There’s fresh garland running down the stairs. It smells like cedar and pine. The fire is roaring, and the ground is covered by a thick layer of fluffy snow. The cacophony of shovels against the concrete is music to my ears. It’s my favorite time of year besides the craze, high expectations, and excess of Christmas. The start of winter makes me feel alive, and Christmas gives me the hives.
Yesterday the snow fell so slow it nearly plastered itself into the air. It took a whole day, 24 hours, to gather half a ruler’s worth. You couldn’t expedite it with a credit card if you tried. That’s what I love about winter, well, winter in Minnesota. It makes you slow down, if nowhere else but on the road.
I’ve spent the last year or so trying to do just that. Slow down. I operate better with less. I also operate on the economy of quality time, which I had a deficit. I started taking off nights and weekends, scheduling dinner with friends, and date nights at home with Kev. (Our date nights are nothing fancy—a game of speed, ping pong in the basement, or an episode of This is Us.) Even in the purposeful slowdown, I still wrestle with feeling lazy and uproductive, especially when I notice the speed most keep and the ‘Hustle’ posters above their desks. That’s probably why I start every email with an apology for my response time. If life were a track team, they’d cut me by now.
I think that’s why I have trouble with Christmas too. The standard pace and quantity of the holiday is too much. We don’t do many presents (plus I’m a horrible gift giver). And we’ve never done Christmas cards. If there’s a currency for Christmas outside of presents, it’s cards. Again, I should be cut from the team.
We’re trying to spend more intentional time together this season over presents and travel. We went on that carriage ride and took Hal out to dinner on a “date” afterwards. She thought it was the coolest. We saw Cinderella at the Children’s Theater and cut down a tree. We made a snowman, decorated a pre-assembled gingerbread house from Target (life saver), and have made several batches of these Snowball Cookies.
It’s no surprise I’ve fallen in love with these cookies. They remind me of my favorite thing—snow. They’re also a good reminder that simplicity tastes good. They come together with 4 ingredients (6 if you count the vanilla and salt). They melt in your mouth just like their namesake. For that very reason, I’ve scaled this recipe down to a small batch in case you have trouble stopping after one like me. Hal and I made an extra batch for the #calmandbrightcookienight hosted by The Modern Proper. They had me at calm. You can see all the cookie recipes this way.
To those who celebrate—how do you keep Christmas light and happy, thoughtful and intentional? Am I overthinking it all?
I originally worked on this recipe for the Kerrygold blog. Kerrygold butter makes for an extra flavorful cookie. If using, reduce baking time by 2-4 minutes and use cold Kerrygold butter.
Ingredients
Scale
1 stick (8 tbsp.) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 c. powdered sugar, divided
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. finely crushed pecans
1/8 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a stand mixer, cream together the butter and 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar until creamy, about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together the flour, pecans, and salt in a small bowl.
Turn off mixer and add in the flour mixture and vanilla extract. Mix on medium-low until everything is incorporated. Dough will look dry and rollable. Using a tablespoon-sized spring release scoop or a spoon, scoop tablespoon sized dough balls. Roll into a ball and place on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 14-16 minutes, removing before any browning occurs. The edge of the cookie should just start to feel crisp to the touch with some visible cracks when ready. Cookies harden as they cool. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
In a small bowl, add the remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar. Roll the top of each cookie in the powdered sugar. It will melt onto the cookie. Place on a serving platter or in an airtight container. Just before serving, add an additional light dusting of powdered sugar to the tops.
Prep Time:29 minutes
Cook Time:14 minutes
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These are my absolute favorite Christmas cookie! In my family we call them pecan sandies, and press the balls woth a fork before baking. My mom and I spend an entire day baking at least six varieties of cookies to share with friends and coworkers (we usually have plans for more but run out of time.) Maybe next year in an effort to slow down the pace of the holiday we’ll just make the pecan sandies.
I’d love to help troubleshoot. The only thing I can think of—was the butter fully incorporated? If not, the pockets oh unincorporated butter will melt. We’re you able to roll the dough into balls or were they too wet?
With the absence of snow over here in the UK this recipe will make such a cute replacement to make with my toddler! she can just about manage to roll dough into a ball shape; Thank you!
One of my favorite things about celebrating Christmas is the slower speed. That seems like a silly thing to say, since there’s always cookies to bake and things to decorate and presents to buy, but those aren’t really Christmas to me, they’re just the decorations. I like to get in the Christmas spirit by walking around in the snow at night, when it’s quiet and still and cold and beautiful. There’s something about the calm that works.
These cookies look delicious. I still need to do a bunch of cookie baking, and I’m absolutely adding these to the list. I love that they’re a smaller batch- perfect for my lack of self-control.
My Grandma called these… Pecan Puffs. I always make them at Christmas time. Grandma’s directions state, “while warm roll in powdered sugar and when cool roll again.” A bit hot on the fingertips the first time around, but they are good! We started going into the city (SF) on Christmas Day. Took bart in. My daughter, her dad and I. No crowds! It was always such a great day for us. We did that for years. It was a “slow down” from all the other craziness during that time of year.
It sounds so cozy and magical at your house right now, I’m imagining a roaring fire with plates of these cookies everywhere. You paint such a beautiful picture with your words! 🙂
I’m feeling this so much right now too! I find that when I start to feel stressed and overwhelmed, it’s usually die to an overabundance of things and a lack of quality time or activities in my everyday life. I totally operate better on less as well. I also spy Hal’s cute hand up there! xo
Thank you! These sound like the exact cookie my Mom used to make and I loved. The recipe was lost and I’ve missed it for many years and Christmases. I can’t wait to try the recipe. Have to get pecans but other than that good to go. Kerrygold rules in the butter dept.
This sounds so good. I can not wait to make them. Merry Christmas!!❤️
Just made another batch last night. They are so good and simple! Merry Christmas, Aunt Trudy!
I used toasted hazelnuts in mine this year–they gave an extra sweet crunch to all the melt in the mouth goodness,
Now I want to make these with hazelnuts! Might have to whip up another batch.
These are my absolute favorite Christmas cookie! In my family we call them pecan sandies, and press the balls woth a fork before baking.
My mom and I spend an entire day baking at least six varieties of cookies to share with friends and coworkers (we usually have plans for more but run out of time.) Maybe next year in an effort to slow down the pace of the holiday we’ll just make the pecan sandies.
For some reason there is no recipe? These look delicious – are you able to share?
Thanks for bringing this issue to our attention. Working to fix it. Emailing you the recipe in the meantime!
Well, these melted in the oven. Hahah…
I’d love to help troubleshoot. The only thing I can think of—was the butter fully incorporated? If not, the pockets oh unincorporated butter will melt. We’re you able to roll the dough into balls or were they too wet?
I love to read that someone else also doesn’t send Christmas cards!
With the absence of snow over here in the UK this recipe will make such a cute replacement to make with my toddler! she can just about manage to roll dough into a ball shape; Thank you!
One of my favorite things about celebrating Christmas is the slower speed. That seems like a silly thing to say, since there’s always cookies to bake and things to decorate and presents to buy, but those aren’t really Christmas to me, they’re just the decorations. I like to get in the Christmas spirit by walking around in the snow at night, when it’s quiet and still and cold and beautiful. There’s something about the calm that works.
These cookies look delicious. I still need to do a bunch of cookie baking, and I’m absolutely adding these to the list. I love that they’re a smaller batch- perfect for my lack of self-control.
we call these russian tea cookies in my family.
My Grandma called these… Pecan Puffs. I always make them at Christmas time. Grandma’s directions state, “while warm roll in powdered sugar and when cool roll again.” A bit hot on the fingertips the first time around, but they are good!
We started going into the city (SF) on Christmas Day. Took bart in. My daughter, her dad and I. No crowds! It was always such a great day for us. We did that for years. It was a “slow down” from all the other craziness during that time of year.
I totally get what you’re saying about Christmas! Blooma’s blog recently had some good ideas for managing the overwhelm: http://www.blooma.com/tips-surviving-holidays/
Read this right away. Love it. Thank you for sending it! “When all else fails…Spike the Cider.”
Yum! Those look delicious!
Kari
http://sweetteasweetie.com/honey-bunches-oats-almond-treats/
It sounds so cozy and magical at your house right now, I’m imagining a roaring fire with plates of these cookies everywhere. You paint such a beautiful picture with your words! 🙂
I’m feeling this so much right now too! I find that when I start to feel stressed and overwhelmed, it’s usually die to an overabundance of things and a lack of quality time or activities in my everyday life. I totally operate better on less as well. I also spy Hal’s cute hand up there! xo
I’ve always loved these! Made them for my wedding in fact. My recipe calls for almonds and almond extract though. I love seeing other versions!
Yum! I’m a sucker for almond extract. I’ll have to do a little swapping next time!
One of my holiday faves! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I like the snowball cookies, it looks so beautiful. I think it’s a good idea to cook this in winter.
One of our favorite cookies, I make them any time of the year as they are so quick and easy.
So surprisingly easy! Perfect for preschool baking.
Thank you! These sound like the exact cookie my Mom used to make and I loved. The recipe was lost and I’ve missed it for many years and Christmases. I can’t wait to try the recipe. Have to get pecans but other than that good to go. Kerrygold rules in the butter dept.