12 Days of Christmas Cookies - Day 6: Melt in Your Mouth Chai Spiced Snowballs (Italian Wedding Cookies)

So these aren't really called Snowball coookies; they are (Insert Your Culture) Wedding Cookies. And since I'm half Italian, I call them Italian wedding cookies.  They are also known as Russian Wedding Cookies or Mexican Wedding Cookies. I'm not really sure how it came about that at least three different cultures lay claim to these cookies, but it's probably because they are so freaking awesome. 

 These are, by far, Jack's favorite cookies. He constantly asks for them and for some reason, I never make them. But when he heard that I was going to make these cookies for this cookie series, he did his happy dance. 

 

Made of finely ground almonds and enough butter to make Paula Deen weep and then tossed in a ton of powdered sugar, these cookies are so incredibly light and tender that they truly do melt-in-your-mouth when you bite into them. To make them a bit more wintery, I added some Chai Spice and that was a huge YES addition. 

 

The chai spice adds such a lovely flavoring to the cookies. Jack had one bite of these cookies and started running around the apartment with a smile on his face. He then ran back into the kitchen, pushed me out of the way, and then grabbed three more cookies. 

 

As a side bar, I know some men don't find Chai spice manly, and I think that's crazy. A good friend of mine loves Skinny Chai Spice lattes from Starbucks, but would never order them because he was embarrased. There is nothing embarrassing about skinny chai lattes because they are AWESOME. Wear it loud and proud! Like a pink shirt!  It's manly!  

Chai Spiced Snowball Cookies (Italian Wedding Cookies) 

Makes about 40 cookies

 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter

 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups finely ground almonds

4 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for rolling

2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoon ground cardamom

2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground coriander

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Combine spices, salt and flour and combine with a whisk. 

Cream butter in a bowl, gradually add confectioners' sugar and salt. Beat until light and fluffy. Add almonds and vanilla. Blend in flour gradually and mix well.

Shape into balls using about 1 teaspoon for each cookie. Place on ungreased cookie sheets, and bake for 15-17 minutes. Do not brown. Cool slightly, then roll in the extra confectioners' sugar.

Comments

[Maria]

Love the twist on the traditional snowballs!

[shelly (cookies and cups)]

These are so pretty!

[A Bowl Of Mush]

These sound amazing!!

[Emily Porter]

I want to make these RIGHT NOW but I only have non-unsalted butter, I don't have the almonds (but I do have almond extract!) and I don't have coriander. I think I might try anyway.....

[calvin klein underwear]

the parents know that too much material life won't always do good to the children.