Perfect choice 😋 — Mexican Wedding Cookies (a.k.a. Pecan Cookie Balls, Snowball Cookies, or Russian Tea Cakes) are a timeless classic! Here’s the big, detailed recipe with everything from history to methods to lovers of this delightful cookie.

🌸 Mexican Wedding Cookies (Pecan Cookie Balls) 👌😋

✨ Introduction

Mexican Wedding Cookies are melt-in-your-mouth buttery pecan cookies, rolled twice in powdered sugar until they look like little snowballs. Despite their name, these cookies are not limited to weddings — they are enjoyed at Christmas, holidays, birthdays, and family gatherings all over the world. Their delicate texture, nutty richness, and snowy coating make them irresistible to both kids and adults.

🛒 Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup powdered sugar (plus more for rolling)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped pecans (can substitute walnuts or almonds)
¼ tsp salt

👩‍🍳 Instructions & Methods

Step 1: Make the Dough

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy.
Add vanilla extract and mix well.
In another bowl, whisk flour and salt together.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, stirring until combined.
Fold in finely chopped pecans. The dough will be soft but should hold together when pressed.

Step 2: Chill the Dough

Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes (this makes rolling easier and keeps cookies from spreading).

Step 3: Shape the Cookies

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 1 inch apart on the sheet.

Step 4: Bake

Bake for 12–15 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly golden (the tops will remain pale).
Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

Step 5: Roll in Sugar

While still warm, roll cookies gently in powdered sugar.
Place on a rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, roll them again in powdered sugar for a snowy, sweet finish.

📜 History & Formation

Despite being known as Mexican Wedding Cookies, these delightful treats are enjoyed worldwide under different names:

In the U.S., they’re often called Snowball Cookies.
In Russia and Eastern Europe, they’re known as Russian Tea Cakes.
In Spain and Latin America, they’re called Polvorones (meaning “powdery”).

The tradition of nut-based cookies coated in sugar dates back centuries. They were likely introduced to Mexico through Spanish colonization, where almonds and pecans were common in baking. Over time, pecans became the nut of choice in Mexican and Southern U.S. versions because of their abundance in the Americas. Today, they are beloved holiday cookies, especially during Christmas and weddings, symbolizing sweetness and celebration.

💕 Lovers of These Cookies

These cookies are adored by:

Wedding guests who enjoy traditional celebratory sweets.
Holiday bakers who love snow-like cookies on festive platters.
Nut lovers who crave buttery, crunchy bites.
Children who think they look like sugar-dusted snowballs.
Coffee and tea drinkers who pair them with a warm cup of comfort.

🏁 Conclusion

Mexican Wedding Cookies are more than just a treat — they are a piece of history and culture wrapped in powdered sugar. Their melt-in-your-mouth texture, nutty aroma, and snowy sweetness make them timeless. Perfect for gifting, sharing, or indulging in during holidays, they connect generations with every bite.

Make a batch for your next celebration, and watch how quickly they disappear — proof that love and tradition always taste best in cookie form. ❤️🍪

Would you like me to also make a festive variation of these cookies (like chocolate-dipped, cinnamon-spiced, or pistachio versions) for holiday platters? 🎄