Description
Italian snowball cookies merge delicate almond flour with fresh strawberries for a delightful dessert. Powdered sugar coating and compact crumbly texture make these cookies a perfect sweet treat you’ll savor with each delicate bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (230 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (250 g / 8.8 oz) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (60 g / 2.1 oz) freeze-dried strawberries, finely crushed into powder
- 2 tbsps freeze-dried strawberries, finely crushed (optional, for color and extra strawberry flavor)
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (180 g / 6.3 oz) powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper for effortless cookie release.
- Butter Mixture: Whip softened butter and granulated sugar until fluffy and pale, then fold in vanilla extract to enhance flavor profile.
- Dry Ingredient Blend: Combine flour, pulverized freeze-dried strawberries, and salt in a separate bowl, ensuring even distribution of strawberry essence.
- Dough Formation: Gently integrate wet and dry ingredients, creating a cohesive dough without overworking to maintain tender texture.
- Shaping and Positioning: Roll uniform one-inch cookie spheres, placing them with strategic spacing on prepared baking sheets to prevent merging during baking.
- Baking Process: Bake for 12-15 minutes, monitoring for a subtle golden undertone that indicates perfect doneness, then allow cookies to stabilize briefly on baking sheets.
- Sugar Coating: Craft a delicate coating by whisking powdered sugar with crushed freeze-dried strawberries, creating a blush-tinted sweet envelope for complete cookie coverage.
- Finishing Touches: Enrobe cooled cookies entirely in the powdered sugar mixture, optionally adding a second light dusting just before serving to intensify strawberry notes.
- Storage: Preserve cookies in an airtight container, maintaining their delicate texture for up to one week at room temperature.
Notes
- Control Butter Temperature: Ensure butter is softened but not melted for optimal dough consistency and cookie texture.
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold ingredients to maintain a tender, delicate cookie structure without developing tough gluten.
- Uniform Cookie Sizing: Use a small cookie scoop or weigh dough portions to create consistent-sized cookies that bake evenly.
- Manage Powdered Sugar Coating: Roll cookies while slightly warm for better sugar adhesion, then allow complete cooling for a perfect finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 129
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1.2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg