Mexican Snowballs Food

SNOWBALLS II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cream the butter with 1/2 cup of the confectioners' sugar and the vanilla. Mix in the flour, pecans, and salt. Roll about 1 tablespoon or so of dough into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until bottoms are golden, about 15 minutes. Do not allow these cookies to get too brown: it's better to undercook them than to overcook them. While cookies are still hot, roll them in confectioners' sugar. Once they have cooled, roll them in confectioners' sugar once more.

SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C.) Lightly butter 2 baking sheets, or line with parchment paper.
• Cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Sift together the flour and salt; mix into the butter mixture. Stir in the pecans. Dust your hands with a little of the confectioners' sugar and roll the dough into 1 inch balls.
• Place 2 inches apart on the baking sheets and bake for 25 minutes or just until brown. Put on racks to cool for 15 minutes, then roll in the confectioners sugar.

MEXICAN SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• Cover two large baking dishes with plastic wrap, pulling so surface is taut. Drop 16 scoops of ice cream onto prepared dishes, dipping the ice-cream scoop in hot water as you work. Freeze balls until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss coconut with cinnamon. Toast, tossing occasionally, 6 to 10 minutes; let cool.
• Working with one ice-cream ball at a time, remove from freezer, and roll in coconut mixture; return to dish in freezer. Freeze until set, at least 30 minutes (or up to 1 day).

CHRISTMAS SNOWBALL COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat 1 cup butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
• In a medium bowl, mix flour and baking powder.
• Add to butter mixture, stir to mix, then beat until well blended.
• Stir in pecans.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place about 1 inch apart on buttered 12- by 15-inch baking sheets.
• Bake in a 300° regular or convection oven until cookies are pale golden brown, about 25 minutes.
• If baking two sheets at once in one oven, switch their positions halfway through baking.
• Let cookies stand on sheets until cool enough to handle.
• Place remaining 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar in a shallow bowl.
• Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar to coat all over; discard remaining sugar.
• Set cookies on racks to cool completely.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE SNOWBALL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and 2/3 cup powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well combined. Beat in vanilla.
• In a separate small mixing bowl, mix together flour, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, ancho chile pepper, and salt until well combined. Beat into butter/sugar mixture. Stir in almonds and chocolate until well combined and dough forms.
• In a large shallow bowl, whisk together remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon until combined. Set aside.
• Form dough into 1 tablespoon balls. Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheets (or silpats or parchment paper). Bake cookies at 325 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottom being careful not to overbake. Cookies will harden as they cool. Cool cookies about 1-2 minutes then roll in sugar mixture while still warm. Cool completely on wire rack then roll cookies in sugar mixture again.