Gingerbread Snowballs: A Festive and Spiced Holiday Treat

Get ready to add a touch of holiday magic to your cookie tray with these Gingerbread Snowballs. Combining the warm, cozy spices of classic gingerbread with the buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture of snowball cookies, these treats are perfect for the festive season. Easy to make and delightful to share, they’re sure to become a holiday favorite in your home.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (57g) powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 2 ¼ cups (279g) all-purpose flour
• Extra powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. This will prevent the cookies from sticking and make cleanup easier.

2. Cream the Butter

In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter until it becomes light and fluffy, which should take about 20 seconds. This step is crucial for achieving the tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture of the cookies.

3. Add the Flavorings

To the creamed butter, add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and molasses. Mix until the ingredients are fully combined and the mixture is smooth. The blend of spices, along with the molasses, gives these cookies their classic gingerbread flavor.

4. Add the Flour

Gradually add the flour to the butter mixture, mixing slowly until the dough comes together. The dough may appear crumbly at first, but keep mixing until it forms a smooth, cohesive dough. This may take a few minutes, but the result is a perfect dough ready for shaping.

5. Shape the Cookies

Scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Place each dough ball onto the prepared cookie sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.

6. Bake the Cookies

Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the bottoms are just slightly browned. Be careful not to overbake; the cookies should remain light and tender.

7. Roll in Powdered Sugar

Once out of the oven, allow the cookies to cool for a minute, just until they are cool enough to handle. Fill a small bowl with powdered sugar and roll each cookie in the sugar until fully coated. Place the coated cookies on a cooling rack to cool completely.

8. Optional: Re-Roll for Extra Sweetness

After the cookies have fully cooled, you may want to give them a second roll in powdered sugar for extra sweetness and a more snowball-like appearance.

Serving Information

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 10-12 minutes
• Total Time: 25-27 minutes
• Servings: About 24 cookies

Tips for Perfect Gingerbread Snowballs

• Don’t Overmix the Dough: Once you add the flour, mix just until the dough comes together. Overmixing can result in tougher cookies.
• Rolling in Powdered Sugar: Rolling the cookies in powdered sugar while they’re still warm helps the sugar stick better. A second roll after they’ve cooled adds extra sweetness and ensures a snowy appearance.
• Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. They can also be frozen for longer storage.

Conclusion

These Gingerbread Snowballs are the perfect combination of spicy gingerbread flavors and the delicate, buttery texture of snowball cookies. Whether you’re baking for a holiday party, gift-giving, or simply to enjoy with a cup of hot cocoa, these cookies are sure to delight. Quick to make and full of festive flavor, they’re a must-add to your holiday baking list.

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