Snowball Fruitcake Cookies

Snowball Fruitcake Cookies are inspired by the classic dessert. A perfect Christmas cookie recipe filled with fruit flavors, spice, and nuts.

Mexican Wedding Cookies or Russian Teacakes

These little, round, sugar dusted cookies have many names.

And I love to make them with fun flavors like my Peppermint Snowball Cookies!

But no matter what you call them, they are a perfect Christmas cookie recipe!

This fruitcake version takes the warm fruit flavors of the classic cake and adds them to the buttery cookies.

Ingredients – What are snowball cookies made of?

Traditionally, snowball cookies are made of pecans or walnuts, butter, flour,and sugars.

For these fruitcake cookies, we changed it up a little! Here is what you need:

• Butter
• Powdered Sugar (Confectioner’s Sugar)
• Vanilla Extract
• Flour
• Fruitcake Mix
• Walnuts
• Cinnamon
• Orange Zest

You can also make these without walnuts if desired.

The cinnamon and orange bring warmth and brightness to the cookies and balance out the sugars. They are also typically common flavors found in a traditional fruitcake.

What is in fruitcake mix?

The fruit part of a fruitcake mix is traditionally a mix of dried or candied fruits.

The combination varies, but can often include cherries, pineapple, and citrus peel.

Any variety or brand that you like is great to use here. I use the pre-mixed fruitcake blend.

Instruction Overview – How do you make snowballs?

First beat together the butter, some sugar, and the vanilla.

Then add the flour, fruitcake mix, nuts, and cinnamon until combined.

Roll the dough into little round balls. You can do large balls, approximately 2 Tablespoons worth of dough (size 40 scoop) or small balls, about 1 Tablespoon of dough. The large balls will give you around 24 cookies and the small, closer to 48.

Tip: I like to use little cookie scoops for super fast and easy portioning that I know is even so they bake even. The size 40 scoop is my go-to for most cookies!

Bake the cookies until they are just starting to turn a light brown on the bottom, about 10 minutes if small and 12 minutes if large.

Let them cool just a few minutes until they are warm but not hot and roll them in powdered sugar that is mixed with the orange zest.

Why are my snowball cookies dry?

If the cookies feel too dry or are falling apart, they need more moisture.

You can check for this before baking by squeezing the dough together. If it comes together well, you are good. If it feels dry, add a tablespoon of water at a time.