Home » Holiday Recipes » Mexican Wedding Cookies

Mexican Wedding Cookies

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.

Mexican Wedding Cookies

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 Mexican Wedding Cookies. (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • Prepare Pan – 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.
  • 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 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 in Powdered Sugar – Remove from oven and immediately roll in the remaining 1 cup powdered sugar. Repeat, if needed until all are completely covered. 
  • Cool completely, store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Mexican Wedding Cookies

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.
russian-tea-cakes-recipe

More Southern Cookies Recipes to Make

Fill your cookie jar with these other Southern cookie recipes:

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Thanks for visiting come back soon!

Disclosure ~ If  a purchase is made using one of the affiliate links on this website we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Helpful Kitchen Items:

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Mexican Inspired, Southern
Keyword: mexican-wedding-cookies
Servings: 26 cookies
Calories: 159kcal
Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

  • 1 cup salted butter (2 sticks) softened
  • 1/2 tsp pure orange extract
  • 1/2 tsp pure almond extract
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 large orange zested
  • 1 3/4 cup powdered sugar divided
  • 2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line 2 standard baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl use a mixer to 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.
  • To the bowl add the flour and salt mixing on low speed until the dough comes together. The dough will be somewhat chunky and crumbly.
  • Stir in the nuts by hand.
  • Divide the dough evenly and roll into approximately 1.5 inch balls. Place onto the baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and immediately roll in the remaining 1 cup powdered sugar. Repeat, rolling if needed until all are completely covered. 
  • Cool completely then store in an airtight container at room temperature. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 85mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 221IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

11 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating