Candy Cane Snowball Cookies

You'll this simple cookie.

Some call them russian tea cakes, others...mexican wedding cookies...they're all the same delicious little nibbles of YUM!

Do you have some leftover candy canes in the cupboard just waiting to be eaten? 

Well, this is a great way to use them up - and you can spread the cheer by sharing these tasty bites too.

These are a great little cookie.  They were my choice for a recent cookie exchange. Not only were they yummy, but pretty and simple to make also.

You should have all the ingredients on hand and that always makes a recipe an easy option for me.

I was very happy when I found the recipe at Arctic Garden Studio.
(Please pay her a visit...you'll especially want to see the gorgeous photos she has there).


That excited me since my family lived in Anchorage for 8 years while hubby was stationed there in the Air Force. LOOOOOVED it there and have been back a few times to visit. It's a booming growing town.



 And the winters there are not all the horror stories many 'suppose'. There were many times we'd call back to our families in Ohio and Michigan to discover they had more snow than we did. Yes, it gets very cold, but it's a dry cold and oftentimes, after a snowfall, the snow swirls around your feet when you walk in it, because it's so dry.

So making 'snowball' cookies made me feel very happy, especially when the recipe came from someone in Alaska!


I love the idea of sifting the crushed peppermint candy canes and using the 'dust', mixed with powdered sugar, to sprinkle over the tops of the cookies.

Makes them more festive and inviting.

The original recipe doesn't call for them to be rolled in powdered sugar right from the oven, but because they're not a real sugary cookie to begin with, I prefer them that way, but it is an option.



I know this recipe works great for some because it has no eggs.

(this was my display at the cookie exchange)

CANDY CANE SNOWBALL COOKIES

10 candy canes

1 c. butter, room temperature (not melted)

1 c. powdered sugar, divided,  plus 1/2 c. for dusting

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. all purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 400. Place candy canes in bowl of food processor and pulse to crush to a coarse texture. Place candy cane crumbles in a fine mesh strainer. Gently tap to remove candy cane powder. Reserve both powder and crumbled candy canes.

Cream together butter, 1/2 c. powdered sugar and vanilla. Sift flour, 1 tsp. candy cane powder and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture 1 cup at a time. Add 1/4 c. candy cane crumbles and mix well.

Roll 1 TB. into a ball and place 1" apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 13 - 14 minutes or just until barely browned. Let set a couple of minutes before rolling warm cookies in remaining 1/2 c. powdered sugar, then set on rack to cool & dry.

(This is a bit messy, but sooo worth it!)

While cookies are baking, make candy cane powdered sugar by adding 1/2 c. powdered sugar to remaining candy cane powder.

While cookies are warm, dust with candy cane powdered sugar.

If you have left over powder, sprinke it on whipped cream or other holiday treats.

 Yield: about 24 cookies

A great little addition to any cookie trays you'll be giving to the neighbors and friends!

Linked to Crazy Sweet Tuesday
                Mrs. Fox's Sweet Party
        Mix it up Monday - Christmas in July
Weekend Potluck
     Totally Tasty Tuesday
     Cookie Plan Monday
Meal Plan Monday