Italian Wedding Cookies, also known as Italian Butter Nuts or Snowball Cookies, are nice bite-sized treats that work well for celebrations. Made with ground nuts and covered in powdered sugar, these cookies are tender and melt in your mouth.

This recipe is simple and uses basic baking methods. They are often served at weddings, holidays, and special occasions, making them a popular classic.

History of Italian Wedding Cookies

Italian Wedding Cookies have a long history that comes from different Italian regions, where they were traditionally served at weddings and celebrations. These cookies represent love and celebration, making them important in Italian culture.

Often called “Snowball Cookies” or “Italian Butter Nuts,” they are loved for their melt-in-your-mouth texture and nutty flavor. Using finely ground nuts, usually almonds or walnuts, adds special taste to the cookies, making them a favorite treat for many.

Ingredients That Make a Difference

The simple ingredients are part of what makes Italian Wedding Cookies so appealing. Unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and finely ground nuts create a rich and tender cookie that’s hard to resist.

Along with the main ingredients, vanilla extract makes the overall flavor better, adding subtle sweetness that goes well with the nuttiness. The balance of these ingredients is important for getting the right texture and taste.

Preparation Steps

Making Italian Wedding Cookies is easy and takes about 30 minutes. The process starts with creaming butter and sugar until light and fluffy, which is important for getting the right consistency.

Next, the dry ingredients are mixed and slowly added to the butter mixture. This step is important to avoid overmixing, which can make a denser cookie. Once the dough is formed, it’s shaped into small balls and placed on a baking sheet, ready for baking.

Baking and Dusting

Baking these cookies at moderate temperature lets them cook evenly, making a lightly golden bottom while keeping a soft texture. After baking, the cookies are rolled in powdered sugar while still warm, creating a nice coating that adds sweetness.

Letting the cookies cool completely before serving makes sure the powdered sugar sticks properly, creating a good presentation that works for any occasion.

Serving Suggestions

Italian Wedding Cookies work well for different events, from weddings to holiday gatherings. Their nice appearance and good taste make them popular with guests.

For an extra touch, consider serving these cookies with coffee or tea. The combination of flavors makes the experience better, creating a memorable treat for everyone.

Storing Your Cookies

To keep them fresh, store Italian Wedding Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They can last for several days, making them convenient for preparing ahead of celebrations.

If you want to keep them longer, consider freezing the cookies. Just make sure they are well-wrapped to prevent freezer burn, and they can be enjoyed weeks later, keeping their good flavor and texture.

Easy Italian Wedding Cookies Recipe

These Italian Wedding Cookies are made with finely ground almonds, flour, and butter, resulting in a rich and nutty flavor. The recipe takes about 30 minutes to prepare and bake, yielding approximately 24 cookies.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup finely ground almonds or walnuts
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, ground nuts, and salt.
4. Mix Together: Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
5. Shape the Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
6. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
7. Dust with Powdered Sugar: While still warm, roll the cookies in powdered sugar to coat them generously. Allow them to cool completely before serving.

Cook and Prep Times

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes

Nutrition Information

• Servings: 24 cookies
• Calories: 120kcal
• Fat: 8g
• Protein: 2g
• Carbohydrates: 10g

Classic Italian Wedding Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Servings 24 cookies

Calories 120 kcal

Ingredients

  

• Ingredients
• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar plus more for dusting
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup finely ground almonds or walnuts
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

 

• Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, ground nuts, and salt.
• Mix Together: Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
• Shape the Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
• Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
• Dust with Powdered Sugar: While still warm, roll the cookies in powdered sugar to coat them generously. Allow them to cool completely before serving.