Buttery Pecan Snowball Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (at room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of powdered sugar, chopped pecans, and salt. Whisk together until well blended.
3. In another bowl, cream the softened butter and the remaining powdered sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix until incorporated.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the butter mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix; the dough should be soft and slightly crumbly.
6. Using your hands, form the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden but the tops remain pale. Keep an eye on them; they should not brown.
8. Once baked, remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. While still warm, roll each cookie in powdered sugar until fully coated.
9. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, you can roll them in powdered sugar again for an extra snowy appearance.