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Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies

Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies
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Cherry Pistachio Snowball Cookies are delicate, buttery cookies coated in powdered sugar for a soft, snow-like finish. These festive treats combine chewy tart dried cherries and crunchy pistachios to deliver a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and nutty flavors with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, ideal for holiday gatherings, gift-giving, or everyday indulgence.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (divided: 1/2 cup in dough, remainder for coating)

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Add-ins

  • 3/4 cup dried cherries, chopped
  • 3/4 cup chopped pistachios

Instructions

  1. Prep Your Ingredients: Chop the dried cherries and pistachios into small, uniform pieces to ensure even flavor distribution and manageable crunch. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the room temperature unsalted butter with 1/2 cup of powdered sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This step is essential for achieving tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookies.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the butter and sugar mixture, stirring gently until just combined, taking care not to overmix to keep the texture soft.
  4. Fold in Cherries and Pistachios: Carefully fold in the chopped dried cherries and pistachios, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
  5. Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough into small 1-inch balls with your hands. Place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow for even baking.
  6. Bake Until Set: Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly golden. Avoid overbaking to maintain a soft, slightly crumbly interior.
  7. Roll in Powdered Sugar: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. While still warm, roll each cookie generously in the remaining powdered sugar to create a signature snowball coating.

Notes

  • Use room temperature butter for perfect creaming with the sugar.
  • If dough feels too soft, chill it for 30 minutes before shaping to make rolling easier.
  • Handle dough gently and avoid overmixing to prevent dense cookies.
  • Roll cookies twice in powdered sugar for an extra snowy appearance.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain softness.
  • Use a small cookie scoop or measuring spoon for uniform, round cookies.
  • For gifting, layer cookies with parchment paper in airtight containers to avoid sticking.
  • Try swapping pistachios with walnuts or almonds, or replace dried cherries with dried cranberries or blueberries for variations.
  • Use gluten-free flour blend to make a gluten-free version.
  • Add a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom for festive warmth.
  • Optionally mix in mini white chocolate chips for a creamy sweetness boost.

Nutrition

Keywords: cherry pistachio cookies, snowball cookies, holiday cookies, nutty cookies, chewy cherry cookies, powdered sugar cookies, festive treats, gluten-free cookies

Find it online: https://tastebudtrek.com/cherry-pistachio-snowball-cookies/