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Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies for Festive Baking

These Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies are soft, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth treats packed with mini chocolate chips for a fun, festive twist. With their round, tender texture and snowy powdered sugar coating, they’re perfect for Christmas baking, cookie exchanges, holiday gift boxes, or any winter celebration. Every bite delivers rich buttery goodness mixed with small bursts of chocolate. Quick to make, adorable to serve, and always a crowd pleaser, these cookies are the definition of cozy holiday baking — simple, sweet, and irresistible.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
bake time 14 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes
Servings: 28 cookies
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes
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Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 2 1/4 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup Powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
Flavoring
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Chocolate Chips
  • 3/4 cup Mini chocolate chips
Nuts (optional)
  • 3/4 cup Finely chopped nuts pecans, walnuts, or almonds
  • Optional – skip for nut-free version
Dairy
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter softened
Coating
  • Additional powdered sugar for rolling
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Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer or whisk
  • Measuring cups & spoons
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Silicone spatula
  • Mixing spoon
  • Cooling rack
  • Small bowl for powdered sugar

Method
 

Step 1 — Preheat & Prepare Your Baking Sheet
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2 — Cream the Butter & Powdered Sugar
  1. Add softened butter and powdered sugar to a mixing bowl.
  2. Beat until creamy, fluffy, and smooth.
  3. This step gives snowball cookies their soft and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Step 3 — Add Vanilla
  1. Mix in the vanilla extract.
  2. Combine until evenly blended and fragrant.
Step 4 — Add Dry Ingredients
  1. Add flour and salt to the bowl.
  2. Mix gently until a soft dough begins to form.
  3. Do not overmix.
Step 5 — Add Mini Chocolate Chips
  1. Fold in the mini chocolate chips until evenly spread.
Step 6 — Add Nuts (Optional)
  1. Mix in chopped nuts if using.
  2. Nuts add crunch, but the cookies are delicious with or without them.
Step 7 — Shape the Cookies
  1. Scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough.
  2. Roll into smooth balls with your hands.
  3. Place on the baking sheet—they won’t spread much.
Step 8 — Bake
  1. Bake for 12–14 minutes.
  2. The tops should stay pale, and bottoms lightly golden.
  3. Do not overbake to maintain softness.
Step 9 — First Powdered Sugar Coating
  1. Let cookies cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet.
  2. While warm, roll each cookie in powdered sugar.
  3. Place on a cooling rack.
Step 10 — Final Snowy Coat
  1. Once cooled, roll each cookie again
  2. for the perfect snowy finish.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating
Room Temperature
Store in an airtight container up to 7 days.
Freezer (Dough)
Freeze rolled dough balls for up to 2 months.
Bake from frozen: add 2–3 minutes.
Freezer (Baked Cookies)
Freeze before coating in sugar.
Thaw, then roll in powdered sugar.
Reheating
Not needed.
If warming, microwave 5 seconds for a soft center.
🥄 Variations
1. Chocolate Chip Snowballs Without Nuts
Skip nuts entirely — add extra 2 tablespoons flour.
2. Double Chocolate Snowballs
Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder for richer chocolate flavor.
3. White Chocolate Snowballs
Swap mini chocolate chips for white chocolate chips.
4. Chocolate Chip Coconut Snowballs
Add 1/4 cup shredded coconut.
5. Chocolate Chip Almond Snowballs
Add almond extract + chopped almonds.
6. Peppermint Chocolate Chip Snowballs
Add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract + crushed candy canes.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Why is my dough too crumbly?
It may need 1–2 teaspoons more butter.
2. Can I make these nut-free?
Yes—skip the nuts. Cookies stay perfect.
3. Why did the powdered sugar melt off?
Cookies were too hot—cool 2 minutes before rolling.
4. Can I use regular chocolate chips?
Mini chips mix better, but regular chips work.
5. Why are my cookies dry?
Too much flour or overbaking.
6. Can I add more chocolate?
Yes—up to 1 cup total.
7. Do they freeze well?
Snowball cookies freeze perfectly.
8. Are these supposed to be crunchy or soft?
They are soft, tender, and crumbly.
9. Can I add spices?
Cinnamon or nutmeg give holiday warmth.
10. Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely — doubles beautifully.
🏁 Conclusion
These Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies are everything you love about classic snowballs — buttery, soft, lightly sweet — with the fun addition of mini chocolate chips. They’re perfect for festive baking, Christmas trays, winter gatherings, or cozy nights with hot drinks. Whether you include nuts or keep them simple, these cookies deliver melt-in-your-mouth texture and irresistible chocolate bursts in every bite. Beautiful, delicious, easy, and guaranteed to become one of your holiday favorites!