I know…another snowball recipe! I guess they’re just popular around here. Either that, or “snowball” is just a really good, generic name for any ball-shaped cookie dough that’s rolled in a sugar.
Regardless, these cookies are great! I’ve made these every year for the past 6 or 7 years at least. The kids really look forward to them.
I think one of my favorite things about these cookies is that making them becomes an event with the kids. There’s something they can all do to be involved, from the oldest to the youngest, that really helps with get the cookies finished.
Candy Cane Snowballs
- 3 c. powdered sugar, divided
- 1 1/4 c butter, softened
- 2 t. vanilla (or if you’d prefer a stronger peppermint flavor, you can replace 1 t. of vanilla with a teaspoon of peppermint extract)
- 1 egg
- 3 c. flour
- 1 T. baking powder
- 1/2 t. salt
- 3/4 c. finely crushed candy canes, divided
- 1/2 c. granulated sugar
- 2-3 T. milk
1. In a mixing bowl, beat 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar and butter until fluffy. Add vanilla and egg and beat until combined.
2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine. Slowly add to mixing bowl, beating until combined, about 1 minute. Stir 1/2 cup finely crushed candy canes in by hand.
3. Roll dough into small balls using just under a teaspoon of dough. Rolls balls through granulated sugar to coat and place on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cool.
4. While cookies bake, stir together remaining 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar with 2-3 T. of milk. Add just enough milk to form a thick glaze. Drizzle over cooled cookies and top with remaining crushed candy canes immediately.
I usually set my youngest kids up with the candy canes in a plastic zip-top bag and let them pound until their hearts’ content, although all the kids enjoy that job too. The kids can also roll out the dough and help with the decorating. Like I said, it’s a fun recipe for us all to be involved in. That definitely works for me!
Hmmm, I think I’ll make these, too.
We sampled your Santa’s Whiskers tonight. Even my coconut-hating hubby thought they were “pretty good.” 
Yum…these look delicious. I love peppermint! Thanks for posting them!
I think maybe I’ll have to make these after Christmas. My husband likes to buy candy canes, and then they don’t get eaten. Last year I finally threw them away,but I think I’ll try these instead. Thanks for sharing.
These look so festive! I just made candy cane cookies this morning and Im thinking I need to give these a try aswell!
this sounds delicious
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Looks delicious!
looks delicious! THANKS for the fun recipe.
Great idea to have the kids pound the candycanes!! I think I’ll give these a try with the kiddos!
Made these because I thought they looked festive and didn’t think they would be a big hit but would still like them or be sent to my husband’s work but I was wrong…..My husband thanks you. He loves them! Thanks!
My daughter made these on Christmas Eve to use up the box of mini candy canes. Yummmy!! We all loved them and this will be added to our favorites.
Thanks
I love Snowball Cookies! My Mama would make these amazing, powdered sugar balls of love every Christmas….those cookies meant love and yummy to me. I remember coming home for the holidays and she would have a batch of these waiting for me with a large glass of milk.
I lost my Mama to cancer in 2007….but through her recipes and these yummy cookies, she is always around me in the kitchen.
Thanks for sharing this recipe….you’ve made me smile today.
These look incredible! Can you tell me how many cookies this recipe makes? I’m thinking of making them for a cookie swap.
These cookies are delightful! The only thing I changed was the glaze. I tried using organic powdered sugar, but this yielded a glaze with an unappealing shade of gray. So, I switched to a chocolate glaze made with melted chocolate chips. This worked great and looked lovely with the crushed candy canes on top. Thank you so much.
I was disappointed that mine didn’t turn out as rounded as pictured even though I rolled them into little balls. Maybe if refrigerated for 30-60 minutes before baking, they might have kept their cute little snowball shape. They were still tasty, though, and fun to make.