporation of ingredients.
- Sift the flour and confectioners' sugar to avoid lumps and ensure a smooth dough.
- Toast the pecans before chopping to enhance their flavor. Let them cool completely before adding to the dough.
- Don't overbake the cookies. They should be set but not brown to maintain their light color and tender texture.
🤔 FAQs
Mexican and Italian Wedding Cookies are very similar. The main difference is that Mexican Wedding Cookies often use almonds, while Italian Wedding Cookies typically use pecans.
Italian Wedding Cookies are made of butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, flour, salt, and chopped pecans.
The traditional Italian Wedding cake is called "Millefoglie," which is similar to a Napoleon pastry.
The most popular cookie in Italy is generally considered to be the Biscotti.
An Italian cookie tray often include biscotti, amaretti, pizzelle, anginetti (lemon drop cookies), pignoli (pine nut cookies), and cuccidati (fig cookies)
📗 Related Recipes
Love cookie recipes? You'll want to try our Ricotta Cookies, Espresso Coffee Cookies, and Pizzicati (Italian Pinch Cookies)! Another beautiful Italian cookie for your holiday dessert tray is the Florentine cookie. These lace cookies always steal the show!
If you're a fan of tradition Italian desserts, don't miss Italian Tiramisu, Almond Orange Cake, and Ricciarelli Almond Cookies.
Whenever regular cookies leave you wanting more, try our soft and chewy Gooey Butter Cookies. They're made with cream cheese, a yellow cake mix, and rolled in powdered sugar.
Bring Italy home with these Spumoni Chocolate Chip Cookies. They add a festive flair to your cookie tray, and they're packed with flavor!
🍽 What to serve with Italian Wedding Cookies
I love to serve these Italian Wedding Cookies with a hot cup of coffee or espresso. They also go great with tea! Or, if you prefer an after-dinner drink, this Heavenly Irish Cream recipe is silk, smooth, and delicious.
🔪 All Our Way recommends the following
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You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- Large mixing bowl
- Electric mixer or wooden spoon
- Sifter for flour and sugar
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper (optional)
- Small bowl for rolling cookies in sugar
- Wire cooling rack
📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
These simple and elegant treats are great for any occasion. They are perfect for weddings or quiet afternoons with coffee. They're proof that sometimes the simplest things are the most satisfying. Whether you're making them for a special event or just because, these biscotti (cookies) are sure to bring a sorriso (smile) to anyone who tries them.
I hope you're inspired to roll up those maniche(sleeves) and begin baking. There's nothing quite like the warmth and joy these cookies bring to your home. So why not print out this recipe, gather your loved ones, and make these sweet treats a cherished tradition in your household?
Imagine the joy of sharing these melt-in-your-mouth cookies with family and friends, creating memories and stories that will be passed down for generations. It's all about love, laughter, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.
📖 Recipe
ITALIAN WEDDING COOKIES
Equipment Needed
Ingredients
- 1 stick soft unsalted butter room temperature
- ½ cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 ¼ cups sifted all-purpose flour—do NOT use self-rising flour
- ¼ tsp. kosher salt
- ¾ cup finely chopped toasted pecans
- ½ cup confectioners’ sugar for coating the cookies you may need more or use less
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉.
- Mix thoroughly the soft butter, the ½ cup confectioners’ sugar, and the vanilla.
- Sift together the salt and flour and work into the butter mixture.
- Add in the finely chopped toasted pecans. Mix until the dough holds together.
- Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on an ungreased baking sheet or a parchment-lined one.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookie is set but not brown.
- Roll the cookies in confectioners’ sugar while still warm.
- Cool. Roll in sugar again.
Notes
- Make sure your butter is at room temperature for easy mixing and better incorporation of ingredients.
- Sift the flour and confectioners' sugar to avoid lumps and ensure a smooth dough.
- Toast the pecans before chopping to enhance their flavor. Let them cool completely before adding to the dough.
- Don't overbake the cookies. They should be set but not brown to maintain their light color and tender texture.
Nutrition
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