Nothing quite says cozy and festive like a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth treat — and that's exactly what this Almond Filled Snowball Cookies Recipe delivers. Soft, buttery, and bursting with a sweet almond and raspberry surprise, it’s a bite that instantly feels like a warm hug.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I honestly can’t get enough of these Almond Filled Snowball Cookies. From the first time I baked them, I knew they were a special kind of cookie — perfect for sharing or savoring solo with your favorite tea.
- Perfect Balance of Flavors: The subtle smell of toasted almonds pairs beautifully with a sweet hint of raspberry jam inside.
- Fun to Make: Shaping and filling these bite-sized cookies feels like an enjoyable little kitchen craft project.
- Soft Yet Tender Texture: These snowballs practically melt on your tongue, making each bite a little moment of joy.
- Lovely Presentation: The double dusting of powdered sugar makes these cookies look as delightful as they taste—ideal for holiday gifting!
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient brings its own little magic to these Almond Filled Snowball Cookies. I always recommend using fresh, high-quality staples for the best results, especially with simple cookie recipes like this where every component truly shines.
- All Purpose Flour: The base that gives structure but keeps the cookie tender.
- Toasted Ground Almonds: Adds nuttiness and texture, elevating flavor beyond a plain cookie.
- Salt: Just a pinch to balance sweetness and amplify other flavors.
- Unsalted Butter: Using room temperature butter makes creaming with sugar easier, resulting in light, fluffy dough.
- Powdered Sugar: Gives sweetness and that classic snowy look, both inside the dough and as a finishing touch.
- Almond Extract: The fragrant soul of the cookie, enhancing the almond flavor beautifully.
- Seedless Raspberry Jam: The surprise filling that adds a juicy pop and a lovely contrast.
Make It Your Way
I like to switch up the jam sometimes depending on the season or what I have on hand. It’s fun to experiment—you might try apricot or even a bit of lemon curd inside for a bright twist!
- Variation: When I’m feeling indulgent, I mix a little orange zest into the dough — it adds such a fresh lift that balances the almond beautifully.
- Dietary Tip: For a gluten-free version, swapping the all-purpose flour for an almond flour blend works well, though the texture will be a bit different.
- Texture Preference: If you love your cookies crisp, leave them in the oven a minute or two longer—but watch carefully so they don’t brown too much.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Almond Filled Snowball Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients with Care
Start by stirring the flour and salt together in a bowl. It’s important to get that evenly mixed so every cookie has just the right balance. I like to toast and grind my almonds fresh for that perfect nutty flavor, but store-bought toasted ground almonds work just fine too.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy
Use an electric mixer to cream your softened butter with powdered sugar. The key here is to beat until it looks light and fluffy — this will help your cookies be tender and airy rather than dense.
Step 3: Add Almond Extract and Fold Everything Gently
Once the butter mixture is creamy, add almond extract for that unmistakable fragrance. Then, slowly beat in your flour mixture on low speed, combining everything until you get a soft dough. Stir in those toasted ground almonds last.
Step 4: Shape and Fill Your Cookies
Here’s the fun part: break off two small 1-inch dough balls, hollow out the center of each, and spoon a tiny bit of raspberry jam inside. Press the two halves together, pinching to seal so the jam stays inside. I make sure to gently reshape the cookie ball so it looks smooth and even—no cracks for jam escape!
Step 5: Chill Before Baking
Place your assembled cookies on parchment-lined sheets and pop them in the fridge for 1-2 hours. This step is a game-changer—it helps the cookies hold their shape and keeps the jam from leaking during baking.
Step 6: Bake and Finish with Powdered Sugar
Bake at 350°F until the bottoms just turn golden, around 11-12 minutes. When they come out, let them warm slightly, then roll each one in powdered sugar. Once completely cooled, I give them a second dusting—for that lovely snowball look and delicate sweetness on every bite.
Top Tip
Over countless batches, I've learned a few tricks that made my Almond Filled Snowball Cookies turn out perfect almost every time, and I’m excited to share them with you.
- Chill Well: Don’t rush the refrigeration step—it's the secret to preventing the jam from oozing out while baking.
- Seal Carefully: Take your time pinching the dough closed around the filling. It's easy to miss spots, leading to leaks.
- Use Powdered Sugar, Not Granulated: It creates that classic soft, snowy coating and won’t clump.
- Watch the Bake Time: These cookies don’t need to brown much — pulling them out too late affects their tender texture.
How to Serve Almond Filled Snowball Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I keep it simple with a dusting of powdered sugar—because honestly, that just screams snowball cookie to me! Sometimes, I add a few whole toasted almonds or a tiny edible flower on top when I want to impress guests.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of chai or herbal tea. For holiday gatherings, I often set them alongside spiced cider or a creamy hot chocolate—it’s a combination that invites everyone to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Creative Ways to Present
One year, I arranged a nest of these cookies around fresh sprigs of rosemary and cranberries on a platter for an effortless, festive look. I’ve also wrapped small bundles of cookies tied with twine as charming edible gifts.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover Almond Filled Snowball Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They usually stay fresh and tender for about a week, but honestly, mine rarely last that long!
Freezing
These cookies freeze wonderfully. I wrap them individually in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe bag. When you're ready, just thaw them on the counter for a couple of hours—they taste as fresh as the day you baked them.
Reheating
If you want that “just baked” warmth, pop a few cookies in the oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes—just enough to soften them up and bring out the jam’s fragrance without melting the sugar coating.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Feel free to swap raspberry jam with apricot, strawberry, or even a tangy lemon curd. Just keep the filling quantity small to avoid leaks during baking.
The key is chilling the shaped cookies for at least 1 hour before baking and making sure you pinch the dough together thoroughly around the filling. This seals the jam safely inside.
Yes, you can substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that measures cup-for-cup the same. Keep in mind, the texture may be slightly different but still delicious.
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh for about one week. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months for longer storage.
Final Thoughts
This Almond Filled Snowball Cookies Recipe is a little tradition in my kitchen that always brings smiles and a cozy atmosphere. They’re not fancy or complicated, but their tender crumb, nutty flavor, and sweet jam center feel like a secret treat worth sharing. I’m confident you’ll enjoy making and savoring them just as much as I do — so grab your apron and let’s bake some memories!
Print
Almond Filled Snowball Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 30 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delicious filled almond snowball cookies with a buttery almond-flavored dough and a sweet raspberry jam center, coated in powdered sugar for a snowy finish. Perfectly crumbly yet tender, these cookies are a delightful treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ¾ cup toasted ground almonds
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Filling
- ¼ cup seedless raspberry jam
To Finish
- Powdered sugar for coating
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In one bowl, stir together the all purpose flour and pinch of salt until combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In another bowl, use an electric hand mixer to cream the unsalted butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add Flavor: Add the almond extract to the creamed butter mixture and mix briefly.
- Combine Dough: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating on low speed just until combined without overmixing.
- Incorporate Almonds: Stir in the toasted ground almonds gently to distribute evenly through the dough.
- Shape Dough Balls: Take two 1-inch pieces of dough each and roll into balls. Create a hollow in each dough ball with your fingers, then add a scant half teaspoon of seedless raspberry jam into the hollow.
- Enclose Jam: Press the two dough balls together to enclose the jam completely, pinching edges to seal and gently reshape into a smooth ball.
- Arrange for Chilling: Place the shaped cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them to prevent sticking.
- Chill Dough: Refrigerate the baking sheets with shaped cookies for 2 hours to firm up.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
- Bake Cookies: Bake the chilled cookies for about 12 minutes until the bottoms just begin to brown.
- Coat with Sugar: Remove the cookies from the oven, and while still warm, roll them in powdered sugar to coat.
- Final Sugar Coating: Once the cookies have completely cooled, roll them in powdered sugar again for a snowy finish.
- Store: Store the finished cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Toast the almonds before grinding for enhanced nutty flavor.
- Room temperature butter ensures better creaming and texture.
- Seal the jam filling carefully to prevent leakage during baking.
- Chilling the dough before baking helps maintain shape and texture.
- Double coating in powdered sugar gives the classic snowball appearance.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
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