Perfect cookies for a cookie swap or gift boxes. These treats are made with toasted pecans, vanilla, flour, powdered sugar and butter. Yes, just 5 ingredients!

These cookies can have different names: snowball cookies, Russian tea cakes or Mexican wedding cookies. Different name, same cookie.

I just posted the video about how to make these cookies on Instagram. Click here if you want to watch.

Let’s start baking.

Yield 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

For the cookie dough

2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

1/2 cup powdered sugar (not granulated)

1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup toasted pecans. You will have to grind them in your blender of food processor before using

For the sugar coating

1 cup powdered sugar

Directions

For the cookies

1.- First, you have to be sure that your pecans are toasted. If they are not, you will have to toast them. How?

-Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, place your pecans on top and bake for 7 minutes. You will know they are ready when you can smell a nice and cozy nutty fragrance. Take them out from the oven and let them cool completely.

2.- Then, you have to grind your pecans in a blender or food processor. Add 1/2 tablespoon of powdered sugar and mix until they are tiny pieces. Do not overmix because you will get a mushy texture and you don’t want that. Set aside.

3.- In a bigger bowl and using an electric mixer, cream your butter for 2 minutes. Add in powdered sugar and mix for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add in vanilla extract and mix for another minute. Add in flour, mix for 30 seconds in low speed. Add pecans and mix in low speed for one minute.

4.- Wrap your dough in plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge for 2 hours.

After 2 hours…

5.- Preheat oven to 350 F and line your cookie sheet with parchment paper.

5.- Take dough out from the fridge and using the palms of your hands make cookie balls and place them on a prepared cookie sheets. Leave a good space between each cookie ball.

6.- Bake for 14 minutes or until the edges and bottom of cookies are slightly golden color.

7.- Take them out from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, coat each cookie in powdered sugar and place them on a rack to finish cooling completely.

8.- Before serving you can dust a little bit more powdered sugar on top.

Serve and enjoy!

Keep these cookies in an airtight container.