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

Easy 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.

How to Make the Best Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe

These cookies are suitable for any occasion whether you’re baking for a tea party with the girls, a baby or wedding shower or graduation party. Perhaps your planning a get together packed with holiday cookies for swapping with friends. Regardless, 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.

Ingredients needed to make this recipe for Mexican Wedding Cookies: All purpose flour, salt, 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, butter, fresh orange zest, orange extract, almond extract, vanilla extract and powdered sugar for rolling the cookies.
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.
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.
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. You can also freeze the dough for up to 2 months. Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight.
Can you freeze baked Mexican Wedding Cookies? Yes, you can. Cool 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 Southern Cookies 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.
A fan favorite, my recipe for Butter Pecan Cookies is always popular.
These Turtle Cookie Bars are filled with Rolo candy and pecans.
Jumbo Peanut Butter Cowboy Cookies are filled with oats, peanuts, coconut and chocolate chips.
and this recipe for Orange Crinkle Cookies from Amanda’s Cookin’.

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