Russian tea cakes with pecans, also known as Mexican wedding cakes or snowballs, are a delightful confection that combines the flavors of vanilla, butter, and nuts in a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth cookie. Originating from Russia, these cookies have become a beloved treat worldwide, often served during the holiday season or as a sweet afternoon snack. With their powdered sugar coating, they resemble snowballs, adding a festive touch to any gathering. Whether you're a seasoned baker or new to the kitchen, this article will guide you through the process of creating the perfect Russian tea cakes with pecans, ensuring that every bite is a delightful experience.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
RUSSIAN TEA CAKES
Provided by Anne Thornton, Host of Dessert First
Categories dessert
Time 50m
Yield 6 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a large bowl mix together the cookie dough and the pecans. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Form 1-inch balls from the chilled dough and place them 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Bake until the edges of the cookies start to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 5 minutes.
- While the cookies are cooling, line another cookie sheet with wax paper. Sprinkle 1 cup of the confectioners' sugar on the bottom of the sheet and place the slightly cooled cookies on top of the sugar. Place the remaining 1 cup of confectioners' sugar in a passe or fine sieve and then sprinkle over the tops of the cookies.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder. In a standing mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter with sugar until fluffy and light. Mix in the eggs, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Turn down the mixer and slowly add the flour mixture, a third at a time to make a stiff dough. Divide the dough into 4 pieces. Use 2 pieces to make cut out cookies, and the other half for the Russian Tea Cakes.
- For the cut out cookies: On a lightly floured surface roll out a portion of cookie dough to 1/4-inch thick. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters. Place the cookies on lightly greased or nonstick cookie sheets. Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minutes, rotating cookie sheet halfway through the cooking time. Cool on pans about 5 minutes, and then transfer to wire racks and cool completely.
CHEF JOHN'S RUSSIAN TEA CAKES
As the old joke goes, these Russian tea cakes might not be Russian, but at least they're not cakes. No one knows exactly how these came to be known as Russian tea cakes but, nevertheless, they are quite delicious.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Desserts Cookies Butter Cookie Recipes Tea Cakes and Biscuits Recipes
Time 30m
Yield 14
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Arrange rack in center position of oven.
- Place butter, 1/3 cup packed powdered sugar, walnuts, salt, and vanilla in a bowl. Top with the flour. Mix with your clean hands until the dough starts to clump up. Keep mixing by hand until all the flour and clumps of butter are evenly mixed into the dough and it can be easily formed into balls.
- Scoop out dough and roll by hand into uniformly round balls, just slightly larger than 1 inch. Place on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat about 2 inches apart.
- Bake in preheated oven until lightly golden, 15 to 25 minutes depending on the size of the cookies.
- Let cool exactly 5 minutes then roll in remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar. Let cookies cool completely and toss them again in the confectioners' sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 320.7 calories, Carbohydrate 36.1 g, Cholesterol 34.9 mg, Fat 18.8 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 3.4 g, SaturatedFat 8.9 g, Sodium 23.3 mg, Sugar 20.4 g
RUSSIAN TEA CAKES
I like to present my favorite holiday cookies in a special way. I pile these fresh-baked tea cakes on pretty plates that I buy throughout the year, then wrap them with colored cellophane to give friends. —Valerie Hudson, Mason City, Iowa
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 35m
Yield about 3-1/2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. , Roll into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-13 minutes. Roll in confectioners' sugar while still warm. Cool on wire racks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 83 calories, Fat 6g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 12mg cholesterol, Sodium 49mg sodium, Carbohydrate 7g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
EASY RUSSIAN TEA CAKES
This classic melt-in-your mouth cookie is a must-have on every Christmas cookie platter, and our new version is even easier than the original.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Dessert
Time 1h20m
Yield 44
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- In large bowl, mix cookie mix, flour, melted butter and egg with spoon until soft dough forms. Stir in pecans. Press firmly to shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack. Cool 5 minutes. In small bowl, place powdered sugar. Roll each warm cookie in powdered sugar, and place on cooling rack. Cool completely, at least 20 minutes.
- Roll cookies again in powdered sugar to coat. Store covered at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 100, Carbohydrate 14 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 0 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 1/2 g, ServingSize 1 Cookie, Sodium 50 mg, Sugar 9 g, TransFat 0 g
RUSSIAN TEA CAKES
Rolling these classic Christmas cookies in powdered sugar once while they're still warm and again when they're completely cooled ensures their snowball-like appearance.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes
Time 1h20m
Yield Makes 4 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees with racks in the upper and lower third positions.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flours and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with with paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, cream butter and 1/2 cup sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla and almond liqueur until fully combined. Add flour mixture; beat until combined.
- Using 1 rounded teaspoon of dough per cookie, roll into balls with the palms of your hands; place onto two parchment-lined baking sheets, 1 inch apart. Bake, rotating halfway through, until cookies are set and just turning golden around the edges, about 16 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cookies cool slightly on baking sheets, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, add remaining 1 cup sugar to a medium bowl. When cool enough to handle, roll a few cookies at a time in the bowl of sugar to coat. Transfer to a rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Roll cookies in sugar again until thoroughly coated. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
RUSSIAN TEA CAKES I
This is a family recipe that's been made at Christmas time by at least 4 generations. This year will be the first for number 5!!! 'Bubba' brought it with her when she came from Lithuania. I pass it on in the true spirit of this season!
Provided by THEAUNT708
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Eastern European Russian
Time 35m
Yield 36
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- In a medium bowl, cream butter and vanilla until smooth. Combine the 6 tablespoons confectioners' sugar and flour; stir into the butter mixture until just blended. Mix in the chopped walnuts. Roll dough into 1 inch balls, and place them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. When cool, roll in remaining confectioners' sugar. I also like to roll mine in the sugar a second time.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 101.6 calories, Carbohydrate 8.2 g, Cholesterol 13.6 mg, Fat 7.3 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 1.3 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, Sodium 36.6 mg, Sugar 2.5 g
RUSSIAN TEA CAKES
There's no feeling quite as blissful as your first bite of one of these cookies. Whether you call them Russian tea cakes, Mexican wedding cookies or snowballs, there's no denying that they're essential to bake during the Christmas season. A shortbread-like dough, studded with chopped nuts, bakes up to a texture that's beautifully sandy and tender, never dry or crumbling to bits. The classic finish for them is a roll through powdered sugar-just like dashing through the winter snow! Make this recipe and you'll be part of a legacy of bakers who have made Russian Tea Cakes one of the most anticipated treats of the season.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Dessert
Time 1h15m
Yield 48
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat oven to 400°F.
- Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.
- Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 75, Carbohydrate 6 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 0 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 55 mg
RUSSIAN TEA CAKES
Provided by Food Network
Categories dessert
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 dozen cookies
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Cream butter in a large mixing bowl. Add the vanilla then gradually add the 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Sift the flour, measure, then sift again with the salt. Add gradually to the butter mixture. Add the pecans and mix well.
- Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten slightly using the bottom of a glass, then bake for 20 minutes, or until edges are very lightly browned. Remove the cookies from the baking sheets and roll in powdered sugar while still hot. Cool on wire racks and roll cookies again in powdered sugar before serving.
- Once they are completely cooled, cookies may be stored in airtight containers for up to 1 week.
PECAN PUFFS (AKA MEXICAN WEDDING CAKES OR RUSSIAN TEA CAKES)
One of our family favorite cookies for the holidays-- these are sooo melt-in-your-mouth delicious! These cookies go by many different names. If you desire, you may sub walnuts or hazelnuts for the pecans. I hope you enjoy!!!
Provided by BecR2400
Categories Dessert
Time 1h
Yield 4 dozen cookies
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cream butter, add sugar and remaining ingredients.
- Roll into small balls, and place on cookie sheet.
- Bake in 325 F oven for 30 minutes.
- Roll balls into powdered sugar when hot, and again when cool.
- Note: These cookies taste best when thoroughly cooled (ie best served the next day--if you can wait!).
RUSSIAN TEA CAKES
These are the cookies that must be made at Christmas at my house. If these are the only cookies made, so be it, but they must be made.
Provided by Miss Erin C.
Categories Dessert
Time 1h
Yield 6 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cream butter and sugar, add remaining ingredients, except for powdered sugar.
- Roll into balls, small, about a"quarter" in diameter.
- Bake for 5 minutes on 275F, then 20 minutes at 350F degrees.
- Roll in powdered sugar while still hot, we usually do 2-3 coatings of sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 742.5, Fat 57.2, SaturatedFat 21.7, Cholesterol 81.3, Sodium 219, Carbohydrate 53.7, Fiber 4.6, Sugar 18.4, Protein 8
Tips:
- Use room temperature butter to ensure a smooth batter.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
- If the dough is too sticky, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Use a cookie scoop to ensure uniform sized cookies.
- Bake the cookies until the edges are just beginning to brown for a soft and chewy texture.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely before rolling them in confectioners' sugar.
Conclusion:
With its tender crumb, nutty flavor, and delicate sweetness, the Russian Tea Cake is a timeless classic that is sure to impress. Whether you are a seasoned baker or just starting, this recipe is a must-try. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's embark on a delightful baking journey together!
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