Description
These Gingerbread Snowball Cookies are the perfect festive treat for the holiday season. With a rich buttery base and a blend of warm spices, they melt in your mouth and are finished with a sweet sugar coating. Ideal for cookie trays, gift giving, or simply enjoying at home, these cookies capture the essence of winter and holiday cheer.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
For the Sugar Coating:
- 3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ginger
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the softened butter and 3/4 cup of confectioner’s sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add Molasses and Vanilla: Add the molasses and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, then beat until smooth and creamy.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until the dough comes together. The dough may seem a bit crumbly but should hold when pressed.
- Form the Cookies: Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned.
- Cool and Coat: Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 2-4 minutes. While still warm, roll them in the sugar coating mixture (confectioner’s sugar, cinnamon, and ginger).
- Final Cooling: Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack. Optionally, roll them again in the sugar mixture for a classic finish.
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- For a firmer texture, ensure the dough is well-formed before baking.
- Consider refrigerating the dough for 30 minutes before rolling for easier handling.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg