Snowball cookies are a classic nutty, buttery, sweet holiday dessert with many forms: Italian wedding cookies, Mexican wedding cookies, or Russian tea cakes! But this almond-based recipe for Grain-Free Italian Wedding Snowball Cookies is gluten-free, vegan, paleo, keto, and sugar-free! Just 4 ingredients, they're a healthy low-carb addition for the Christmas cookie tray!
Nutty, buttery, and sweet! These bitable balls of almond cookie goodness are going to be more than just a holiday cookie for you now! They're so simple and so easy to bake, not to mention these grain-free snowball cookies are pretty darn healthy too! You only need 4 ingredients to make these cookies and just 15 minutes of baking time! They can be that last minute bake for any holiday party or...of course...for Santa's cookie plate!
What's the difference between snowball cookies, Italian wedding, Mexican wedding, and Russian tea cakes?
I had no idea either. While these are regional variations (I'm sure your family calls them one of these names), it all comes down to the nut used in the cookie. I like to think of "Snowball Cookies" as the overarching base and a name everyone knows. But, Italian Wedding cookies are almond-based, Mexican Wedding cookies are walnut-based, and Russian Tea Cakes are pecan-based. Besides the differences in nuts, they're all buttery cookie balls rolled in powdered sugar!
Can you use any nut in snowball cookies?
Sure! You can, but since I made these cookies grain-free, the easiest nut flour to get would be almond flour. These cookies typically contain an all-purpose flour in combination with a ground up nut. Since I'm swapping out all the flour for just nut-based flour, I didn't have to grind a ton of my own almonds. I'm just using fine almond flour. If you want to use a difference nut...get grinding! You'll have to process the nuts, like pecans or walnuts (hazelnuts would be good!), super fine to achieve the proper consistency for these grain-free cookies!
What else is used to make these grain and gluten-free vegan Italian wedding snowball cookies?
I chopped the ingredient list down to just 4 items! #1 super fine almond flour, #2 MELT vegan butter, #3 powdered erythritol (Swerve), and #4 vanilla extract! I know! So easy! They're kind of like a healthy snack bites/bliss ball, except you do bake them. They are super low-carb, healthy high fat (...keto? I don't know, you tell me), totally paleo, gluten-free, vegan, and sugar-free! They do contain tree nuts (obviously) so they are not top 8 allergen-free. You could perhaps swap a safe nut, maybe even try to get super fine ground sunflower seeds...The taste will be strong, but if you're really dieing for a snowball cookie, give it a try and let me know!
How do you make snowball cookies?
All you have to do is mix together those four ingredients I listed above. The almond flour, vegan/soy-free butter (softened!), powdered sweetener, and vanilla. Then take about 1 tablespoon per cookie, roll the dough in your hands to form a ball, place it on a cookie sheet and bake those buttery babies for 15 minutes! Take them out of the oven and roll them in more powdered sweetener to give them their iconic sweet snowy white outside! A super easy process that the kids can join in on so you don't have to get any powdered sugar on your hands...although I bet you want to 😉
Grain-Free Italian Wedding Snowball Cookies
Grain-Free Italian Wedding Snowball Cookies (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Paleo)
Snowball cookies are a classic nutty, buttery, sweet holiday dessert with many forms: Italian wedding cookies, Mexican wedding cookies, or Russian tea cakes! But this almond-based recipe for Grain-Free Italian Wedding Snowball Cookies is gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and sugar-free! Just 4 ingredients, they're a healthy low-carb addition for the Christmas cookie tray!
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 15 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American. Italian
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Super-Fine Almond Flour (not almond meal!)
- ¾ Cup Powdered Erythritol (plus more for coating)* (or use preferred powdered sweetener)
- 1 Stick MELT Vegan/Soy-Free Butter (softened)
- 1 Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, powdered sweetener, softened butter, and vanilla.
- Mix together until you have a smooth kneadable dough.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat.
- Take 1 tablespoon of dough, per cookie, and roll it into a ball, spacing out the balls on the lined baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- Remove, let cool just enough so you can safely handle them.
- Pour out some powdered sweetener on a plate and roll the warm cooking in the sweetener.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack, but roll the cooled cookies one more time in more powdered sweetener before serving.
Notes
*Have another 2-3 cups for easy rolling in the extra powdered sweetener. I just poured some on a plate, I didn't measure!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
Sweet, buttery, soft and delicious, but dairy-free, grain-free, and no sugar! Growing up, I never really knew what a snowball cookie was made out off. What could possibly be under that white powdered sugar coating? I always though it was just butter (gross!) Sugar coated butter! But, being that my Italian side of the family broke out ALL the cookies and pastries for Christmas, of course Italian Wedding cookies were always included on the dessert table. However, to my recollection...no one really chose the snowball cookies...they were always left all sad and lonely on the plate! Until now...
So tell me:
+ What do you call Snowball cookies in your family?
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Jeannie
Wow! I am so excited to find your website! Earlier this summer I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and GERD. I have managed to get my blood levels down to Pre-diabetic and have lost weight due to exercise and a low-carb, no sugar diet. These cookies ( we call them "cocoons") are my absolute favorite Christmas cookie and you have nailed it! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope they brighten up your holidays!
Erin Parker
You know, my family doesn't have a snowball recipe, but I have always enjoyed them at cookie exchanges. 🙂 Clearly, this year is the year I need to try my hand at making them, and since we have a friend who recently went gluten free, these would be the perfect thing to bring their family!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are such an easy cookie to make!
Lacey
These look amazing (it doesn't hurt that they're my favorite cookie, lol)!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O they are? I'm glad to hear that!
Emily Jones
I've been really looking for Gluten Free recipes as I am on Keto. Thanks for the share
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well these lean toward the keto spectrum!
Sheila Price
These look so yummy...I just had to check out your recipe. I can't believe these are gluten-free!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well I hope you enjoy them this holiday!
Megan Elzey
These look so good! Having recently had to go gluten free to heal gut and thyroid issues, I'm always happy to find easy and delicious GF recipes. Thank you for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Then you came to the right place for recipes!
Jazz
I love Italian wedding cookies! Even better that these are grain-free so more people can enjoy them. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They were a cookie that was just begging to be made grain-free! Already was halfway there!
Sami | The Classic Brunette
These look SO good! I'll have to try them out at christmas!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you do!
adriana
These look so good! What a fun recipe, need to try them!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I bet you will
Whitney
These look super delicious and I can't believe there are only four ingredients in them!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? Quick and easy!
Dori
These cookies look so delicious! I will try the recipe 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Awesome! Enjoy!
Marina
They look amazing but I'm Italian but I've never eaten these before, can you believe it? I only know "Bignè di San Giuseppe" that they have cream inside...
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well I guess you just need to give them a shot now!
Lily
Love that you are sharing a gluten free version of these -- can't wait to try these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think the vegan aspect is bigger with these butter-based cookies!
clare
thank you
i have been looing for a gluten free recipie for my mother in law and i am intalian
this will be fun
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope she can understand your English!
lauren
Yes, I love these cookies. Can't wait to try out this recipe 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Enjoy, Lauren!
Shibani
Oh these are some of my favorite cookies to buy! Looking forward to making them this year!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic! Glad they're a favorite!
Marissa | Marissa's Teachable Moments
These cookies look delicious! Only 4 ingredients? I just might try the recipe.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? So simple!
Aditi Wardhan Singh
These would be great for christmas festivities.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Lol, yup.
Bridget
I remember these cookies being a staple at Christmas growing up but I haven't had them since going vegan. I have to bring these with me when I go home!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O yes! Bring back the snowballs!
Melanie
This look so light and yummy! Perfect things for a cookie exchange party at work!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sure will be great for any cookie party!
ashley
These look and sound delightful! I try to follow a vegan diet due to some allergies, so it is awesome when I come across yummy recipes I can actually try!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You found the right place here on Strength and Sunshine!