These Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies are buttery, tender, and coated in sweet powdered sugar for a classic holiday treat. This easy recipe uses simple ingredients and includes dairy-free and vegan options.
Notes on ingredients:
Butter: Use regular butter for the richest flavor, or swap in Smart Balance (dairy-free) or Earth Balance (vegan). Use a stick-style butter for the best structure.
Powdered sugar: It sweetens the dough and helps create a tender, shortbread-like texture.
Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla for the cleanest flavor.
Gluten-free flour: I like Pillsbury gluten-free flour, but results vary because blends differ in starch ratios and absorbency.
Xanthan gum: Add it only if your flour blend doesn’t already include it, since too much can make cookies gummy.
Nuts: Finely chopped pecans work beautifully, but walnuts or almonds also taste great. Chop them small so the cookies hold together and slice cleanly.
Salt: A small amount balances the sweetness and keeps the flavor from tasting flat.
Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies: Easy Steps
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Cream butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar together in a large bowl.
Add gluten-free flour, xanthan gum (if needed), salt, and chopped nuts; mix until the dough holds together.
Then, shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
Freeze for 5 minutes.
Bake 10–12 minutes until set but not browned.
Cool 3–5 minutes. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar, cool, then roll a second time.
Store in an airtight container.
Pro tip for baking gluten-free snowball cookies
Chill the shaped dough balls briefly before baking, because gluten-free dough can spread faster in a hot oven. A quick freeze helps the cookies keep their round “snowball” shape and prevents greasy puddles.
Gluten-free flour (why brands matter)
Not all all-purpose gluten-free flour blends behave the same, even when the label says “1:1.” Some blends absorb more moisture, some brown faster, and some include milk powder or extra gums.
If your cookies seem dry or won’t hold together, your blend likely absorbs more. If they spread too much, your blend may be lighter in structure, or your butter may be too soft.
Tip for measuring gluten-free flour
Use a spoon to gently fill your measuring cup with flour, then sweep the top flat with a knife. Don’t scoop directly from the bag, because that packs in extra flour and can make your Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies crumbly instead of tender.
Dairy-free baking options
You can make these cookies dairy-free or vegan by swapping the butter:
Dairy-free: Smart Balance (or a similar dairy-free stick butter)
Vegan: Earth Balance (vegan butter)
If your vegan butter contains more water, you may notice slightly more spread, so keep the freezer step and avoid over-sizing the cookie balls.
Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies
These Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies are buttery, tender, and packed with pecans. Roll twice in powdered sugar for the perfect holiday cookie. Dairy-free option.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (dairy-free: Smart Balance; vegan: Earth Balance)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour (I used Pillsbury gluten-free flour)
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your flour already has it)
- 3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (pecans recommended)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cream butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar together in a large bowl.
- Add gluten-free flour, xanthan gum (if needed), salt, and chopped nuts; mix until the dough holds together.
- Then, shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
- Freeze for 5 minutes.
- Bake 10–12 minutes until set but not browned.
- Cool 3–5 minutes. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar, cool, then roll a second time.
- Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
36Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 93Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 74mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 3g
Looking for more gluten-free Christmas cookies? Be sure to check these recipes out:
- Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies (Easy Cut-Out Recipe)
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Butter Cookies
- Gluten-Free Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies
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