Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe (2024)

Published: Dec 3, 2019 · Modified: Nov 15, 2023 by Arlene Mobley · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Mexican Wedding cookies are a favorite buttery pecan shortbread cookie recipe that is known by many names.

You might know Mexican Wedding Cookies as Russian Tea Cakes, Snowball Cookies or Mexican Wedding Cakes.

They are also a very popular cookie exchange recipe because they are delicious and so easy to make with 5 ingredients.

With only 5 ingredients and in less than 30 minutes you can enjoy these easy to make pecan shortbread cookies.

Mexican Wedding Cookies are a favorite Christmas cookie recipe I make every year because they are so easy to make with only 5 ingredients and they taste amazing!

These incredible pecan filled shortbread cookies dipped in sugar are so good!

Christmas Shortbread Cookies

I call themMexican Wedding Cookies but you may know them by Italian Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, Snowball Cookies or Mexican Wedding Cakes.

They are one of our favorite Christmas cookies to bake and eat.

I first shared this favorite Christmas cookie recipe back in 2011.

While I was baking theMexican Wedding Cookiesfor my Christmas Cookie exchange I decided to re-shoot the photos and share it again.

This is a great Christmas Cookie Exchange recipe that everyone loves.

Easy Holiday Cookies for a Cookie Exchange

Wedding Cookies are sweet and delicious. Imagine if you can a sweet and crunchy shortbread cookie balls that melt in your mouth.

This easy holiday cookie recipe for a cookie exchange calls for 5 simple ingredients that when combined create a buttery shortbread cookie that is crunchy and sweet.

Chopped pecans give it a little extra crunch and the powdered sugar coating makes a Mexican Wedding Cookie look just like mini snowballs.

The powdered sugar coating adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the flavor of the shortbread cookie.

Cookie Exchange Recipes

These cute little snowball shaped cookies are perfect for a cookie exchange. They are easy to make and very easy to package in cellophane bags or cookie boxes to share with family and friends.

Recipe FAQs

What nuts should I use for Mexican Wedding Cookies?

Authentic Mexican Cookies use chopped pecan nuts. It depends on the region you live in which nuts are used. If you don't like pecans or you have walnuts on hand you can use chopped walnuts to make Mexican Wedding cookies.

Mexican Wedding Cookies Ingredients

You only need 4 basic baking ingredients (which you probably have in your pantry right now) and some chopped pecans or walnuts to make Mexican Wedding Cookies.

softened unsalted butter
powdered sugar, divided in half
pure Vanilla Extract (I used my homemade Vanilla Extract)
all-purpose unbleached flour
finely chopped pecans

Let's make the cookies

These easy Christmas cookies only need 5 ingredients to make, use one mixing bowl and takes less than 30 minutes.

Mexican Wedding Cookies are one of the easiest one bowl cookie recipes you will ever make.

Beat the butter and powdered sugar together in a large bowl. Add the pure vanilla extract to the bowl and beat in well.

Slowly begin adding the flour to the bowl. Add one cup of flour at a time to the bowl and beat the flour in slowly until the cookie dough gets too thick for your mixer.

Then use a wooden spoon to mix the small amount of remaining flour and the chopped nuts into the dough.

Use a teaspoon or a cookie dough scoop and roll the cookie dough into balls. Place the dough balls on a cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.

Bake the Mexican Wedding Cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly golden.

Cool the cookies slightly and roll in powdered sugar to coat. Cool the cookies completely on a cooling rack before storing in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

This recipe will make about 48 one and a half inch round cookies.

Recipe Expert Tips

Butter: Always use real unsalted butter when making cookies. No substitution will do.
Softening the butter: Let the sugar soften on the counter for an hour or two before beginning.
Pure vanilla extract: I use my homemade vanilla extract for all of my baking, it makes a great gift!
Mixing powdered sugar: When mixing the powdered sugar into the cookie dough start the mixer off on low or the sugar will fly into the air and make a mess.
Rolling the cookies in the sugar: When rolling the cookies into the powdered sugar coating the cookies should still be warm or the sugar will not stick to the cookie.
Vanilla: Use pure vanilla extract. It may be more expensive but imitation vanilla does not have a very good flavor.

More Christmas Recipes

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies
Easy No-Bake OREO Snowball Cookies
Chocolate Dipped Christmas Oreo Cookie Pops
Best Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Basic Christmas Cookie Baking Supplies

Mixing bowls should be large enough to mix the cookie dough or icings.
My Favorite Christmas Cookie Cutters for cut out cookies.
Large Baking Sheets: I have 4 of these and they really make baking cookies so much easier.
Cookie Dough Scoops: This is the secret to making perfectly shaped cookies every time.
Parchment Paper: Keeps cookies from sticking and over browning. Makes clean up a breeze.
Wooden Rolling Pin: A good rolling pin is a must for rolling out perfect Christmas cookies every time.
Cooling Racks: Cookies need to cool and a cooling rack allows air to circulate and helps the hot cookies cool quicker. It also makes drizzling baked cookies with melted chocolate or powdered sugar drizzle easier.
Thin Metal Spatula: A wide flat metal spatula helps lift the cookies off the baking sheet without damaging the edges and keep the hot cookies from breaking when transferring them to the cooling rack.
Spritz Cookie Press: A must have for making tradition Spritz Cookies for Christmas.
Christmas Cookie Boxes: Planning a cookie exchange or love to share your Christmas cookies? Cookie Gift Boxes are perfect to keep the cookies from getting crushed.

Hosting a Cookie Exchange this year? Grab the free Cookie Exchange Printables pack.

Pin or Print the Mexican Wedding Cookies recipe below

Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Arlene Mobley - Flour On My Face

Mexican Wedding Cookies are that delicate, sweet and buttery authentic Wedding Cookie recipe that is a traditional Christmas cookie recipe everyone loves. These cute little shortbread snowball cookies are filled with chopped pecans and rolled in powdered sugar. They melt in your mouth!

5 from 12 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 11 minutes mins

Cool 5 minutes mins

Total Time 26 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 24 Servings

Calories 93 kcal

Ingredients

▢ 1 cup softened butter
▢ 1 cup powdered sugar (divided in half)
▢ 1 teaspoon pure Vanilla Extract (I used my homemade Vanilla Extract)
▢ 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
▢ 1 cup pecan halves (finely chopped )

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 F. degrees.
Beat the butter and ½ cup of the powdered sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Add vanilla extract and beat until vanilla is completely incorporated.
Add the flour to the bowl 1 cup at a time mixing with a hand held mixer until the dough becomes too thick or the mixer begins to strain.
Slowly add the remaining flour and the finely chopped pecans to the bowl. Continue mixing until the pecans are evenly distributed through out the dough.
Shape the dough into one and half inch round balls and place on a cookie sheet leaving 2 inches between each cookies.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly golden.
Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and cool the cookies for 3 minutes or until they are cool enough to handle.
Drop each warm cookie one at a time into the bowl of the remaining ½ cup of powdered sugar. Roll the warm cookies in the sugar coating the cookie thickly on all sides.
Place sugar dipped cookies on a wire rack and cool completely before storing. Store the cookies in single layers in an air tight container.
Makes about 48 cookies

Video

Recipe Expert Tips

Expert Recipe Tips

Butter: Always use real unsalted butter when making cookies. No substitution will do.
Softening the butter: Let the sugar soften on the counter for an hour or two before beginning.
Pure vanilla extract: I use my homemade vanilla extract for all of my baking, it makes a great gift!
Mixing powdered sugar: When mixing the powdered sugar into the cookie dough start the mixer off on low or the sugar will fly into the air and make a mess.
Rolling the cookies in the sugar: When rolling the cookies into the powdered sugar coating the cookies should still be warm or the sugar will not stick to the cookie.
Vanilla: Use pure vanilla extract. It may be more expensive but imitation vanilla does not have a very good flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 2CookiesCalories: 93kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 11mgPotassium: 42mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 19IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Share a picture on Instagram and tag @flouronmyface2

FAQs

Why are my Mexican wedding cookies dry? ›

However, one of the biggest mistakes or complaints about homemade Mexican wedding cookies is that they ended up being dry. While one of the most common mishaps that accounts for this is baking the cookies too long, Went Here 8 This also suggests that using too much flour could cause dry cookies.

Read On ›

How many cookies per person for a wedding cookie table? ›

If cookies are the primary sweet treat, consider increasing the count to 4-6 per person. Remember, if you invite families with children to the event, the little ones will likely spend a lot more time at the dessert table than the rest of your guests.

Explore More ›

Why did my Mexican wedding cookies come out flat? ›

The blogger behind Mexico In My Kitchen warns that overworking the dough will result in flat cookies, so make sure you only roll your dough as much as you need to form tiny spheres and only mix the ingredients until they're combined (don't endlessly beat it with your mixer).

What is the difference between Italian and Mexican wedding cookies? ›

Italian wedding cookies typically contain almonds or hazelnuts and are flavored with almond extract, vanilla extracts and spices like cinnamon or anise. Mexican wedding cookies, on the other hand, use a combination of ground nuts such as pecans and walnuts, as well as butter, sugar and sometimes chocolate chips.

See Details ›

What adds moisture to cookies? ›

Use a higher ratio of brown sugar to white sugar. Brown sugar contains molasses, which adds moisture to the cookie dough and helps create a softer texture. Use melted butter instead of room-temperature butter. Melted butter incorporates more easily into the dough, creating a more cohesive and pliable dough.

How do you make dry cookies moist again? ›

Another way to soften cookies is by placing the cookies in an airtight container with a damp paper towel. The paper towel will release moisture and help to soften the cookies without making them too soft or mushy. Another way is to place the cookies in a plastic bag with a slice of apple or a damp tea towel.

Know More ›

How many cookies do I need for 100 people wedding? ›

When you have a solid idea of your RSVP count, we suggest 6 – 8 cookies per person. In other words, if you are expecting 100 guests, 100 x 6 is 600, divided by 12 is 50 dozen cookies. More than that is fine, but make sure you save your transport containers as you may be taking some home.

Keep Reading ›

How many desserts to make for 100 guests? ›

We recommend 2-4 items per guest, but don't worry, we'll help make sure you have enough servings to go around! To create your own estimate, please look through all the options below. Then, choose up to the maximum quantity of items/flavors based on your guest count.

View Details ›

How many pounds of cookies do I need for 50 people? ›

When buying cookies, keep in mind, there is roughly about 18-20 cookies in a pound. If you estimate 2 cookies per person, every 1 pound of cookies is enough for 10 people. For example, if you're having a party of 50 people, 5 pounds should be good enough to give everyone about 2 cookies.

Can I use baking powder instead of baking soda? ›

Baking powder is made of baking soda plus cream of tartar and cornstarch. Baking powder can be substituted for baking soda by tripling the amount of baking powder.

Learn More Now ›

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

Learn More ›

Why are my Mexican wedding cakes falling apart? ›

Why is my Mexican wedding cookie dough crumbly? If your dough is overly crumbly, be sure that you're using softened butter. You'll also want to make sure that you measure the correctly, so as not to use too much.

Discover More ›

Which classic cookie ingredient do Mexican wedding cakes Lac? ›

Traditionally, these sweet cookies are made with finely chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts or almonds, though this can vary depending on the recipe's origins.