Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies (Melt in Your Mouth!)
24cookies
These gluten-free snowball cookies have a light, fluffy texture and rich, buttery flavor! They are undetectably gluten-free and just like the classic cookies you know and love.
¾cupwalnuts or pecansfinely chopped, 84 grams measured after chopping
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, (or use a large bowl with an electric hand mixer) add the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract and salt. Mix on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
With the mixer running on low, slowly add the gluten-free 1:1 baking flour. Mix in the cornstarch followed by the chopped nuts. Mix for another minute or so until well-combined, scraping down the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.
Cover the bowl of dough with plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 3 days). (If chilling for longer than a few hours, though, allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before rolling and baking for the right texture.)
Preheat the oven to 375F. Line 2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
Scoop the dough into Tablespoon-sized balls and roll between your palms to make round. Place on the prepared baking sheet about 3 inches apart.
Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the bottoms are beginning to turn golden brown.
Let the cookies cool for 10 minutes, then roll the slightly warm cookies in powdered sugar.
Place on a wire cooling rack. Let the cookies cool completely and then roll in powdered sugar a second time.
Repeat baking and rolling with the remaining dough. Enjoy!
Notes
RECIPE NOTES
The chilling time helps the cookie dough to hydrate so the dough is easier to work with and prevents the finished cookies from tasting grainy.
For best results, use a high quality gluten-free 1:1 baking flour that contains xanthan gum. This is my favorite brand.
Use powdered sugar (aka confectioners sugar) instead of granulated white sugar. Powdered sugar hydrates more easily in gluten-free dough to create that classic light texture.
A little cornstarch added to the dry ingredients helps to lighten the crumb of the cookies.