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Southern Pecan Butterballs Recipe

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4 from 12 reviews

Southern Pecan Butterballs, also known as Snowball Cookies or Mexican Wedding Cookies, are delicate, buttery, nutty cookies coated in powdered sugar. These classic American treats feature a tender crumb with chopped pecans, making them perfect for holiday gatherings or anytime you want a melt-in-your-mouth dessert.

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup butter flavored vegetable shortening (Crisco)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, plus more for coating
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the shortening, 1 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt using a fork or whisk.
  4. Incorporate Dry into Wet: Gradually add the flour mixture into the shortening mixture a little at a time, stirring gently after each addition. The dough will become crumbly but should start to come together.
  5. Add Pecans: Fold in the chopped pecans thoroughly to distribute evenly throughout the dough.
  6. Form Balls: With clean hands, roll the dough into walnut-sized balls, about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Place the balls about 1 ½ inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow spreading.
  7. Bake: Bake one cookie sheet at a time on the center oven rack for about 15 minutes, or until the edges begin to lightly brown. This ensures even baking.
  8. Initial Cooling and Coating: While the cookies bake, prepare a bowl of powdered sugar. When cookies come out of the oven, let them cool just enough to handle without burning your hands, then gently roll each warm cookie in the powdered sugar coating.
  9. Final Cooling and Coating: Place the coated cookies on parchment or a platter to cool completely. Once fully cooled, roll them again in powdered sugar to achieve a smooth, even coating.
  10. Serve: Serve these classic Southern Pecan Butterballs as a delightful treat with tea, coffee, or as a festive dessert option.

Notes

  • Use only one baking sheet at a time to ensure even baking and proper browning.
  • Rolling the cookies in powdered sugar twice helps create the signature snowy look and adds extra sweetness.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
  • You can substitute butter for shortening if preferred, but the texture may be slightly different.
  • Chopped pecans can be lightly toasted beforehand to enhance flavor.

Find it online: https://glowcooks.com/southern-pecan-butterballs-recipe/