Festive Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies Recipe

Dustings of powdered sugar dance across these delightful cherry pistachio snowball cookies that melt in your mouth with each delectable bite.

Sweet cherries and crunchy pistachios create a perfect blend of textures and flavors in this classic holiday treat.

The buttery, crumbly cookie base provides a rich foundation for the vibrant mix of ingredients.

Festive and elegant, these cookies bring a touch of sophistication to any dessert table.

Nuts and dried fruit add depth and complexity to the traditional snowball cookie recipe.

Rich, delicate, and utterly irresistible, these cookies promise to become a new seasonal favorite.

You’ll fall in love with their melt-in-your-mouth texture and stunning appearance.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 18-20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 22

Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies Ingredients

• Flour: Provides the sturdy base for the cookie, ensuring a delicate and crumbly texture that melts in your mouth.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and helps create a beautiful golden-brown color during baking.

• Pistachios: Adds a delightful nutty crunch and rich green color, bringing a gourmet touch to these classic snowball cookies.
• Maraschino Cherries: Introduces a burst of sweet-tart flavor and vibrant red specks, making the cookies visually appealing and deliciously fruity.

• Butter: Creates a rich, tender texture and provides a smooth, creamy base that helps all ingredients bind together perfectly.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile, adding depth and a warm, comforting aroma to the cookies.

• Powdered Sugar: Gives the cookies their signature snowy appearance and adds an extra layer of sweet delicateness that makes them irresistible.

Tools That Help Shape Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining all cookie ingredients smoothly.
• Electric mixer or hand mixer: Perfect for blending ingredients evenly.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient quantities.
• Baking sheet: Needed to bake cookies evenly.
• Parchment paper: Helps prevent cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Wire rack: Great for cooling cookies and allowing excess powdered sugar to fall.
• Spatula or wooden spoon: Useful for scraping bowl sides and mixing dough.

How to Bake Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies

Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies

• Preparation Station

Gather all your baking gear and ingredients. Make sure your kitchen feels cozy and inviting for a delightful cookie-making adventure.

• Dough Crafting

Blend soft butter with sugar until creamy. Gently fold in flour, chopped pistachios, and bright red cherry pieces. Mix until everything looks harmonious and slightly crumbly.

• Cookie Shaping

Roll the mixture into cute little round balls. Each should be about the size of a small walnut. Place them on a baking sheet with plenty of breathing room between them.

• Magical Baking

Slide the cookie sheet into a warm oven. Let them transform into golden-edged treats that smell absolutely heavenly. Watch carefully to catch them at their perfect moment.

• Sugar Coating

While the cookies are still warm, give them a luxurious bath in powdered sugar. Roll each one gently, ensuring they’re completely blanketed in sweet white softness. Let them cool and develop their signature snowball charm.

• Delightful Storage

Once completely cool, store these delectable morsels in a sealed container. They’ll stay fresh and ready to surprise family and friends with their delicate flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Flavor Adjustments for Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies

• Refrigerate the cookie mixture for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and enhance flavor concentration during baking.
• Swap maraschino cherries with dried cherries or chopped fresh cherries for a more natural, less sweet flavor profile that complements the nutty pistachios.
• Use a sifter or fine-mesh strainer to evenly dust powdered sugar, creating a delicate, snow-like appearance that looks professionally finished.
• Prepare cookie dough in advance and freeze for up to 3 months, allowing you to bake fresh batches whenever unexpected guests arrive or sweet cravings strike.
• Replace pistachios with almonds, pecans, or walnuts to create unique flavor variations that match your personal taste preferences or pantry ingredients.

How to Serve Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies for Holidays

• Holiday Dessert Platter: Arrange these delicate snowball cookies alongside other festive treats like chocolate truffles and gingerbread squares for a stunning cookie display that will wow your guests.
• Afternoon Tea Companion: Pair these buttery, nutty cookies with a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea or a delicate chamomile blend for a delightful mid-afternoon indulgence that melts in your mouth.
• Gift-Worthy Treat: Package these beautiful cherry pistachio snowball cookies in a decorative tin or clear cellophane bag tied with a festive ribbon for a homemade gift that shows extra love and care during special occasions.
• Dessert Buffet Star: Create a charming cookie station at your next gathering, featuring these elegant snowball cookies as a centerpiece that guests can enjoy throughout the celebration.

Store Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies

• Sweet Stash Strategy: Keep these delightful cherry pistachio snowball cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, ensuring they stay fresh and delicious for 5-7 days.
• Freezer Friendly Technique: Carefully layer cookies between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-safe container, where they'll maintain their quality for up to 3 months without losing their delicate texture.
• Counter Cooldown Method: Allow freshly baked cookies to reach room temperature completely before sealing them away, preventing unwanted moisture buildup that could compromise their delightful crumbly structure.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie dough balls in advance and refrigerate for 24 hours, or freeze unbaked dough for spontaneous baking sessions that deliver instant sweet satisfaction whenever cookie cravings strike.

Festive Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies

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4.6 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 22 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Delightful cherry pistachio snowball cookies blend Middle Eastern and European baking traditions with festive winter charm. Powdery confectioners’ sugar and chopped pistachios create a melt-in-your-mouth experience you’ll savor during holiday gatherings.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup (226 g) butter, softened
• 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• ¾ cup (90 g) chopped pistachios
• ½ cup (75 g) chopped maraschino cherries
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar (for rolling)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, creating an ideal baking environment for delicate snowball cookies.
2. Dough Composition: In a large mixing bowl, cream butter until smooth, then integrate flour, finely chopped pistachios, diced maraschino cherries, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract, blending until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
3. Shaping: Gently roll the dough into uniform one-inch spheres, placing them with modest spacing on the prepared baking sheet to ensure even baking and consistent shape.
4. Baking: Slide the cookie sheet into the preheated oven, allowing the cookies to bake until edges turn a soft golden color, approximately 18-20 minutes, maintaining a watchful eye to prevent over-browning.
5. Initial Sugar Coating: Immediately after removing from the oven, while cookies are still warm, delicately roll each one in powdered sugar, ensuring complete and elegant coverage.
6. Cooling and Final Presentation: Transfer cookies to a cooling rack, letting them reach room temperature, then perform a second, light dusting of powdered sugar for a pristine, festive appearance.
7. Storage: Preserve the cookies’ texture and flavor by storing in an airtight container at room temperature for several days, or freeze for extended enjoyment.

Notes

• Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for flour and nuts to maintain the perfect cookie texture and prevent crumbling.
• Chill Dough Option: Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before shaping to enhance flavor development and improve cookie structure.
• Handle Gently: Work with soft but not melted butter and avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender and light.
• Sugar Coating Tip: Roll cookies in powdered sugar while slightly warm for better sugar adhesion and a smoother, more even coating.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 18-20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 22
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 60 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 16 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg