Easy Chocolate Peppermint Snowball Cookies that are made gluten-free with almond flour and sweetened with coconut sugar and organic powdered sugar.
We were hit with some serious wintry weather this weekend. The kind of dreadfully cold and snowy weather that causes you to start hibernation practices immediately.
And in just the same way it seems illness always does, the forced slow-down due to road conditions— and maybe more importantly, avoiding the cold in general—was much needed and welcomed. And an excuse to make more of these chocolate peppermint snowballs wasn't so bad either.
Cookies for the Season
Snowball cookies—also known in other variations as Russian tea cakes, Italian wedding cookies, or butterballs— require simple ingredients and even simpler preparation.
The almond flour and cocoa powder in this recipe meld beautifully with the creamed butter and coconut sugar to transform into a cookie that I assure you no one would guess was gluten-free.
A quick note: Be sure the chocolate peppermint snowball cookies have cooled completely before rolling them in the powdered sugar. This will ensure that they firm up and won't crumble when time to coat.
Chocolate Peppermint Snowball Cookies(Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 ¼ cup almond flour (not meal) 125 g
- ¼ cup arrowroot starch (cornstarch would work as well) 32 g
- ¼ cup cocoa powder 20 g
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup organic powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream butter and coconut sugar with an electric mixer until fully combined. Add the remainder of the ingredients except for powdered sugar. Mix until batter forms, about 2-3 minutes. Place bowl in freezer to chill for about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Once dough has chilled, rolled dough into 1-inch balls and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes (careful not to overbake) and place baking sheet on wire rack. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for about 10 minutes before removing and placing cookies directly on wire rack to cool completely.
- Place powdered sugar on a plate. Once cookies are completely cool, roll cookies in powdered sugar to coat.
Nutrition
Ashlea Christopher
Great cookies and so easy to make!
Tessa
So glad you enjoyed them!!
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps
These are so beautiful! The perfect holiday treat.
Tessa
Thank you, Nicole! I hope you had a wonderful holiday! <3
amanda
i had no idea these were a chocolate version of traditional snowballs, i just thought you named them that because of how they pretty they look. lol! clearly it has been a long few weeks. i love this rendition, and i'm sure they have superb texture with the almond flour + cocoa. glad you got some rest with the slow-down! xo
Tessa
Lol, I wish I was the one to come up with that! ;) They just melt in your mouth - and totally fuels my obsession with peppermint and chocolate. Snow days are the best. Hope you are staying warm up there! xo
traci | VanillaAndBean
These are genius Tessa!! I can see why one wouldn't know they're GF! Snowballs are among my favorite cookies.. add the chocolate and peppermint and I'm in cookie heaven! I hope you're staying warm... it's bitter out there! xo
Tessa
Thank you, Traci!! They just melt in your mouth. Chocolate and peppermint is my cookie heaven too. Happy holidays to you, my friend!! xoxo
Willow | Will Cook For Friends
Snowball cookies are one of my favorite cookies to eat, but you know what, I have never EVER made them. What's wrong with me?! Haha! These sound amazing with the peppermint and cocoa -- and your photos are so stunning, I feel like I could just reach through my screen and grab one! (I wish.) Pinning so I remember to try these sometime!
Tessa
Haha, I was like that for SO long! You need to change that. ;) Thanks so much for your kind words. I would definitely share some of these with you if I could - thank you, Willow!
Abby @ Heart of a Baker
Oh girl, I'm right there with you! When the wind was blowing in at -20 this weekend, all I wanted to do was bake cookies and hibernate until spring! I love these little minty powdered sugar rolled cookies, they are right up my cookie loving alley :) xoxo
Tessa
I think Earth Balance sticks would work well in this - I'm going to try in my next batch! :) It was so cold last week and now it feels great. That's the Midwest for you! xoxo
Kelsey @ Appeasing a Food Geek
Oooh so pretty! I totally feel you on the hibernation front when it comes to snowy weather. And these cookies look like just the thing to solve that problem! Happy Holidays Tessa! xoxo
Tessa
Cookies and hibernation just go hand in hand, I think. ;) Happy holidays, Kelsey! <3
Aysegul Sanford
I love that this recipe has only a few ingredients and is so simple. They look so yummy making me want to reach into my computer screen and want to grab one.
Happy holidays Tessa. Keep warm and safe. <3
Tessa
They are a low-stress cookie! ;) I wish I could share with you. Happy holidays to you! xo
Karlie
These look perfect! And so simple! xo
Tessa
Thank you, Karlie! They really are so easy to make. Which is good and bad... ;)
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
You are coming up with all my favorites Tessa! I LOVE these! January is going to be a very long month at the gym for me!! Thanks so much for sharing and have an awesome holiday!
Tessa
Hahaha, I feel the same. January is going to be rough! Snowballs make me feel like a kid. ;) Happy holidays, Mary Ann! xoxo