Kris's Delightful Snowballs ❄️🍪

Get ready to indulge in these delectable Snowballs! Perfect for gatherings or cozy evenings at home, these cookies are a delightful combination of flavors and textures. The rich buttery taste and the surprise of chocolate chips, paired with a dusting of powdered sugar, make them irresistible! They’re also freezer-friendly, so you can always have a batch on hand for unexpected guests or late-night cravings! 🎉

Ingredients

• For the cookie dough:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans work beautifully)
  • 1 (6 oz) package miniature chocolate chips

• For rolling:

  • Powdered sugar (for coating)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Sift the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour and salt. Set it aside for later.

   🔍 Sifting helps to aerate the flour, ensuring your cookies are light and fluffy!

3. Blend the Butter and Sugar: In another bowl, blend together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy.

4. Incorporate Egg: Beat in the egg and mix until fully combined.

5. Combine Mixtures: Gradually stir in the flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Then, fold in the chopped nuts and miniature chocolate chips.

   👩‍🍳 Feel free to experiment! Consider adding a pinch of sea salt for a gourmet touch or swapping the nuts for your favorite mix-ins, like dried cranberries or coconut flakes.

6. Shape the Cookies: With your hands, shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving some space between each ball.

7. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.

8. Cool and Coat: Remove from the oven, let them cool for a few minutes, and then roll them in powdered sugar. For an extra sweet touch, you can roll them again once they are completely cool!

   ❄️ These Snowballs are not just for the holidays; they’re perfect any time you want a sweet treat!

Storage Tips

• Freezing: These cookies freeze wonderfully! To freeze, place them in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers. They can last for up to three months in the freezer.

• Thawing: Simply remove from the freezer and let sit at room temperature for a few minutes before enjoying.

Variations

• Nut-free: Omit the nuts and replace them with more chocolate chips for pure chocolate bliss! 🍫
• Gluten-free: Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking mix for a delicious alternative.
• Dairy-free: Use coconut oil or a dairy-free butter substitute to make these delightful cookies dairy-free.

Enjoy making these delightful Snowballs and sharing them with those you love! 🥳