• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cooking With Rebecca
  • Home
  • About Cooking with Rebecca
  • Recipe Index
  • Cooking with Kids Classes
  • Setting Goals *free printables*
  • Menu Planning *free printables*
  • Contact

Russian Tea Cakes

December 1, 2022 by Rebecca 1 Comment

1 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
I have been seeing cookies called Snowballs popping up everywhere this season. But I know them as Russian Tea Cakes, and I made a batch today. A friend came over tonight and confirmed that they’re what she knows as Snowballs. A plate of Russian Tea Cakes, Cinnamon Spiced Pecans, Peanut Butter Balls, and Coffee Shop Fudge says to me, “Christmas Season.” Welcome, December!
Christmas Treats

Shortbread with Powdered Sugar

Russian Tea Cakes are a non-rising shortbread cookie made with butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, flour, and chopped nuts. Bake them to perfection until they’re just a little bit brown. Once they have cooled, roll them in more powdered sugar. I store mine in an airtight container with extra powdered sugar. Before serving, just gently turn the bowl over to give the cookies a fresh coat of powdered sugar.

Russian Tea Cakes or Mexican Wedding Cakes?

You also might know these cookies better as Mexican Wedding Cakes. I have a fun elementary school memory of performing the Mexican Hat Dance with my class, and at the end of the program, each class had provided a treat for all to share. I think my mom must have made these, because she was always involved in PTA and helping wherever she could during our growing-up years.

But even back then, I grew up calling these Russian Tea Cakes.

How To Easily Mix and Form Russian Tea Cakes

Softened butter is a big key to success in combining all of the flour in these butter cookies. Have you seen the life hack to place a warmed glass over a stick of butter to soften it? Today, I had two sticks of butter plus my powdered sugar and vanilla already in a mixing bowl, and the butter wasn’t soft enough. So I placed an oven-proof dinner plate into the oven that was preheating for just a couple minutes. Using a potholder, I pulled it out and placed it on top of my glass mixing bowl for a very short time – one minute. The butter was perfect for creaming together the sugar, butter, and vanilla.

After getting those three ingredients completely combined, add the flour a little bit at a time, plus the salt. I continue working it with the electric mixer even as it gets thick. Once the flour has all been incorporated, add the finely chopped pecans and do a final mix.

Instead of rolling individual balls, you can choose to roll a log (on a silpat mat works great!) and cut discs. You can line them up and bake as they are. Or, give each one a very quick roll (I did three motions back and forth for rounded but not perfect cakes), and then a very gentle two-finger press.

Baked Russian Tea Cakes

 

 

 

 

Whether round, flat, or oblong; and whether you call them Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding Cakes, or Snowballs, these cookies are perfect at Christmastime!

Russian Tea Cakes in Jar

Russian Tea Cakes

A butter cookie with powdered sugar dusting that melts in your mouth
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 12 mins
Course Dessert

Ingredients
  

Cream Together:

  • 1 c soft margarine
  • 1/2 c powdered sugar
  • 1 t vanilla

Stir In:

  • 2 1/4 c flour
  • 1/4 t salt

Add:

  • 3/4 c finely chopped nuts we like pecans

Instructions
 

  • Thoroughly stir until all crumbs are incorporated. Roll into 1" balls. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 12-15 minutes until set just barely starting to turn brown on the bottom. Let cool. Roll in powdered sugar. Give them a second coat of powdered sugar before serving.
Keyword Christmas Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cakes, Russian Tea Cakes

 

Other Shortbread Cookies:

Cherry Kiss Cookies

1 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Filed Under: Christmas, Cookie Recipes, Dessert Recipes

Previous Post: « Bacon and Cheese Egg Bites
Next Post: Gooey Roll Ring »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mom

    January 9, 2021 at 6:45 am

    These dainty tea cookies make a tasty addition to a cookie platter. They have a slight crunch that melts in your mouth, with a pop of sweet bliss as you indulge.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Join Me:

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • twitter
  • pinterest

Welcome!

A profile picture of Rebecca of Cooking with Rebecca

On Cooking with Rebecca you will find recipes to feed your family, throw a party, or curl up in comfort. From appetizers to salads and sides and finally desserts, I have you covered.

Search for a Recipe:

Search by Recipe Type:

Recent Posts:

Amazing Stacked Enchiladas

Cheesy Potatoes

Cheesy Potatoes

Gluten Free Casserole Sauce Mix

Gluten Free Casserole Sauce Mix

Gooey Roll Ring

Gooey Roll Ring

Russian Tea Cakes in Jar

Russian Tea Cakes

Copyright © 2023 Cooking With Rebecca on the Foodie Pro Theme

1 shares