1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar:
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. This can be done with a hand mixer or a stand mixer.
3. Add Vanilla Extract:
- Add the vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix until well combined.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
5. Incorporate Nuts:
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined. Stir in the finely chopped nuts until evenly distributed in the dough.
6. Shape the Dough:
- Take small portions of the dough and roll them into 1-inch balls. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each.
7. Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Be careful not to overbake; the cookies should remain pale.
8. Cool:
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Coat with Powdered Sugar:
- Once the cookies are completely cooled, roll them in powdered sugar until well coated. This gives them the appearance of snowballs.
10. Enjoy:
- Your snowball cookies are now ready to be enjoyed! Store them in an airtight container, and they can last for several days.
Optional Variation:
- For an extra touch, you can roll the cookies in powdered sugar a second time after they’ve cooled to ensure a generous coating.
These snowball cookies are a perfect addition to your holiday cookie platter or any time you’re craving a sweet and nutty treat. Enjoy the delicate, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of these classic cookies!