A Christmas Classic! These Butter Balls, also known as Russian Tea Cakes, are so easy, but so delicious and perfect little snowball bites of Christmas!
Next try our Peppermint Snowball Cookies!
It's the final countdowwnnn! Can you believe we're just a couple of days away? We're wrapping up our Christmas Cookie Platter Gifts for our neighbors and no cookie plate would be complete without Classic Butter Balls!
Although these are now more commonly known as Russian Tea Cakes, I prefer Butter Balls because lets be honest, that's exactly what they are. Little sugar-coated balls of butter. So simple, yet so perfect.
Recipe Video
These are up there as one of my husband's favorite cookies, which is why he has requested that we give away 99% of them, otherwise if he makes eye contact with the little snowball butter bites, we'll end up only having 1% to give away. 😛
The best thing about these cookies? They're so stinkin' easy. Less than 20 mins and you'll have dozens of Butter Balls ready to decorate any cookie tray.
May your Christmas (or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or whatever you observe) be filled with many delicious treats! Now that we've finished all of our cookie baking, we're ready for the rest of our Christmas Cooking Traditions. Next up, Christmas Eve Pierogis!
Enjoy! As always, if you make this recipe or any of my others, I love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below, email me, or you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
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Classic Butter Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup soft unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar + 1/4-1/2 cup more for dusting
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
- In a large bowl mix together butter, confectioner's sugar, and vanilla until well incorporated.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour and salt. Stir into butter mixture. Add walnuts and mix.
- Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place on un-greased cookie sheets. They don't spread so they don't need to be spaced far apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for a minute or two, then add another 1/4-1/2 cup of confectioner's sugar to a small bowl and then roll just out of the oven balls in sugar (don't worry, they wont fully coat, yet). Let cool and then roll again to get the full sugary coating.
Aline
These were so tasty I'm adding them to my holiday treats box this year!! Thank you!
Tracy
So glad you enjoyed them, Aline!
Lorraine Iannello
If you are like me and wondering about the different results of confectioners vs granulated, this from the Web may be helpful to those who prefer melt in your mouth vs crispy:
“When creaming butter and sugar, granulated sugar's larger crystals incorporate more air into doughs than confectioners' sugar. A cookie made with granulated sugar will be crispy while one made with powdered sugar will be tender and melt-in-your-mouth.” Then use confectioners sugar/10x just for dusting. I see and use both versions of this recipe and finally discovered why the cookies turn out differently depending upon which type of sugar is used with the butter. Continued sweet success to you all.
Tracy
Thanks so much for sharing, Lorraine!! Great information!
Jennifer Nunez
Yummy
Helen
Most old fashion recipe for Butter Ball Cookies require after mixture place in refrigerator for 6-8 hours. Thereafter they should form into balls.
Tracy
Hi Helen! You're right - they do! But this busy mom doesn't have time for that, so this is my cheat 😉
Barb
Are you able to make dough and let it set over night?
Val
This is a slight variation on the Butter Balls that I make. My favourite cookie, since childhood. 🙂
Tracy
Aww that's great! There's nothing better than childhood favorites!
Heather
My grandmother always made these for the holidays, the only thing she did different was a half a cherry in the middle. Omg so good and I hate walnuts but I love these.
Tracy
Oooh half a cherry, what a great idea!!! Love recipes that remind us of our grandmothers!
Mary C,
I have made these for years. It is the first thing my son asks for. Presents are not a big thing.
Jane
I use pecans in my butter ball cookies makes a huge difference in tast much much yummier if that is a word LOL
Tracy
Hi Jane! Oh YUM that actually does sound really good!! And yummier is definitley a word 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Tisha
These are such a great classic that don't get made often enough! Can't wait to make these for the holidays!
Dnnii
Oh yum. This sound deliciously indulgent.
Jacqueline Debono
You are right these butter balls sound so easy. Def want to add them to my Christmas cookie list!