Mexican wedding cookies are the perfect holiday cookie with a melt-in-your-mouth, buttery center. So simple and take only 5 ingredients to make!
Love Christmas cookies? Don’t miss my m&m Christmas cookies, chocolate crinkle cookies and pistachio cherry meltaways.
Table of Contents
Wedding Cookies Recipe
I’m a sucker for Mexican wedding cookies coated in powdered sugar. They’re the perfect bite size cookie and will literally melt in your mouth like a butter cookie.
This festive snowball look makes them a great addition to your Christmas dessert board or to bring to a cookie exchange.
What Do You Call Them?
I polled you guys to see what you call them and I was shocked at how many different variations there were. Here were some of the other names. I’m curious…what do you call them?
- Italian wedding cookies
- Snowball cookies
- Russian tea cakes
- Pecan balls
- Polvorones
5 Simple Ingredients
You won’t believe the magic these five ingredients have on this Mexican wedding cookie. Add in pecans and have a sweet and savory treat on your cookie platter this year!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Butter: I used salted butter. If you only have unsalted, simply add 1/4 teaspoon salt for every stick of butter.
- Powdered sugar: This gets mixed into the dough and is used to coat them after they’ve baked.
- Vanilla: A Tablespoon of pure vanilla extract adds the perfect boost of flavor.
- Flour: All-purpose flour works best in this recipe.
- Pecans: Measure out a cup of whole pecans, then chop them into pieces before mixing into the dough.
How to Make Mexican Wedding Cookies
You can’t go wrong with a tray full of cookies during this holiday season. Roll out these classic Mexican wedding cookies and watch them disappear. Follow the recipe and you will be surprised how quick and easy these are to make.
- Make dough. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter for about 1 minute on medium speed. Then mix in 3/4 cup powdered sugar and beat until creamy and smooth. Stir in the vanilla and scrape the sides down. Mix in the flour on low speed until just combined. Then mix in the chopped pecans until combined.
- Scoop and bake. Scoop the dough with a small cookie scoop and then roll into 1-inch balls. Then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the bottoms are a light brown color. Then let cool on pan for about 5 minutes.
- Roll in powdered sugar. Place remaining powdered sugar in a bowl. Then roll the warm cookies into the powdered sugar and place on a rack to cool completely. Once cooled, roll again or use a sifter to coat them in the remainder of powdered sugar.
Baking Tips
These Mexican wedding cookies are so simple to make. Using some of these helpful tips, you can make sure that these cookie are perfect every time!
- Use a small cookie scoop (or a Tablespoon) to scoop out the dough. Each cookie sheet will fit about 24 cookies.
- Make sure to roll the cookies in the powdered sugar while they are still warm. The sugar will melt and that’s perfectly okay. That’s why dipping a second time is important.
- Sift the powdered sugar if it begins to become clumpy.
Recipe FAQs
During the cold war it is speculate by historians that the Russian teacake term was replaced by the Mexican wedding cookies or cake name because of the strained relationship between Russia.
These cookies are melt in your mouth good but have a crumbly texture to them. The cookies are lacking eggs which make them hard to roll into balls too. You will want to roll the ball quickly and carefully then place on the cookie sheet.
It is simple to just leave out the pecans! Add in a pinch of salt and it will still have that sweet and savory taste.
5 star review
“These practically melt in your mouth like a butter cookie. Perfect for a cookie exchange.”
– Sandra
Storing + Freezing the Best Mexican Wedding Cookies
Another great thing about these cookies is that they hold up super well in the freezer. I always freeze any leftovers and pull a few out when I’m craving something sweet.
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container or zip top bag for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Place in a freezer bag or container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let thaw on the counter for a few hours until no longer frozen.
Do you love rolled cookies!? These classic chocolate crinkle cookies, eggnog cookies, or delicious funfetti cookies that you drop and bake!
More Christmas Cookies
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
Mexican Wedding Cookies
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter , do not soften
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole pecans , chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed 1 minute. You don't want the butter to be too soft. I usually just set it out for 10 minutes beforehand. Mix in 3/4 cup powdered sugar and beat until smooth and creamy.
- Mix in the vanilla. Scrape down the sides. Add the flour and mix on low speed just until combined. Mix in the pecans until combined.
- Using a small cookie scoop, portion dough into Tablespoons and roll into balls. You can fit 24 per sheet. Bake 13 to 15 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly brown. Let cool on pan 5 minutes.
- Place the remaining 3/4 cup powdered sugar in a bowl. Roll the warm cookies in the powdered sugar, being sure to coat all sides. Place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Once cooled, roll again or use a sifter to sift the remainder of the powdered sugar over top.
Notes
- You don’t want the butter to be too soft or else your cookies will spread. I let mine sit out for about 10 minutes prior to beating.
- Use a small cookie scoop (or a Tablespoon) to scoop out the dough. Each cookie sheet will fit about 24 cookies.
- Make sure to roll the cookies in the powdered sugar while they are still warm. The sugar will melt and that’s perfectly okay. That’s why dipping a second time is important.
- Sift the powdered sugar if it begins to become clumpy.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, Christmas, Cinco De Mayo, Cookies, Desserts, Holiday Cookies, Mexican, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
My favorite!
I followed the recipe precisely and not sure why but my cookies flattened in the oven. Really disappointed 😞
Darn, I’m sorry! It’s hard to say without being there, but I’m guessing that the butter was too soft, the batter was over mixed or there wasn’t enough flour added in.
Even if they spread, because they might, the flavor is amazing!
Made these cookies. Delicious but they came out flat
YUM!! These cookies are the BEST! They melt in your mouth!!
Do we measure the pecans once chopped or measure them whole and then chop?
I measure 1 cup of whole pecans and then chop. :)
The Mexican Wedding Cookies were delicious and recipe was easy to follow. I toasted the pecans just a little before chopping and adding to the batter.
That sounds perfect! Mexican wedding cookies are a great cookie for everyone. Thanks for sharing!
Every time I make these the dough is dry and crumbly. What am I doing wrong? I measured everything and went in order of recipe. Thank you 😊
Hi Brenda! I’m sorry to hear that. My guess is there was too much flour added. I like to spoon the flour into the cup and then level off with a knife.
These came out great for us using Einkorn All Purpose flour. However, I don’t recommend doubling the recipe. That did not work for me and cookies came out flat. Otherwise, single batch was delicious!
Glad to hear the single batch turned out great!
A family favorite! Thanks for sharing your recipe. It was easy to follow & delicious.
Glad you enjoyed the Mexican Wedding Cookies! Thanks for your review :)
Awesome and easy
First time making them and they were so easy!! I am going to make more to give as gifts, thank you.