Santa’s Favorite Christmas Snowball Cookies (Vegan Style)

I have many fond memories making Christmas cookies with my family.  My mom would choose the standard ones we’d make every year and the kids got to choose a new recipe or two.  My mom actually was a good decision maker, since the ones she chose were our top-notch favorites.  

Meltaway Snowball Cookies for Santa

We’d make snowballs, sugar cookies, chocolate dipped peanut butter logs, almond crescents, kolachkies, etc.  They were so yummy, I couldn’t wait to eat them.  My mom would tell us we could eat the ones that didn’t look so nice.  The best looking ones were always saved and passed out to neighbors.  No broken or cracked ones for them. 

My very favorite of them all were the snowball cookies.  These are sometimes call Mexican Wedding cookies.  They are a delicate, lightly crisp, buttery-flavored cookie with chopped nuts and a dusting of powdered sugar that melt in your mouth.  They’re perfect for Christmas because they look so wintery. 

Of course, when we made our Christmas cookies, they weren’t vegan.  I didn’t grow up in a vegan household.  I made a small change to the recipe and ho-ho-ho they are now vegan.  So make a plate for family, friends, neighbors, and Santa. 

Meltaway Snowball Cookies

Makes 2 ½ dozen

Ingredients

1 c. Earth Balance or any vegan margarine

½ c. sifted powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 ¼ c. flour

¼ tsp. salt

¾ c. chopped pecans (walnuts can work too)

Directions

In a medium bowl, cream margarine, powdered sugar, and vanilla together until very soft & fluffy.  Set aside. 

In another bowl, sift flour and salt together.  Gradually stir flour mixture into the margarine mixture.  Next, stir in chopped pecans.  Use a tablespoon to scoop out mixture and form into balls.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet. 

Bake at 450 degrees for about 7 minutes or until the peaks are very lightly browned.  Watch so they don’t burn on the bottom.  Take them out of the oven and let them cool.

Set the cookies on wax or parchment paper & using a small sifter, lightly sprinkle powdered sugar on top to resemble a light dusting of snow.