This recipe for homemade Mexican Wedding Cookies features a buttery two bite pecan shortbread generously covered with powdered sugar. This kind of cookie has many names, sometimes being called Pecan Balls, Russian Tea Cakes, Snowballs or Mexican Wedding Cakes. Regardless of what they’re called, it all spells delicious!

What You’ll Love About Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe

These delicate two-bite cookies feature a buttery shortbread dough studded with pecans giving them a nutty flavor in addition to texture and crunch. The sweet powdered sugar coating adds just the right amount of sweetness and they’re so easy to make!

Ingredients to Make Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe

I love these crisp and buttery shortbread cookies. To make them, buttery rounds of homemade shortbread are mixed with chopped pecans and fresh orange zest and then baked in the perfect two-bite size. They’re rolled in powdered sugar while warm transforming them into a glorious confection. While orange zest isn’t a traditional ingredient, it does brighten the flavor of the dough quite a bit and gives them just a little something notable. It’s unexpected, and people always comment on the fresh flavor. Ingredients you’ll need to make Mexican Wedding Cookies (Polvorones): (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

Flour – All purpose flour forms the base of the cookie dough.
Nuts – Chopped pecans add crunch and texture to the dough.
Butter – Salted butter adds a rich buttery flavor to the cookie dough.
Flavorings – Orange extract, almond extract and vanilla extract.
Citrus Zest – Fresh orange zest adds a bright flavor to the dough.
Sugar – Powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar) adds sweetness.
Salt – A small amount of salt balances the flavor.

How to Make the Best Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe

These cookies are suitable for any occasion whether you’re baking for a tea party, a baby shower, wedding shower or graduation party. Perhaps your planning a get together packed with holiday cookies for swapping with friends. Regardless of the occasion, these cookies will make a stunning addition to the menu. If you love nutty shortbread cookies with a hint of citrus, these are the cookies for you.

Prepare Pan and Heat Oven – Preheat the oven to 350°F and line 2 standard baking sheets with parchment paper.
Creamed Ingredients – Cream together the butter, orange, almond, vanilla extracts with 3/4 cup powdered sugar for 5 minutes, stopping to scrape the bowl periodically. Mix in the orange zest at the end.
Add Flour – Add the flour and salt mixing until the dough comes together. The dough will be somewhat chunky and crumbly. Stir in the nuts by hand.
Roll Cookie Dough into Balls – Divide the dough evenly and roll into approximately 1.5 inch balls. Place onto the baking sheet 1 inch apart. Bake for 25 minutes.
Roll Warm Cookies in Confectioners Sugar – Remove from oven and immediately roll in the remaining powdered sugar. Repeat, if needed until all are completely covered.
Serve – Cool completely, store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Tips for Making Mexican Wedding Cookies

Kitchen Equipment You’ll Need: Two large sheet pans, large bowl, measuring cups and spoons, stand mixer or hand mixer, small cookie scoop or ice cream scoop, wire rack and shallow bowl.
Don’t Be Shy with the Powdered Sugar: The secret to this cookie’s appeal is rolling them in copious amounts of powdered sugar while they’re still warm. I often roll them all then go back and repeat the process at least once.
When to Serve Mexican Wedding Cookies: Serve these cookies at tea parties, Christmas, Cinco de Mayo, potluck parties, holiday cookie exchange gatherings or any celebrations when sweet treats are on the menu.

Recipe Variations

Citrus: Orange zest is not a traditional flavor found in most Mexican wedding cookies recipes. I do add it to mine, and it gives the dough for these cookies a bright flavor. While the recipe would certainly work without it, fresh orange zest adds a flavor twist that makes these cookies unforgettable. You could also use lime zest or lemon zest.
Nuts: You could swap out the pecans and use walnuts.
Flavorings: You could experiment with flavorings using walnut extract if using walnuts, or lemon in place of orange extract to change the flavor profile.
Unsalted Butter: You can use unsalted butter. When doing so, increase the salt to 1/2 teaspoon.

Storage and Leftovers

Leftovers: You can store Mexican Wedding Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Make-Ahead Cookie Dough: You can make this cookie dough in advance and chill it in the refrigerator. Store it in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
Freezing Cookie Dough: You can also freeze the dough for up to 2 months. Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight then scoop and bake.
Freezing Baked Cookies: Cool the powder sugar coated cookies completely then store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge, then re-roll the cookies in powdered sugar just before serving.

More Easy Cookie Recipes to Make

Fill your cookie jar with these other Southern cookie recipes:

These Browned Butter Pecan Sandies are an old school favorite updated with the flavor of browned butter.
Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
A fan favorite, my recipe for Butter Pecan Cookies is always popular.
These Turtle Cookie Bars are filled with Rolo candy and pecans.
Make ahead Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches.
Jumbo Peanut Butter Cowboy Cookies are filled with oats, peanuts, coconut and chocolate chips.
Top these Fruit Pizza Sugar Cookies with your favorite fresh fruit and berries.
Orange Crinkle Cookies from Amanda’s Cookin’.

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