Description
Gingerbread snowball cookies blend warm spices with powdery sugar in a classic holiday treat. Festive bites from German baking traditions deliver sweet comfort that connects families and friends during winter celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 1/4 cups (279g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (57g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1 tbsp dark molasses
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- Additional confectioners’ sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper, ensuring an even surface for optimal cookie placement.
- Cream the butter using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Incorporate confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, salt, and all warm spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves) along with molasses, mixing until the blend becomes smooth and homogeneous.
- Gradually fold the flour into the spiced mixture, stirring consistently until the dough transforms from crumbly to compact and well-integrated.
- Measure out tablespoon-sized dough portions, gently rolling them into uniform balls. Arrange these spheres across the prepared baking sheets, spacing them to allow proper heat circulation.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, monitoring until the bottom edges turn a delicate golden shade. Remove from the oven precisely when this coloration occurs.
- Let the cookies rest briefly on the baking sheet until they become manageable. Delicately roll each warm cookie in confectioners’ sugar, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- After complete cooling, perform a second sugar coating to enhance the cookies’ visual appeal and create a delightful, powdery exterior.
Notes
- Swap butter with coconut oil for a dairy-free version that maintains the rich, tender texture of these delightful cookies.
- Ground flaxseed mixed with water can replace eggs, making these gingerbread snowballs suitable for vegan bakers seeking a festive treat.
- Reduce baking time by 1-2 minutes if you prefer softer, more delicate cookies with a melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, ensuring they remain fresh and wonderfully spiced.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 152
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 52 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg