Cherry Snowballs Recipe

Melt-in-your-mouth Cherry Snowballs, a beloved Christmas tradition! These delicate shortbread cookies, studded with sweet candied cherries and crunchy pecans, are unbelievably easy to make. A delightful combination of buttery shortbread, juicy cherries, and a sweet icing sugar coating. Double the batch and use a mix of red and green cherries for a festive twist!

Prep Time 45 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Calories 171.7 kcal
Protein 2g
Rating Be the first
Cherry Snowballs 46

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Forktionary editorial kitchen team

The Forktionary Kitchen Team

Adapted from Food.com, then tested & standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Cherry Snowballs

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • Powdered sugar, for rolling
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Pecans
  • 1 cup candied cherries (red and/or green)

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How to Make Cherry Snowballs

  1. Cream together 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 cup chopped pecans.
  3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
  4. Form the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Drain candied cherries very well on paper towels to remove excess syrup.
  6. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Roll about 1 tablespoon of dough into a ball. Gently press a candied cherry into the center of each ball.
  8. Place the Cherry Snowballs onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between each cookie.
  9. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
  10. Remove from oven and let cool slightly on the baking sheets.
  11. While still warm, roll the cookies in powdered sugar. Once completely cool, roll in powdered sugar again for an extra layer of sweetness.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

3 g

Sugar

65g

Fat

20g

Carbs

8g

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make Cherry Snowballs?

Cherry Snowballs takes about 80 minutes from start to finish — roughly 45 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.

How many calories are in Cherry Snowballs?

Cherry Snowballs has approximately 171.7 calories per serving, with about 2 g protein, 8 g carbohydrates and 12 g fat.

What ingredients do I need for Cherry Snowballs?

The key ingredients for Cherry Snowballs are Butter, Icing Sugar, Vanilla, Flour, Salt, Pecans. See the full list with measurements above.

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