Butterball Cookies

This is one of my favorite Italian cookie during the Christmas holiday or at Italian weddings! Pecan butterballs are so easy and simple to make. I grew up with this recipe and I'm happy to share it with you!

Course Dessert

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Cooling Time 1

Total Time 1 40

Servings cookies

Calories 137kcal

Author Liz Trementozzi

Ingredients

6 tbsp butter
2 tbsp sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup very finely chopped pecans a food processor or blender is ideal to use.
pinch of salt
3/4 cup confectioners sugar for coating the cookies

Instructions

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat.
6 tbsp butter
Add in the sugar, flour, vanilla, salt and finely chopped pecans.
2 tbsp sugar, 1 cup flour, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup very finely chopped pecans, pinch of salt
Mix all together to incorporate evenly and remove from heat.
Form small balls out of the dough and place on ungreased baking sheet.
Bake at 325F for 20 minutes, making sure they don't burn.
Gently remove from sheet and let cool on cooling racks. Using a spoon will help not accidentally crush them. Do not roll in sugar until they are FULLY cooled - this is about an hour. Otherwise they will crumble!
Once 100% fully cooled, roll in confectioners sugar until well coated.
3/4 cup confectioners sugar

Video

Notes

You can substitute pecans with other nuts such as almonds or walnuts.
You can substitute the vanilla extract with almond extract, even orange extract.
1 cup of whole pecans equal approx. 1 cup of chopped pecans.
Chopping pecans in a food processor gives a great consistency that goes great with these cookies. Make sure they are very fine, not big chunks.
If you want the cookies covered in more powdered sugar, then roll them twice in the powdered sugar and tap of any excess.
You can store long term in the freezer in an airtight container to prevent them being crushed. Otherwise, store in fridge for up to 5 days.
Remember to let the balls FULLY cool before rolling in the powdered sugar. This is critical otherwise they will crumble and fall apart. The butter needs time to harden.

Nutrition