Description
Gluten-Free Mexican Wedding Cookies are buttery, nutty, and coated in snowy layers of powdered sugar. Also known as snowball cookies or Russian tea cakes, this gluten-free version keeps the same melt-in-your-mouth texture and flavor while being perfect for holidays, weddings, and celebrations. A festive cookie that’s easy to make, beautiful to present, and irresistible to eat.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter (228 g), room temperature
1½ cups powdered sugar (287 g), divided
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1¾ cups gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour (226 g) (or all-purpose flour if not GF)
1 cup pecans (100 g), toasted and finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a stand mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add ¾ cup powdered sugar and beat until combined.
- Mix in vanilla and salt. Add flour, mixing just until combined, then stir in pecans.
- For bow shapes (optional): If using GF flour, roll dough into skinny logs, shape into bows, and place on baking sheets. If using all-purpose flour, pipe dough with a piping bag into bow shapes.
- For traditional shapes: scoop dough with a small cookie scoop, roll into balls, and place 2 inches apart on prepared sheets.
- Chill trays in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Bake 14–16 minutes, until bottoms are lightly golden.
- Cool on pan for 5 minutes. While still warm, roll cookies in remaining powdered sugar. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Roll again in powdered sugar once cooled.
Notes
- Swap pecans for almonds, walnuts, or hazelnuts.
- Add cinnamon or nutmeg for warm spice.
- Roll in coconut sugar or cocoa powder for a unique twist.
- Make vegan with dairy-free butter.
- Store at room temperature up to 5 days, or freeze up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
