There’s something magical about these buttery little bites that reminds me of cozy winter afternoons. I’m excited to share this Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe with you—it’s a playful twist on classic snowball cookies, transformed into the cutest little mice that melt in your mouth and brighten any holiday table.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
These Christmas mice snowball cookies aren’t just adorable; they pack all the flavor and texture you want from holiday treats. I love making them because they’re a fun project that’s super rewarding, and they bring smiles to everyone who tries them.
- Playful Presentation: Each cookie is shaped into a tiny mouse complete with almond ears and a candy tail, making this recipe extra festive and fun.
- Perfect Texture: Buttery, crumbly snowball cookies dusted with powdered sugar create that classic “melt in your mouth” experience.
- Nutty Goodness: Toasted pecans add a wonderful crunch and warmth that elevates these beyond ordinary snowballs.
- Simple Yet Impressive: It’s a straightforward recipe that yields a wow factor—ideal for holiday baking with friends or family.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The ingredients in this Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe come together to create delicate, flavorful cookies with that distinctive nutty crunch. I always recommend using fresh, quality butter and toasting the pecans just right for the best result.
- Pecans: Toasting releases their natural oils and deepens their flavor, which is key to that rich nuttiness.
- Unsalted Butter: Softened butter ensures a tender crumb and creamy texture without any extra saltiness.
- Powdered Sugar: Added in the dough and for dusting, it gives a melt-in-your-mouth sweetness and that snowy look.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: It rounds out the flavor with its warm aromatic notes.
- Sea Salt: Just a pinch enhances all the flavors perfectly.
- All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of the cookie, providing structure without toughness.
- Almond Slices: These become the tiny mouse ears—such a simple detail that makes a big impact.
- Candy Ropes: Cherry licorice works wonderfully as tails—flexible and festive!
Make It Your Way
One of the best things about the Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. I sometimes swap almonds for walnuts or hazelnuts to suit what’s on hand or to please a crowd. You can also experiment with different candy tails or even edible decorations.
- Variation: I once added a teaspoon of cinnamon to the dough for a cozy wintery twist, which gave a subtle warmth without overpowering the classic flavor.
- Dietary modifications: For dairy-free, you can try coconut oil in place of butter; the texture will be slightly different but still delicious.
- Presentation tweaks: Instead of licorice tails, you could use thin pretzel sticks or piped chocolate tails for a different look.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Toast Those Pecans Just Right
Start by preheating your oven to 355°F (180°C). Spread your pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Keep a close eye on them—pecans toast quickly and can go from perfect to burnt in seconds. Roast for about 5 to 8 minutes until you can smell that lovely nutty aroma. Once cooled, chop or crush them so they mix evenly into your dough.
Step 2: Cream Butter, Sugar & Vanilla
In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt together. You want it smooth and creamy—don't rush this step! Scrape down the sides of the bowl to get everything incorporated evenly.
Step 3: Build Your Dough with Flour and Nuts
Lower your mixer speed and slowly add the flour and chopped pecans to your wet mixture. Mix just until it comes together into a soft dough. Overmixing here can lead to tougher cookies, so keep an eye on the texture—stops as soon as you see a cohesive dough!
Step 4: Shape Your Little Mice
Using a cookie scoop (about 1 ½ tablespoon size), portion the dough and roll each into a ball between your palms. Then, gently pinch one side to form a little nose shape. For ears, press in two almond slices on top of the dough ball. It’s fun to see these come to life—kids especially love helping at this stage.
Step 5: Bake Until Lightly Golden
Place your shaped mice cookies onto a parchment-lined baking sheet with about an inch of space in between each one. Bake for 15 minutes or until they turn a light golden color on the bottoms. Don’t worry if they’re pale on top; that’s just how snowballs should look, right?
Step 6: Powder and Add Tails While Warm
Once they’re out of the oven, dust the cookies generously with powdered sugar while still warm—this helps the sugar stick nicely. Then, use a toothpick to poke a small hole where the tail will go. Carefully insert a candy rope piece as the tail before the cookies cool completely. This step ensures they stay put and look perfect!
Step 7: Let Them Cool and Firm Up
Let your mice cookies cool fully on a wire rack. They’ll crisp up beautifully while cooling, giving you that perfect snowball texture with a nutty crunch. Then get ready to share these festive little delights!
Top Tip
I’ve baked snowball cookies many times, but shaping them into mice really adds fun and character that guests talk about. Here’s what helped me nail it every holiday season:
- Watch the Nuts: Toast pecans just until fragrant—over-toasting means bitterness which dulls the cookie’s flavor.
- Soft Butter is Key: Too cold and you won’t get that creamy dough; too melted and your cookies will spread too much.
- Pinch the Nose Gently: You want a defined shape without flattening the whole cookie.
- Add Tails While Warm: The warm cookies hold candy tails securely; wait longer and the candies might not stick well.
How to Serve Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I love a dusting of powdered sugar as the perfect “snow” coat on these mice. Sometimes I’ll add a tiny dab of edible glitter or a red sprinkle on the nose for extra festive charm, especially if sharing with kids.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of mulled cider, hot cocoa, or even a fresh pot of coffee. They’re a perfect treat to have alongside your holiday cheese board or a plate of savory finger foods during festive gatherings.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I arrange the mice cookies on a platter lined with fresh pine branches and cranberries to evoke a snowy forest feel. Alternatively, presenting them in festive gift boxes or tins makes them wonderful edible gifts that look as good as they taste.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover mice snowball cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They keep well for up to a week, staying crisp and flavorful. Just be sure they’re completely cooled before sealing to avoid sogginess.
Freezing
You can freeze these cookies after baking and cooling. I like to layer them between parchment paper in a container or freezer bag. When I’m ready, I thaw them at room temperature and then refresh the powdered sugar dusting for freshness.
Reheating
To gently re-crisp frozen or stored mice snowball cookies, I pop them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. This helps revive their delicate crisp without drying them out. Just watch closely so they don’t overbake!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Walnuts or hazelnuts make great alternatives and provide a unique flavor profile. Just toast them as you would pecans for the best taste.
The key is to insert the candy rope tails while the cookies are still warm. The warmth helps soften the cookie slightly, allowing the candy to stick firmly. If you wait until they're cold, the tails may not hold as well.
Yes! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that is suitable for baking. You may need to adjust the amount slightly to get the right dough consistency.
When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they stay fresh for about one week. You can also freeze them for up to three months, which is great for holiday planning.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, these Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe are a heartwarming addition to my holiday baking tradition every year. They’re just so charming and delicious, and I love sharing them with friends and family who always ask for the recipe. Give them a try—you’ll feel proud making these little festive critters, and your holiday celebrations will be extra sweet!
Print
Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 30 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies are buttery, crisp, nutty treats shaped like adorable fluffy white mice, perfect for holiday celebrations. These nostalgic cookies have a melt-in-your-mouth texture with a sweet powdered sugar coating and festive candy rope tails, combining classic snowball flavors with charming seasonal design.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour (270g)
- ¼ cup almond slices
For Decoration
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for dusting)
- 30 pieces candy ropes (cherry licorice)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Toast Pecans. Preheat the oven to 355°F (180°C). Place the pecans on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes until they smell toasty, being careful not to burn them. Remove and let cool.
- Prepare Butter Mixture. In a large bowl or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, combine the softened butter, ½ cup powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Mix until creamy, scraping down the bowl as needed.
- Combine Dry Ingredients. Add the flour and cooled crushed pecans to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until a dough forms.
- Shape Cookies. Use a cookie scoop to portion 1½ tablespoon amounts of dough. Roll each into a ball and pinch one side to form a nose. Insert almond slices on top for ears.
- Bake Cookies. Place shaped cookies spaced 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.
- Dust and Add Tails. Immediately dust the hot cookies with powdered sugar. Use a toothpick to create a small hole for the tail and insert a piece of candy rope while the cookies are still warm so the tail sticks.
- Cool and Serve. Allow cookies to cool completely; they will crisp further as they cool.
Notes
- Handle pecans carefully while toasting to avoid burning as nuts cook quickly.
- Using a cookie scoop ensures evenly sized cookies for consistent baking.
- The powdered sugar coating enhances the classic snowball texture and flavor.
- Insert candy rope tails while cookies are still warm for better sticking.
- These cookies keep well stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 16 mg
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