This cookie is a butterball cookie, crunchy, buttery rolled into powdered sugar and has an orange zest flavoring along with coconut.
Mom loved this recipe on the Christmas cookie tray because of its snowy look and the cookie was full of fall flavors with the addition of cinnamon and very simple to make.
We all took turns rolling them into powdered sugar for the holiday cookie tray and I can assure you, they almost didn't make it to that tray we ate them so fast.
You may also know these cookies as snowballs, pecan butterballs, Mexican wedding cakes, Mexican tea cakes, Russian teacakes, butterballs cookies, pecan sandies, viennese sugar butterballs.. whatever you name them they are a delicious addition to any cookie collection!.
If you are an orange cookie lover, this is one for your collection.
There is a printable copy at the bottom just click print to bypass the ads and read the story.
Step-by-Step Orange Snowball Cookies
- Mix and dough and chill for 2 hours
- Roll into balls
- Bake
- Roll into powdered sugar once while warm and again after they cool
- Printable recipe card is at the end of this post hit print
Tools
- 2 Baking sheets
- Electric Mixer
- Mixing Bowl
- Parchment paper
- Melon Baller
Tips
- always refrigerate the dough to prevent spreading
- use a melon scoop for even cookie sizes
- these will look great in little paper holiday-themed liners
- keep in covered containers
- cookies freeze perfectly
Baking Instructions
- line cookie sheets with parchment paper
- preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- bake just until edges start to turn golden
Pin for later

Orange Snowball Butterballs
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1 1/4 cups coconut flakes
- 2 sticks butter (softened) (1 cup)
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar( sifted)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of orange zest (orange part only)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toast coconut (place on a baking sheet and spread out evenly, bake for about 10 minutes, until golden, watch it closely it will burn)
- In a mixing bowl beat butter on medium-high with an electric mixer until smooth, add vanilla and coconut extract, and continue mixing.
- Slowly add 1 1/4 cups of powdered sugar and blend well.
- Beat in the flour, orange zest, cinnamon, and salt just until it forms a ball.
- Remove the beaters and fold in the coconut with a spoon.
- Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Let the dough rest on the counter for a few minutes to allow it to soften slightly.
- Place on a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a melon baller, or a tablespoon, get one level scoop (tablespoon) of dough for each cookie.
- Roll dough into balls with your hands and place on prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes.
- Cool on sheets for 5 minutes and roll hot cookies in remaining powdered sugar.
- Cool and roll in powdered sugar again. Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
151.39Fat (grams)
8.49 gSat. Fat (grams)
5.91 gCarbs (grams)
18.1 gFiber (grams)
0.88 gNet carbs
17.22 gSugar (grams)
10.1 gProtein (grams)
1.27 gSodium (milligrams)
88.93 mgCholesterol (grams)
16.2 mgThe default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.
Pin for later
Here are more of our favorite cookie recipes:
Italian Almond Pasta Cookies
Italian Wedding Cookies
Cucidati Fig Sicilian Cookies
24 One-Stop Cookie Shop
Fried Bow Tie Cookies
25 Holiday Cookies
This is an Affiliate link and I do make a small commission see our Disclosure Policy Here
I think that the addition of cinnamon was very appropriate. These cookies are heavenly. Thanks for sharing, I take advantage of your recipe for my Christmas home- made gifts ^__^ Bye, have a great week end
ReplyDeleteClaudia,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this yummy recipe. I love the addition of the orange, coconut, and cinnamon. they will look so enticing on a cookie plate.
These sound really good. My mom always made a cookie like these for the holidays except hers didn't have orange and cinnamon.
ReplyDeleteOh,yum!!! I didn't realize that these had coconut in them...which makes them even MORE delicious!
ReplyDeleteThis one is a keeper! I like the unique combination of flavors as well as the snowy presentation. Great holiday cookie to add to the plate. Thanks for sharing this one Claudia!
ReplyDeleteAwesome. My kind of cookie. And the cinnamon was a nice touch. Probably my favorite of the sweet spices.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great combination! I love citrus and coconut.
ReplyDeleteIt's like bringing a little bit of the tropics and wrapping it up like a snowball for the holidays.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great dessert perfect for the holidays!! I love this and the touch of orange sounds fantastic!! :)
ReplyDeleteoooo yummy! I love the orange.
ReplyDeleteI love that these don't sound too heavy, and the orange should be a good balance to the sweetness from the powdered sugar :)
ReplyDeleteOrange in underused for cookies - they always give off a rich, seasonal scent and these are picture-perfect!
ReplyDeleteThey look so festive. Perfect for the holidays.
ReplyDeleteWhat great cookies! I love the orange and cinnamon - perfect for Christmas time!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you on the cinnamon. These look awfully tasty.
ReplyDeletewhat a nice recipe, I like it, it is so close to one of my families recipes but not with the orange... yup, I like it, esp with the spice
ReplyDeleteAnother yummy Christmas cookie for the Queen of Cookies! Fabulous display my friend. I only wish I could bake cookies like yours :)
ReplyDeleteI love the kind of cookies that just melt in your mouth like this! Delectable!
ReplyDeleteThese look so delicious, perfect for the holiday season! Lovely recipe :)
ReplyDeletea wonderful addition to the recipe my bloggy friend xo
ReplyDeleteOh, what a delicious recipe just in time for my cookie exchange. I love coconut and orange.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing,
Joanne
I saw these on your sidebar with my name written all over them. Great combo.
ReplyDelete