Truth be told, I wasn’t a fan of these cookies as a child, but I can’t recall why. As an adult, just the sight of these cookies—with their buttery, nutty flavors and snowy sugar coating—gets me in the holiday spirit. Round, delicate, and with a crumbly texture, these gluten-free snowball cookies are the perfect sweet treat to share. Plus, the sugary coating covers any potential gluten-free “off” taste, making them a hit for everyone at your holiday gatherings.

Why You’ll Love Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies

Perfectly Sweet and Buttery: The sugar coating balances the nutty, buttery cookie base.
Gluten-Free Friendly: A treat everyone can enjoy, especially gluten-free family members.
Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and steps for a no-fuss holiday cookie.
Great for Gifting: These delicate, snow-dusted cookies look beautiful in treat bags or festive tins.

What You Need To Make Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies

Vegan butter
Organic confectioners’ sugar
Vanilla extract
Gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour
Finely chopped pecans

Check the recipe card for exact measurements.

How To Make Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies

Prepare the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix the Dough:
- In a stand mixer, cream together the vegan butter, ½ cup confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Slowly mix in the gluten-free flour until combined, then fold in the chopped pecans.
Shape the Cookies: Use a leveled tablespoon of dough to form small balls. Place them evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake: Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until the cookies are set and the bottoms are lightly golden.
Coat in Sugar:
- Let the cookies cool for 10 minutes. Toss them in 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar to coat lightly.
- Once completely cooled, toss them in the remaining sugar for a final snowy layer.

Store cookies in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

How long do gluten-free snowball cookies last?

These cookies stay fresh for up to 1 week when stored in a well-sealed container at room temperature.

Can I use regular flour instead of gluten-free flour?

Yes! If you don’t need these cookies to be gluten-free, you can swap in all-purpose flour in equal amounts.

What nuts work best in snowball cookies?

Pecans are the classic choice, but finely chopped walnuts or almonds also work beautifully.

Can I freeze gluten-free snowball cookies?

Absolutely! Freeze the baked cookies (without the sugar coating) for up to 2 months. Thaw, then coat them in confectioners’ sugar before serving.

Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies – Buttery, Nutty, and Sweet

These gluten-free snowball cookies are buttery, nutty, and coated in sweet confectioners’ sugar. A perfect holiday treat that’s easy to make and gluten-free!

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Ingredients

▢ 1 cup vegan butter softened
▢ 1 ½ cups organic confectioners’ sugar divided
▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
▢ 2 cups gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour
▢ ¾ cup finely chopped pecans

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a stand mixer, cream together the butter, ½ cup sugar, and vanilla. Add the flour until combined. Fold in the pecans until evenly dispersed.
Use a leveled tablespoon’s worth of dough to create a ball. Repeat with all of the dough and place balls on the prepared baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 14-16 minutes until they are set and the bottoms are lightly browned.
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes.
Add the remaining 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar to a large bowl. Add the cookies and lightly toss them to coat in the sugar. Remove cookies and place on a cooling rack. When completely cooled, toss in remaining sugar until well coated.
Cookies will keep in a well-sealed container for up to 1 week.