Chocolate Snowball Cookies: an easy, festive cookie to make this Christmas

Rich, chocolatey, and perfect for the holidays, chocolate snowball cookies are an easy-to-bake treat that everyone will love. Chocolate snowballs cookies are part fudgy, part buttery, and totally delicious. They're rolled in powdered sugar, which gives them their classic snowball look.

These irresistible snowball cookies melt in your mouth and will quickly disappear from your holiday spread. They make great homemade gifts to give to your friends and family over the holidays and are a fantastic baking project if you have little helpers who are ready to learn the joys of baking.

What are Snowball Cookies?

Snowball cookies are a classic holiday treat that are popular to make around Christmas. They're rich and buttery, a little nutty, and come in many different variations. They're similar to Mexican wedding cookies and have a wonderful taste and texture that make it impossible to have just one.

Chocolate Snowball Cookies Ingredients

Chocolate snowball cookies get their classic flavor and rich texture from ground nuts, butter, and cocoa powder. You'll also need other baking staples like brown sugar, flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Powdered sugar is essential as well – once you've baked the cookies, you'll need to roll them in powdered sugar to give them that festive snowball look.

How to Make Chocolate Snowball Cookies 

To make homemade chocolate snowball cookies, grab a large bowl and cream the butter and brown sugar until it's light and fluffy. Whisk in the egg, milk, and vanilla until the mixture is smooth. In a separate bowl, sift the dry ingredients, then whisk to combine. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Grind the walnuts in a food processor, then gently fold them into the dough. Cover and chill in the fridge overnight.

Form 1-inch balls and arrange them on a baking tray. Bake the cookies at 350F for 8 to 9 minutes, or until the tops of the cookies begin to crack. Take them out of the oven and set the cookies on wire racks to cool. Once cooled, roll in powdered sugar. Voila! Your festive chocolate snowball cookies are ready to eat.

Expert Tips for Making Chocolate Snowball Cookies 

You can use chocolate cake mix to streamline your baking.

Don't skip chilling the dough overnight! It'll make your cookies more flavorful and soft.

To make vegan chocolate snowball cookies, use non-dairy milk and a flax egg, applesauce, or tofu in place of cow's milk and chicken eggs.

To make gluten-free chocolate snowball cookies, swap AP flour out for gluten-free flour.

You can make your chocolate snowball cookies keto-friendly by using almond meal instead of flour and using your preferred sweetener (such as erythritol) instead of sugar.

There are tons of delicious snowball cookie variations to try. Add in mint, orange, or almond essence, or swap out the walnuts for ground pecans, hazelnuts, or almonds. Mix in mini chocolate chips for a double chocolate treat or add some toffee pieces or butterscotch chips. Get creative – the options are virtually endless!

You can use white sugar instead of brown sugar, but brown sugar will make the cookies moister and more tender.

How to Store Snowball Cookies

Keep your chocolate snowball cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Can You Freeze Chocolate Snowball Cookies?

Absolutely! Put the cookies in a freezer-safe bag and freeze them for up to 3 months.

Instructions

Cream butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.

Add in milk.

Beat in egg and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, sift flour, salt, cocoa, baking soda, and baking powder together. Whisk to combine, then gradually add to the butter mixture until combined.

Grind the walnuts in a food processor.

Fold the ground walnuts into the dough. Cover and chill in the fridge overnight.

Preheat your oven to 350F. Form 1-inch balls and arrange them on a baking tray.

Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, or until the tops of the cookies begin to crack. Remove from oven and set the cookies on wire racks to cool.

Once cooled, roll in powdered sugar.

Serve and enjoy!