It is time to think about Christmas Cookies

Although Christmas is still several weeks away, it is never too early to think about Christmas cookies.  I am neither a big baker or sweet eater, but these cookies are a guilty pleasure for me.  I got this recipe almost forty years ago from a friend who got it from her grandmother.  These are more of a pastry that a cookie but delicious and worth the effort. 

These cookies go by many names but we call them Christmas Snowballs

Preheat oven to 325 before baking.

Dough should be chilled for at least 1 hour before baking.

1 cup butter, slightly softened but colder than room temp.

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons water

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup chopped pecans

Cream butter and sugar, (I usually process in my food processor.) add water and vanilla and mix well. Blend in flour and nuts.

Form the dough into a ball.  It will be both stiff and sticky.  Wrap in plastic wrap. Chill. After chilling, Shape into tablespoon sized balls.  (I use a rounded tablespoon measuring spoon to get the right amount of dough and roll into balls. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 20 minutes.

Cool to room temp on a cooling rack and then roll in confectioners( powdered) sugar.

Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

Yes, that is the entire ingredient list and there are no leavening agents.  You can place them very close together on the cookie sheet because they will not rise or expand. If you roll them in confectioner's sugar when they are too warm, the sugar will "melt", just let them cool a little longer and try again.