Print

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cinnamon Sugar Snowball Cookies

A stack of golden brown cinnamon sugar snowball cookies, one broken open to show the soft interior.

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Make these easy holiday cookies that deliver a buttery, tender crumb and a warm cinnamon sugar coating instead of traditional powdered sugar. These are perfect for cookie exchanges and festive dessert tables.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more for coating
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup ground cinnamon, for coating
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar, optional for dusting

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
  3. Beat in the vanilla extract and almond extract until combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined into a soft dough. Do not overmix.
  5. In a shallow dish, mix the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar with the ground cinnamon. This is your coating mixture.
  6. Roll the dough into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
  7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are barely set and the cookies remain pale. You want them soft, not browned.
  8. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. They must still be warm for the coating to stick well.
  9. While the cookies are still warm, roll each one gently in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
  10. Transfer the coated cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. If you desire a lighter dusting, you can lightly roll them again in plain powdered sugar once cooled, but the cinnamon sugar coating is the main feature.

Notes

  • For the best melt-in-your-mouth cookies texture, chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling if your kitchen is warm.
  • If you want a stronger spice flavor, increase the cinnamon in the coating to 1/3 cup and use 1/4 cup of brown sugar mixed with the granulated sugar.
  • These are excellent cookie exchange favorites because they hold their shape well.

Nutrition