Indulge in a taste of chocolate chip heaven with these delightful chocolate chip snowball cookies! Each bite of this soft, crumbly chocolate shortbread, enveloped in a snowy dusting of powdered sugar is pure perfection. Whether you're cozied up by the fireplace on a winter evening or simply yearning for a sweet delight, these nut-free chocolate chip snowball cookies are a delectable choice.
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If snowball cookies are part of your holiday cookie tradition, then you're going to love these chocolate chip snowball cookies without nuts! Mini chips replace the nuts in these snow-covered shortbread cookies making them the perfect nut-free cookie for your holiday cookie baking.
Each bite is just as tender and light as the classic but filled with a bit of chocolatey goodness. If this sounds amazing, then you also need to try these chocolate snowball cookies which are filled with even more intense chocolate flavor.
I love to gift these to friends and family during the holidays along with a basket of chocolate covered blueberries, chocolate blackberries, and raspberries covered in chocolate!
These easy cookies are perfect for any level cook! So if you're a novice baker, don't worry I'm sharing all my tips along the way. So let's get started!
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Ingredients
Great-tasting snowball cookies with chocolate chips and no nuts start with quality ingredients. Here's what you need:
- Butter: We are using unsalted butter to make these nut-free snowflake cookies. Since different brands of butter contain different amounts of salt this gives you a bit more control over the flavor of your cookies. Don't forget to soften the butter ahead of time for easier mixing.
- Powdered sugar: Gives snowball cookies their signature tender, almost shortbread-like texture.
- Vanilla extract: Gives your cookies some warmth and notes of sweetness. Make sure you're using pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Chocolate chips: Make sure to use mini chips. Their small size is best for these cookies because they more easily mix into the cookie dough.
- Salt: Just a bit to bring all the flavors together.
See the recipe card for the full ingredient list and quantities of each one.
Substitutions
Substituting ingredients when baking may result in some variations in the baked goods. Here are some recommendations that have been tested and will work.
- Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar works best but you can use granulated sugar in the cookie dough if you want. Powdered sugar is still needed though for rolling the cookies. It's what gives the cookies their snowy appearance and also granulated sugar won't stick to the cookie balls after baking.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: Regular-sized chips will work too as long you chop them up into small pieces.
- Salted Butter: If you only have salted butter you can use it but you will need to reduce the amount of salt added by at least half.
Variations
Love the snowball cookies with chocolate chips but want to add some other ingredients to make them a bit different? Here are some of my recommendations.
- Gluten-free: You can easily make these gluten-free chocolate chip snowball cookies with your favorite gluten-free flour blend instead of the regular all-purpose flour. I also recommend checking that your other ingredients are also gluten-free.
- Nuts: If you don't need these cookies to be nut-free you can add chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, and pistachios for a nutty twist to your snowball cookies. Make sure they're chopped into small pieces so they blend into the dough very well.
- Coconut: Coconut also makes a nice addition to the cookie balls. I suggest using unsweetened shredded coconut for the best outcome.
- Flavoring: Experiment with different flavorings such as replacing the vanilla extract with almond extract, orange, or peppermint extract.
- Change up the chips: You can use milk chocolate chips for a slightly sweeter cookie or dark chocolate for more intense notes. Another option is to use a mixture of different kinds of chips!
How to Make Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies
Let's get baking! Make sure to gather all your ingredients together and start by preheating your oven.
Follow along as I show you the main steps involved in making these cookies though I recommend checking the recipe card before you start mixing yours together.
Step 1: Mix Together the Cookie Dough
- Cream together the butter and a half cup of the powdered sugar until it's smooth using a hand mixer. Add the vanilla and mix it in just until fully mixed.
- Add the flour, chocolate chips, and salt and mix until a soft dough forms.
Step 2: Scoop and Bake the Cookies
- Use a small cookie scoop to portion the dough into small balls. Roll them between your palms to form small smooth balls.
- Place the chocolate chip snowball cookies on a prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until the bottoms are slightly golden brown.
⭐️ Hint: I prefer to use a cookie scoop when making chocolate snowflake cookies. It makes an easy way to scoop the dough creating similar-sized balls that will cook evenly in the oven.
Step 3: Roll the Cookies in Sugar
- Roll the cookies while they are still warm in the remaining half cup of powdered sugar.
- Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to finish cooling completely.
PRO TIP: For an extra snowy appearance, roll the cookies in powdered sugar a second time after they're cooled and before serving.
Storage Tips
Store your snowball cookies with chocolate chips in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh for about a week.
Store them in the freezer if you need them to last longer. Place the cookies in an airtight container or a freezer bag. Place a piece of parchment paper between the layers to prevent the cookies from sticking together.
Serving Suggestions
Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy these delightful cookie balls!
- Traditional Holiday Cookie: When hosting holiday get-togethers, these bite-sized treats work great on your holiday dessert table! Enjoy them with other holiday favorites such as these turkey cranberry sliders, pomegranate mimosas, and these Brussels sprouts appetizers.
- Not Just for the Holidays. Chocolate chip snowball cookies are a delightful treat suitable for any special occasion or simply just because you are craving a sweet indulgence.
- All-Occasion Hostess Gifts and More! These cookies are a great choice for holiday gatherings, cookie exchanges, birthday celebrations, or for charming gifts, especially when presented in decorative packaging.
- Pair Them With Other Favorite Cookies: They go great with a wide assortment of cookies on a tray. Try them with these chocolate chip marshmallow cookies, chocolate cherry cookies, and cranberry crumble bars.
- Complement with Festive Beverages: Elevate your experience by pairing these cookies with a range of delightful holiday beverages, including an oat milk hot chocolate, some mulled wine, hot coffee with a splash of homemade Bailey's, or this pomegranate mocktail.
Expert Tips
Here's a review of my top tips for making sure your chocolate chip snowball cookies cook properly.
- Don't Over Mix the Cookie Dough. Adding the flour to the other ingredients at the end helps prevent mixing too much. Mix just long enough to bring all the ingredients together.
- Roll The Cookie Balls 2X! Roll them while they are fresh from the oven and a bit warm to give your cookies a first coat of sugar. The warmth helps the sugar stick and then when you roll them a second time after they're fully cooled creates another layer of sugar.
- Preheat Your Oven. Your cookies will cook more evenly and in the right amount of time when the oven is hot. Get it started right before you start mixing and that way it will be ready when you're done mixing and rolling the cookies.
- Avoid Cookies Stuck to the Tray. Make sure you either use a silicone mat or parchment paper so you can easily remove the cookies after baking.
- Shape Even-Sized Cookies. Not only will your cookies look better for serving but this also ensures even baking. If you don't have a cookie scoop you can use a tablespoon measure instead.
FAQS
Yes, you can! There are a couple of ways to approach it. You can make the dough, roll it into a ball, and store it in the fridge or freezer. The dough will last up to three days in the refrigerator or one month in the freezer. Another option is to shape the cookies into balls and flash-freeze them on a baking tray. Once they're frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or bag for storage.
When you're ready to bake, thaw out the frozen dough in the fridge overnight or on the counter for a couple of hours when you're ready to bake the cookies. If you have already shaped the dough into balls, I recommend transferring them to a baking sheet and baking them in the oven once they're thawed.
These little shortbread cookies are also called Mexican wedding cookies or Russian tea cakes. They usually contain nuts but this version replaces the nuts with chocolate chips to make delightful nut-free snowball cookies.
This wasn't a problem for me and likely won't be an issue, but if you find they're spreading too much you can chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking them.
More Best Cookie Recipes
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card right below! You can also write a review in the comment section further down the page I always appreciate your feedback. And don’t forget to tag me @freshcoasteats in your photos on social media, I'd love to see your results!
Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies Without Nuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to cream together the butter and ½ cup of the powdered sugar until smooth.
- Add the vanilla and continue mixing until well incorporated.
- Add the flour, chocolate chips and salt and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Using a small Tablespoon sized cookie scoop, scoop small dough balls and roll between palms to form small balls.
- Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until the bottoms are slightly golden brown.
- Remove from oven and while the cookies are still warm, roll them remaining ½ cup powdered sugar. (You can use a bowl, plate or tray for this step)
- Transfer cookies to the cooling rack to cool completely. For an extra snowy appearance, roll the cookies in powdered sugar a second time before serving.
Notes
- Don't Over Mix the Cookie Dough. Adding the flour to the other ingredients at the end helps prevent mixing too much. Mix just long enough to bring all the ingredients together.
- Roll The Cookie Balls 2X! Roll them while they are fresh from the oven and a bit warm to give your cookies a first coat of sugar. The warmth helps the sugar stick and then when you roll them a second time after they're completely cooled it creates another layer of sugar.
- Preheat Your Oven. Your cookies will cook more evenly and in the right amount of time when the oven is hot. Get it started right before you start mixing and that way it will be ready when you're done mixing and rolling the cookies.
- Avoid Cookies Stuck to the Tray. Make sure you either use a silicone mat or parchment paper so you can easily remove the cookies after baking.
- Shape Even-Sized Cookies. Not only will your cookies look better for serving but this also ensures even baking. If you don't have a cookie scoop you can use a tablespoon measure instead.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
We love these little cookies. The chocolate chips are a great idea.