Cherry Pistachio Snowballs Recipe

If you love delicate, melt-in-your-mouth treats with a burst of vibrant flavor and color, the Cherry Pistachio Snowballs Recipe is an absolute must-try. These soft, buttery cookies gently envelop sweet maraschino cherries and crunchy pistachios, all beautifully dusted in powdered sugar that makes every bite feel like a festive celebration. Whether you’re making these for a holiday gathering or a sweet afternoon indulgence, they offer a perfect balance of textures and subtle nutty notes that will have everyone reaching for another.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Gathering the ingredients for this Cherry Pistachio Snowballs Recipe is delightfully straightforward, yet each component plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect texture and flavor harmony. From the tender cake flour to the pop of bright cherries and nutty crunch from pistachios, everything comes together simply but beautifully.

• Cake Flour: Using cake flour helps create tender, delicate cookies with a light crumb that melts in your mouth.
• Unsalted Butter: Softened to room temperature, butter brings richness and moisture, forming the cookie’s buttery base.
• Granulated Sugar: Just a touch to add sweetness without overpowering the delicate flavors.
• Almond Extract: Adds a subtle nutty fragrance that complements the pistachios perfectly.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the cookie’s overall flavor with familiar warmth.
• Maraschino Cherries: Chopped to infuse bursts of juicy, sweet cherry flavor and eye-catching red color.
• Pistachios: Chopped nuts add a delightful crunch and vibrant green hue contrasted against the cookies.
• Powdered Sugar: For coating, giving the cookies their signature snowy, powdery finish.

How to Make Cherry Pistachio Snowballs Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Cherries

Start by draining a 12-ounce jar of maraschino cherries and gently pressing them with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This step ensures the cherries remain moist and flavorful but won’t make the dough too wet or sticky, which helps the cookies keep their shape.

Step 2: Mix the Dough

In a roomy mixing bowl, combine cake flour, softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Mix these ingredients well until they form a smooth, cohesive dough that promises soft texture and rich flavor.

Step 3: Add Cherries and Nuts

Carefully fold in the chopped maraschino cherries and pistachios into the dough. This step is key to distributing the bursts of sweetness and crunch evenly so every bite packs that signature Cherry Pistachio Snowballs Recipe punch.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Chilling firms up the dough, which helps the cookies maintain their round shape during baking and enhances the final texture.

Step 5: Preheat and Prepare

Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and line a large baking tray with parchment paper. A properly heated oven and lined tray ensure even baking and prevent sticking, so your snowballs come out perfect every time.

Step 6: Form the Cookies

Using a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop, shape balls of dough and place them evenly on the baking tray, giving them about 2 inches of space between. They don’t spread much while baking, so spacing is more about handling convenience.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until the cookies feel firm but have soft, slightly golden brown bottoms. You want them soft-baked and tender rather than crunchy to keep that melt-in-your-mouth charm.

Step 8: Coat in Powdered Sugar

Once cooled just a bit, roll the cookies in powdered sugar while they’re still warm, so the sugar adheres beautifully and creates the classic snowy exterior reminiscent of winter magic.

Step 9: Enjoy and Store

Now comes the fun part — enjoying these treats! Store any leftovers in an airtight container after they have completely cooled to preserve freshness and flavor.

How to Serve Cherry Pistachio Snowballs Recipe

Garnishes

For an added touch of elegance, sprinkle a few crushed pistachios or a drizzle of white chocolate over the cookies just before serving. These simple garnishes enhance both the appearance and texture, making every bite feel extra special.

Side Dishes

Pair these snowballs with a steaming cup of hot tea, coffee, or even rich hot chocolate for a cozy treat session. The warm beverage balances the subtle sweetness and textures, turning teatime into a truly comforting ritual.

Creative Ways to Present

Arrange your Cherry Pistachio Snowballs Recipe on a festive platter dusted lightly with powdered sugar or nestle them in cupcake liners for easy serving at parties. You can even gift them in decorative tins with some colorful ribbons for a homemade present that everyone will adore.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled completely, place leftover snowballs in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to a week. Storing them this way preserves their tender texture and nutty cherry flavor beautifully.

Freezing

If you want to enjoy these snowballs later, freezing is your friend. Lay them in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. They keep well frozen for up to three months and thaw quickly at room temperature.

Reheating

When ready to enjoy frozen snowballs, let them come to room temperature naturally — there’s no need to reheat. This keeps the powdered sugar coating intact and preserves their signature soft, buttery texture.

FAQs

Can I substitute all-purpose flour for cake flour?

Absolutely! While cake flour gives the cookies a softer texture, all-purpose flour works fine too. Just expect a slightly denser cookie, but still delicious.

Can I use fresh cherries instead of maraschino?

Maraschino cherries provide sweetness and color that fresh cherries don’t quite replicate. If using fresh cherries, be sure to pit and dry them very well, but note the flavor and texture might differ.

Is it okay to use salted pistachios?

Yes, salted pistachios can add a lovely savory contrast, but adjust the overall salt in the recipe accordingly to avoid over-salting your cookies.

Why do I need to chill the dough?

Chilling helps the cookies hold their shape during baking and improves the texture, making them more tender and less likely to spread.

Can these cookies be made gluten-free?

With the right gluten-free flour blend that mimics cake flour, you can make these snowballs gluten-free. Just ensure your flour choice keeps the dough light and tender.

Final Thoughts

Making the Cherry Pistachio Snowballs Recipe is like inviting a sprinkle of sweetness and cheer into your kitchen. These cookies are simple to craft yet wonderfully impressive in flavor and texture. I truly hope you give this recipe a try — your taste buds and guests will thank you for it!

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