Jolly Cherry Pistachio Snowballs Recipe: Holiday Magic in Bites!

Sweet baking magic happens when cherry pistachio snowballs dance across your kitchen counter.

These delightful treats blend rich, creamy textures with a burst of festive flavors.

Soft, powdery, and utterly irresistible, the cookies offer a perfect balance of nutty and fruity notes.

Pistachios add a gentle crunch that contrasts beautifully with the tender cookie base.

Each bite promises a delectable winter wonderland of taste and texture.

You’ll love how these snowballs melt in your mouth, leaving behind a trail of cheerful holiday memories.

Prepare to enchant everyone at your next gathering with these charming, melt-in-your-mouth delicacies.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 149 kcal

Servings: 25

Cherry Pistachio Snowball Ingredient Lineup

• Dried Cherries: Bursting with sweet-tart flavor, these jewel-like fruits add vibrant color and tangy punch to the snowballs.
• Pistachios: Provides rich, nutty crunch and beautiful green color that contrasts beautifully with the white powdered sugar coating.
• Shredded Coconut: Brings tropical texture and subtle sweetness, enhancing the overall mouthfeel of the cookie.

• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Creates creamy, cohesive base that holds all ingredients together, adding rich sweetness and smooth consistency.

• Powdered Sugar: Transforms the cookies into delicate, snow-like treats with a soft, elegant finish and sweet dusting.

• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic depth that bridges the fruity and nutty flavors, creating a harmonious taste profile.

What You’ll Use for Snowball Cookie Magic

• Mixing Bowl: Large bowl for combining cherries, pistachios, and other ingredients.
• Knife: Sharp tool for chopping dried cherries and pistachios into small pieces.
• Measuring Cup: Essential for accurately pouring sweetened condensed milk.
• Baking Sheet: Flat tray for chilling and storing the snowballs.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents snowballs from sticking and makes cleanup easy.
• Shallow Dish: For rolling snowballs in powdered sugar.
• Hands: Your best tool for forming and rolling the cookie dough into perfect balls.

Roll, Bake & Cool These Cherry Pistachio Beauties

• Chop and Mix Ingredients

Grab your dried cherries and pistachios, and finely chop them into delightful little pieces. Toss them together in a large mixing bowl, creating a colorful and tasty base for your sweet treats.

• Create Sticky Dough

Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and gently stir until everything combines into a wonderfully sticky mixture. The dough should hold together perfectly when you squeeze it.

• Shape Snowball Treats

With clean hands, roll the mixture into small, bite-sized balls. Wet your fingers slightly if the dough gets too sticky, ensuring smooth and round snowballs.

• Sugar Coat

Roll each ball generously in powdered sugar, transforming them into gorgeous white treats that look like tiny snowflakes. Make sure every inch is covered in a delicate sugar blanket.

• Chill and Set

Place your snowballs on a parchment-lined tray and pop them in the refrigerator. Let them rest and firm up for about 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the texture to become perfectly smooth.

• Serve and Savor

Pull out your chilled Cherry Pistachio Snowballs and get ready to enjoy! These delectable treats will keep in an airtight container for up to a week, making them a perfect make-ahead dessert for any occasion.

Tips to Keep Snowballs Tender Yet Crisp

• Keep these delicate treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for maximum freshness and texture.
• Ensure pistachios are chopped into varying sizes for a more interesting mouthfeel – some fine pieces and some slightly larger chunks create delightful contrasts.
• Replace sweetened condensed milk with coconut cream and use vegan powdered sugar to make these snowballs completely plant-based and allergy-friendly.
• If you're short on time, pop the snowballs in the freezer for 15 minutes instead of refrigerating for 30 minutes – they'll firm up faster while maintaining their delicate structure.
• Experiment with adding a pinch of ground cardamom or a splash of almond extract to introduce unexpected depth and complexity to the traditional snowball recipe.

How to Serve Cherry Pistachio Snowballs at Gatherings

• Holiday Gift Packaging: Wrap these delightful snowballs in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons for a charming homemade present that looks professional and tastes incredible.
• Dessert Platter Companion: Arrange snowballs alongside other bite-sized treats like chocolate truffles or mini macarons to create a stunning dessert display that will impress guests at parties or family gatherings.
• Tea Time Treat: Serve these snowballs with a hot cup of Earl Grey or chamomile tea for a delightful afternoon snack that combines sweet, nutty flavors with a comforting warm beverage.
• Brunch Buffet Addition: Include these snowballs on a brunch spread as a light, sweet ending to a delicious morning meal, offering guests a delicate and elegant dessert option.

How to Store Them So They Don’t Crumble

• Seal cherry pistachio snowballs in an airtight container, keeping them fresh in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. The cool environment maintains their delicate texture and prevents sugar coating from becoming sticky.
• Carefully layer snowballs between parchment paper in a freezer-safe container. These treats can stay perfectly preserved for 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving to maintain their delightful soft consistency.
• If serving within 2-3 days, store snowballs in a sealed container at room temperature. Keep away from direct sunlight or heat sources to prevent sugar coating from melting or becoming clumpy.
• Prepare the dough up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate. When ready to serve, roll into balls, coat with powdered sugar, and chill. This technique helps busy home bakers plan delicious treats without last-minute stress.

FAQs

• Are the cherries and pistachios meant to be fresh or dried?

The recipe calls for dried cherries and either raw or roasted pistachios. Dried cherries provide better texture and concentrated flavor, while pistachios add a delightful crunch.

• Can I skip the coconut if I don't like it?

Absolutely! The coconut is optional in this recipe. You can omit it entirely without affecting the overall structure of the snowball cookies.

• How do I prevent the dough from being too sticky?

Use slightly damp hands when rolling the balls, or chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before shaping. This helps reduce stickiness and makes rolling easier.

• What type of powdered sugar works best for coating?

Standard confectioners’ sugar works perfectly. Ensure it’s finely ground for a smooth, even coating on the snowball cookies.

Festive Cherry Pistachio Snowballs Recipe

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4.7 from 40 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Delightful cherry pistachio snowballs blend Middle Eastern and winter holiday flavors into one charming cookie. Sweet spherical treats coat pistachios and dried cherries with powdered sugar, creating a festive dessert you’ll savor with pure culinary joy.

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Ingredients

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• 2 cups (474 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (120 ml) chopped maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry
• ½ cup (60 g) finely chopped pistachios
• ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar (plus more for rolling)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp almond extract
• ¼ tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Prep Ingredients: Dice dried cherries into uniform, small pieces and roughly chop pistachios to create textural variety and enhance flavor complexity.
2. Combine Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, blend chopped cherries, pistachios, shredded coconut, and vanilla extract thoroughly, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
3. Form Dough: Incorporate sweetened condensed milk into the mixture, stirring until a cohesive, pliable dough emerges that holds its shape when manipulated.
4. Shape Confections: With moistened hands, roll the mixture into compact one-inch spheres, preventing excessive sticking and maintaining consistent size.
5. Sugar Coating: Generously envelop each dough ball in powdered sugar, creating a pristine, snow-white exterior that mimics delicate winter frost.
6. Chill and Set: Arrange sugar-coated orbs on a parchment-lined tray, refrigerate for 30 minutes to solidify structure and allow flavors to meld intensely.
7. Store and Serve: Transfer the Cherry Pistachio Snowballs to an airtight container, where they will remain fresh and delectable for up to a week, ready for spontaneous enjoyment.

Notes

• Prevent Sticky Dough: Lightly wet hands with cold water when forming balls to stop mixture from clinging to fingers, ensuring smooth, uniform snowballs.
• Precise Chopping Technique: Cut cherries and pistachios consistently to maintain balanced texture and flavor distribution throughout each bite.
• Strategic Cooling Method: Refrigerate snowballs for exactly 30 minutes to set shape and intensify flavor melding without compromising delicate texture.
• Storage Intelligence: Use airtight container when storing to preserve moisture and prevent sugar coating from absorbing ambient humidity, maintaining fresh taste for maximum 7 days.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: None
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 149
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 28 mg
• Fat: 11 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 31 mg