Butterball Cookies

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Butterball Cookies are a nostalgic, classic cookie with rich, buttery flavor, finely chopped pecans, and a generous coating of powdered sugar. Delicious treats to serve at Christmas time or any time of year.

Prep Time10

Cook Time14

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 104kcal

Author: Cara Lanz

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 2 sticks
½ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup finely chopped pecans
1 ½ cups powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions

Beat the butter, ½ cup powdered sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl on medium-high until light and fluffy. Add the salt and gradually mix in the flour just until it forms a soft dough. Mix in the chopped pecans on low speed until incorporated. Cover and chill the dough for at least one hour.
Preheat the oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Scoop the cookie dough into 1-tablespoon portions and roll them into balls. Place the cookie balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake 12-14 minutes or until the cookies are set and the bottoms are very light golden brown. Cool on the pan for a few minutes. While still warm, roll each cookie in powdered sugar and place them on a wire rack to cool completely.
Roll cooled cookies a second time in powdered sugar.

Notes

Storage

Keep cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container, layering them with parchment or wax paper. They’ll stay delicious at room temperature for up to one week.

Make Ahead

Freezing the Dough: Wrap a batch of dough in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe bag. Alternatively, roll the dough into individual balls, freeze them on a baking sheet, and transfer to a freezer bag once solid. Dough can be frozen for up to a month. When ready to bake, thaw in the refrigerator.

Freezing the Cookies: After baking and fully cooling, place cookies in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to three months. Once defrosted, you may need to give them a fresh coating of powdered sugar, as some of it may dissolve during freezing.

Helpful Tips

If the dough is too stiff when you take it out of the fridge, let it warm slightly at room temperature for easier handling.
For dough that feels too dry, a few drops of water can help.
If it feels sticky, work in a bit more flour.

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