Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Also known as Mexican Wedding Cookies, these Gluten Free Snowball Cookies have the classic buttery, nutty flavors of the traditional Christmas cookie recipe. But they are easy to make gluten free using a basic 1:1 flour blend. Only six ingredients and packed with walnuts, they are sweet, tender, and literally melt in your mouth.

Looking for more classic gluten free Christmas cookies? Try Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies, Gluten Free Snickerdoodles, and Gluten Free Almond Crescent Cookies!

Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (1)

Table of Contents

  • What are Snowball Cookies?
  • Why You’ll Love this Recipe
  • Cookie Ingredients
  • How to Make Gluten Free Snowball Cookies
  • Tips for Success
  • Storing Gluten Free Snowball Cookies
  • Get the Recipe

What are Snowball Cookies?

Also known as Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding Cookies, or Butterballs, these are a nutty, buttery cookie that is soft and tender and melts in your mouth. Because of their snowy appearance, they are a popular Christmas cookie, often showing up on holiday cookie platters.

It starts with an easy cookie dough made simply from butter, powdered sugar, salt, flour, and vanilla. Then you stir in nuts, roll them into balls, and bake.

Classic Snowball Cookies are made with walnuts, but you can use your favorite nut from pecans to pistachios, almonds to cashews.

Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (2)

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

I started making classic snowball cookies for my mom years and years ago. They are her favorite, and yes, my gluten free version even passed her test. Here’s why they are beloved in my fmaily and will be in yours.

  • Few ingredients. Only six ingredients, but they come together so perfetly to make a delicious and delicate cookie.
  • A total classic. What makes the snowball cookie so identifiable and iconic is double rolling in powdered sugar. That right, they are rolled not once, but twice to make them sweet and snowy and festive.
  • Easy to make gluten free. It’s the same traditional recipe, but using a 1-to-1 flour makes it so simple.
  • Adaptable. You can use diffeent nuts if you aren’t a fan of walnuts, leave them out completely, or add a bit of chocolate.
Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (3)

Cookie Ingredients

Here is a quick overview ofn the six ingredients you’ll need to make these cookies. The full amounts are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post, along with the detailed instructions.

  • Unsalted butter. Let the butter soften to room temperature. You can use any of the methods for how to soften butter, but don’t melt it in the microwave.
  • Powdered sugar. Also called confectioners sugar or icing sugar, you’ll need it for both dough and for coating the cookies. Make sure yours is gluten free. You can read more about this in the Tips for Success section below.
  • Salt. A small amount enhances the sweetness, as well as the buttery and nutty flavors in these cookies.
  • 1:1 Gluten Free Flour. There are many of these types of blends available now. I most often use Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Baking Blend, but Pillsbury works well and many people recommend the Cup 4 Cup brand.
  • Walnuts. You can buy a bag of pre-chopped nuts or chop them yourself.
Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (4)

How to Make Gluten Free Snowball Cookies

Grab your cookie sheets and ingredients, preheat the oven to 400°F, and let’s get started.

Make the dough. Start by creaming the butter, powdered sugar, and salt with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Blend in the vanilla, then gradually add the flour.

Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (5)
Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (6)

Add the walnuts. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, work the walnuts into the dough. You may find it a bit crumbly, but it will eventually come together. Press it into a ball and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.

Shape the cookies. Now scoop out the dough and using your hands work it into 1-inch balls. Place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (7)
Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (8)

Bake the cookies. Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until set and lightly golden, but not browned.

Roll in powdered sugar. After they come out of the oven, let them cool for a couple of minutes. You need them to cool enough to set, as they are quite crumbly while still warm. But you want them to be warm enough for the sugar to melt and form an icing-like coating that helps the second coating of powdered sugar to stick. Place them on a cooling rack to cool completely.

Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (9)
Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (10)

Double roll. Once they are cooled completely, give each cookie another roll in the sugar to make them sweet, snowy, and perfect!

Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (11)

Tips for Success

Use a good mixer. The dough becomes quite stiff, so I recommend a strong stand mixer or the paddle attachment on your KitchenAid mixer.

Invest in quality baking pans. NordicWare Baking Sheetsare my favorites for cookie baking and much more. From roasting veggies to sheet pan meals, cookies to cake rolls, we use them almost daily. They are light, and the aluminum distributes the heat evenly.

Check your powdered sugar. In order to prevent caking, some brands add a starch to their powdered sugar. While this is most often cornstarch and does not contain gluten, you will want to confirm. Additionally, if you are also sensitive to corn, you will not be able to use most commercially available brands. Wholesome Organic Powdered Sugar is one that is made with tapioca starch. You can also make your own powdered sugar using a high-powered blender.

Make the dough ahead. You can make the cookie dough several hours or even a day in advance. Just cover it tightly and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake. You may need to let it warm up slightly to be able to scoop the dough balls. It can even be frozen for up to two months either before or after you roll the balls. Just thaw in the refrigerator and take out of the fridge shortly before baking.

Use other nuts. Leave the walnuts out for a simple and sugary butter cookie. You can also replace them with pecans, as many people do, or try chopped pistachios, almonds, or even cashews. For something extra sweet, try mini chocolate chips or bits of toffee.

Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (12)

Storing Gluten Free Snowball Cookies

Gluten free snowballs can be kept at room temperature for up to a week if sealed well in an airtight container. I recommend placing them in a plastic Ziploc bag and squeezing out all of the air before sealing. Then place the bag inside a cookie tin or plastic container to keep out more air and prevent the cookies from breaking.

Can they be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze them for up to two months. You can either freeze them after the first roll in powdered sugar, then give them the second roll after they thaw. Or freeze the finished cookies knowing that they might not be quite so powdery after being frozen.

I like to put them in a plastic freezer storage bag and press out all of the air before sealing. Then place the bag in a cookie tin or plastic storage container. This helps keep them from getting crushed and crumbly while you have them in the freezer because they are a tender cookie.

    5 from 6 votes

    Gluten Free Snowball Cookies

    Also known as Mexican Wedding Cookies, these Gluten Free Snowball Cookies have the classic buttery, nutty flavors of the traditional Christmas cookie recipe. But they are easy to make gluten free using a basic 1:1 flour blend. Only six ingredients and packed with walnuts, they are sweet, tender, and literally melt in your mouth.

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2 1/4 cups 1:1 gluten free baking flour (recomended: Bob's Red Mill)
    • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
    • Additional powdered sugar for rolling the cookies

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400°F.

    • Using a hand mixer or paddle attachment of a stand mixer, in a large bowl, cream the butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and salt.

    • Blend in the vanilla.

    • Gradually add the flour, blending until well combined.

    • Using a spoon or spatula, work the nuts into the dough.

    • Chill dough in the refrigerator until firm, about 30 minutes (can be left overnight) .

    • Form the dough into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets.

    • Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until barely set, but not browned.

    • Cool on the pan for just a couple of minutes, roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar, and place on a rack to cool completely.

    • Once cooled completely, roll in powdered sugar again.

    Nutrition Facts

    Gluten Free Snowball Cookies

    Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)

    Calories 94Calories from Fat 54

    % Daily Value*

    Fat 6g9%

    Saturated Fat 3g15%

    Cholesterol 14mg5%

    Sodium 17mg1%

    Potassium 9mg0%

    Carbohydrates 9g3%

    Fiber 1g4%

    Sugar 4g4%

    Protein 1g2%

    Vitamin A 158IU3%

    Calcium 8mg1%

    Iron 1mg6%

    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Author: Slightly adapted from Treasury of Christmas Cookbook

    Course: Cookies, Dessert

    Cuisine: American

    Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (14)

    Did you make this?

    Leave a rating below and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram and hashtag it #cupcakesandkalechips

    Leave a Rating Instagram Pin Recipe

    Categories:

    • Christmas
    • Cookies
    • Desserts
    • Desserts
    • Gluten Free
    • Holidays
    • Mexican Inspired
    • Recipes

    More wintery gluten free treats

    • Chai White Chocolate Muddy Buddies
    • Gluten Free Eggnog Coffee Cake
    • Gluten Free Coconut Cake
    • Snowman Chocolate Bark from The Decorated Cookie (use GF pretzels!)
    Gluten Free Snowball Cookies - Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe! (2024)

    FAQs

    Do gluten-free cookies take longer to bake? ›

    Because gluten-free batters contain more liquid than traditional versions, they typically take longer to bake. If you remove them from the oven too soon, you may develop a gummy, mushy texture.

    Why do my snowball cookies go flat? ›

    Snowball cookies should not flatten. Since they do not contain a leavening agent, the main factor to check is that the dough is chilled before baking.

    How do you keep gluten-free cookies from drying out? ›

    Don't overmix: Overmixing can cause gluten-free baked goods to become tough and dry. Mix your ingredients until just combined and avoid overworking the dough. Doughs and batters tend to gelatinize the gums (xanthan & guar) in flour blends/mixes, so you could end up with a 'slimy' texture if you over do it.

    How do you make gluten-free cookies less crumbly? ›

    Use a Binder. Binders like xanthan gum and guar gum provide structure in gluten-free baking to make up for the missing gluten. This prevents cookies from being too crumbly plus it also helps with freshness.

    What is the trick to gluten free baking? ›

    Mix Batters Longer

    While conventional wisdom has taught us not to overmix our batters, we've found most gluten-free batters simply need to be stirred for longer. If you're worried this will turn your muffins and cakes rubbery, have no fear. Gluten-free recipes need to have more structure.

    What gluten-free flour is best for cookies? ›

    Oat flour is best for cookies and quick breads, though you can use it for other things in combination with other gluten free flours. When making yeast bread, you'll need extra yeast to make the dough rise, and other recipes need about 2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder per cup of oat flour.

    How long can you store snowball cookies? ›

    How Long Do Pecan Snowball Cookies Last? Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. Freeze for up to three months for longer storage.

    How do you make cookies flatten more? ›

    Cookie baking temperature and time

    Higher temperatures promote faster spread, while lower temperatures result in slower spread. Additionally, longer baking times can encourage more spread. Experiment with different temperatures and baking times to find the perfect balance for achieving your desired cookie.

    How do you make cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

    Try using baking powder instead of baking soda. Baking soda encourages spreading while baking powder puffs the cookies up. If your recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of baking soda, you would use 3 to 4 teaspoons of baking powder.

    Should I refrigerate gluten free cookie dough before baking? ›

    5. And refrigerate the dough if it's too sticky. Gluten-free cookie dough is stickier than standard cookie dough, but chilling it can help. This is because cold dough is less sticky, and it doesn't spread as easily, too.

    What holds gluten-free cookies together? ›

    As I mentioned, you'll need a 1-to-1 / measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend to make this gluten free sugar cookie recipe. When you see the term “1-to-1” or “measure-for-measure” it usually indicates that the flour contains a binder such as xanthan gum to keep your baked goods from falling apart.

    Should you let gluten free cookie dough rest? ›

    Instead of proceeding directly to baking, let the gluten-free cookie dough rest for about 30 minutes at room temperature. This resting period is crucial for hydration, not leavening. During this time, gluten-free flours absorb moisture from the wet ingredients, altering the dough's texture and consistency.

    What makes gluten-free cookies rise? ›

    2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of gluten-free flour is necessary to ensure proper leavening. Baking soda and buttermilk can be used to leaven instead of baking powder, but 1-1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar should be added for each 1/2 teaspoon baking soda used.

    Do you need xanthan gum in gluten-free cookies? ›

    Without gluten, many recipes (especially flour-based ones) have trouble holding their ingredients together. This results in dry, crumbly goods that don't hold their shape well. Using xanthan gum helps provide some of the stickiness that gluten free goods lack, replacing some elasticity.

    How do you thicken gluten-free cookies? ›

    Chilling the dough for at least several hours results in cookies that are extra-thick and chonky because it allows the flours to absorb more moisture.

    Do gluten free baked goods need to bake longer? ›

    Gluten-free baked goods often benefit from extra liquid to hydrate the flour blends, eliminate grittiness, and achieve a less dense or dry texture. However, it's very important to drive off this extra moisture during baking, or you'll wind up with a gummy texture. The best way to do this? Longer baking times.

    Is it harder to bake with gluten free flour? ›

    Gluten-free baking is a lot harder than traditional baking because gluten protein is what gives baked goods their structure.

    What is the difference between gluten-free cookies and regular cookies? ›

    Taste is subjective. Gluten free cookies tend to be more crumbly, so there's a bit of a texture difference, they tend to also be sweeter (not just sugar, but the binding agents used are polysaccharides).

    Does cookie size affect baking time? ›

    If you wanted to make smaller half-sized cookies then the baking time will be reduced, however it is unlikely to be half of the time.

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Recommended Articles
    Article information

    Author: Velia Krajcik

    Last Updated:

    Views: 5853

    Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

    Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Velia Krajcik

    Birthday: 1996-07-27

    Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

    Phone: +466880739437

    Job: Future Retail Associate

    Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

    Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.