Pink Snowball Cookies
Looking for a festive cookie recipe that’ll impress your loved ones this Valentine’s Day? These Pink Snowball Cookies are the perfect treat!
Welcome back, cookie enthusiasts! For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Lisa – the founder and food blogger behind The Secret Crunch. I’m thrilled you’re here today to help me bake these adorable Pink Snowball Cookies!
I often like to say that “no holiday is complete without a batch of cookies” – and Valentine’s Day is no exception. Anyone who knows me well knows how much I absolutely adore Valentine’s Day – so I wanted to put a fun twist on a classic favourite.
Snowball cookies are most popular during the holiday season, but I wanted to make them appropriate for the most romantic time of the year… and this is how I came out with my Pink Snowball Cookies. Plus, I love that they add a pop of color to any dessert table!
Why are they called snowball cookies?
Snowball Cookies get their name from their classic round shape and generous coating of powdered sugar, which gives them the appearance of little snowballs. For this Valentine’s version, we added a touch of pink to the dough to make them extra festive!
Do I need to use pecans?
For this recipe, I used chopped pecans because they add a wonderful nutty flavor and a bit of crunch. However, if you prefer another nut like walnuts or almonds, feel free to swap them in. Or, you can leave out the nuts entirely for a nut-free version.
The only thing I would recommend is to avoid peanuts. The flavour of peanuts may be a little too overwhelming for this type of cookie, but that’s just my preference.
What kind of food coloring should I use?
To make sure you get a nice, vibrant color, be sure to use gel food coloring. Liquid food coloring is not pigmented enough, and if you use too much, will affect the integrity of your cookie dough.
Be sure to use clear vanilla extract
To make sure I keep the dough as pink as possible, I opted for clear vanilla extract. If you prefer, you can omit this ingredient altogether, and they’ll still taste great!
Why did my cookies crack and/or lose their shape?
To ensure your cookies hold their shape and bake evenly, the dough consistency is key. Aim for a texture similar to slightly sticky play dough—firm enough to roll into balls without falling apart, but not so sticky that it leaves residue on your hands.
If your dough is too dry and crumbly, it won’t hold together. Add water one teaspoon at a time until it forms a cohesive dough. On the other hand, if the dough is too sticky to handle, incorporate flour one teaspoon at a time until the texture improves. Taking the time to get the consistency just right will ensure perfectly shaped, crack-free cookies every time.
How do I achieve an even pink color for the dough?
After creaming your sugar and butter, you’ll start incorporating your gel food coloring. This is the best way to add color to your snowball cookies.
How long do Pink Snowball Cookies keep for?
Carefully place your Pink Snowball Cookies in an airtight container and set on the counter/room temperature for up to 5 days.
How to Make Pink Snowball Cookies
Made with simple ingredients and a touch of pink gel food coloring, these cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat. Whether you’re baking for a loved one or treating yourself, these cookies are a sweet way to celebrate the season of love. Here’s how to make them:
In a bowl, cream together softened butter and ¾ of the powdered sugar (set the remaining ¼ cup aside for coating). Use an electric mixer and start on low-medium, and work your way to high.
Once the butter and sugar are creamed, add gel food colouring, and continue to use your electric mixer to ensure that the food colouring is evenly distributed. Your creamed butter + sugar should be completely pink.
Next, add the vanilla extract and mix.
Add flour, salt and chopped pecans to the bowl, and fold together with a spatula. Continue mixing, until a dough forms.
If your dough is too dry, add more water, one teaspoon at a time. If too sticky, add flour, one teaspoon at a time.
Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for 20 minutes.
In the meantime, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Roll the cookie dough into balls, about 1 tablespoon in size. Place gently on your lined cookie sheet, about 1 inch apart from each other (these cookies don’t spread very much, so you can put them fairly close to each other).
Bake for 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Coat each cookie in the remaining ¼ cup of icing sugar (you may need more), and place on a separate plate. Once all cookies have been coated in sugar, sift more powdered sugar over on top. Enjoy!
Pink Snowball Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened (about 226 g)
- 1 cup powdered sugar divided
- ½ tsp pink gel food colouring or more, if you desire a stronger colour
- 2 tsp clear vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- Extra water and flour optional
Instructions
- In a bowl, cream together softened butter and ¾ of the powdered sugar (set the remaining ¼ cup aside for coating). Use an electric mixer and start on low-medium, and work your way to high.
- Once the butter and sugar are creamed, add gel food colouring, and continue to use your electric mixer to ensure that the food colouring is evenly distributed. Your creamed butter + sugar should be completely pink.
- Next, add the vanilla extract and mix.
- Add flour, salt and chopped pecans to the bowl, and fold together with a spatula. Continue mixing, until a dough forms.
- If your dough is too dry, add more water, one teaspoon at a time. If too sticky, add flour, one teaspoon at a time.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for 20 minutes.
- In the meantime, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll the cookie dough into balls, about 1 tablespoon in size. Place them gently on your lined cookie sheet, about 1 inch apart from each other (these cookies don’t spread, so you can put them fairly close to each other).
- Bake for 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
- Coat each cookie in the remaining ¼ cup oficing sugar (you may need more), and place on a separate plate. Once allcookies have been coated in sugar, sift more powdered sugar over on top. Enjoy!
So, if you’re ready to bring a little extra love to your baking, give these Pink Snowball Cookies a try. They’re sweet, simple, and absolutely adorable – everything a Valentine’s Day treat should be!
Be sure to tag me on socials on Instagram or TikTok once you bake these adorable pink treats! I’ll be thrilled to see your cookie creation!
