Best Recipe for Mexican Wedding Cookies

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If you want to make Mexican wedding cookies that practically melt in your mouth, you need this recipe! I’ll teach you how to make these buttery pecan cookies with just 10 minutes of prep, 6 ingredients, and one mixing bowl!

a pile of mexican wedding cookies on white parchment paper with some chopped pecans sprinkled on them

You will love this recipe for Mexican Wedding Cookies

Whether you’re making these cookies for the first time or you’re a seasoned pro baker, I’ve refined my recipe to make the easiest and best version of this classic Christmas cookie.

My version, while incredibly easy, still stays true to traditional Mexican wedding cookies, a rich, buttery cookie with a nutty flavor and delicate texture.

With just 4 easy-to-follow steps, the hardest part of this recipe will be patiently waiting for the dough to chill so you can smell the aroma of fresh baked cookies.

In our family, these have always been a tradition during the Christmas season. However, there are no cookie rules and I say, these delicious cookies shouldn’t be reserved for only the holiday season, have them any time of year!

a pile of mexican wedding cookies with a bite out of the cookie on top of the pile, chopped pecans sprinkled around, and a brown box in the background

What makes these the Best Mexican Wedding Cookies

Here are a few reasons why you will love these classic Mexican wedding cookies:

Just a handful of ingredients
Only 4 easy steps and 10 minutes to prep
Just 1 mixing bowl = less mess to clean up!
Perfect Christmas cookie
Rich, buttery and nutty flavor

What are Mexican Wedding Cookies?

Mexican wedding cookies are tender, delicate cookies with buttery pecan flavor, dusted in a powdered sugar coating. Also known as pecan snowball cookies, they are popular at Christmas time, and are known for being served at, you guessed it, Mexican weddings!

overhead view of the ingredients for mexican wedding cookies arranged on a counter top with a kitchen towel including powdered sugar, two sticks of butter, pecans in a measuring cup, all-purpose flour in a measuring cup, a small bowl of vanilla extract, and a small bowl salt

With just 6 very simple ingredients, you can make addictive cookies that keep your friends, family and guests coming back for more. These are a great addition to any Christmas cookie tray! Get the full recipe with instructions in the recipe card below.

Powdered sugar
Chopped pecans
Unsalted butter: room temperature
All-purpose flour
Salt
Vanilla

a white plate full of mexican wedding cookies sprinkled with chopped pecans with a brown box in the background, a kitchen towel beside the plate and a tiny bowl of chopped pecans and white bowl of powdered sugar around

How to make Easy Mexican Wedding Cookies

When these become your new favorite cookies and you can’t wait to make another batch, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Follow these easy steps to the perfect holiday cookie.

a clear glass bowl with an electric mixer in it getting ready to mix powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla with a kitchen towel beside the bowl, a small empty white bowl, a tiny bowl of chopped pecans, a tiny glass bowl of salt and a measuring cup of flour

a clear glass bowl with an electric mixer in it that has mixed powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla with a kitchen towel beside the bowl, a small empty white bowl, a tiny bowl of chopped pecans, a tiny glass bowl of salt and a measuring cup of flour

Mix all ingredients except pecans. In a large bowl cream together with a hand mixer the butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. About 3-5 minutes. Add in the flour and salt, mix again until combined.

a clear glass bowl with an electric mixer in it that has mixed powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla and about to mix flour into it, with a kitchen towel beside the bowl, a small empty white bowl, a tiny bowl of chopped pecans, a tiny glass bowl of salt and a measuring cup of flour

a clear glass bowl with an electric mixer in it that has mixed powdered sugar, butter, vanilla and flour and about to mix chopped pecans into it, with a kitchen towel beside the bowl, a small empty white bowl, a tiny bowl of chopped pecans, a tiny glass bowl of salt and a measuring cup of flour

Add pecans and chill. Add in the chopped pecans, folding them in with a rubber spatula until evenly incorporated. Cover the dough and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

a clear glass bowl with mexican wedding cookie dough in it with a kitchen towel and spatula laying beside it, mixers with dough on them beside it, an empty measuring cup and empty small clear glass bowl and chopped pecans scattered around

a ball of mexican wedding cookie dough in a white bowl full of powdered sugar with a kitchen towel, small bowl of chopped pecans, large glass bowl of cookie dough and a baking sheet lined with parchment paper around it

Prep oven and baking sheet. When done chilling, preheat the oven to 350ºF. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Form the dough into 1 inch balls. Place the remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar in a small bowl. Roll the dough balls in powdered sugar and place on a baking sheet.

mexican wedding cookies ready to be baked lined in rows on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper

rows of freshly baked mexican wedding cookies on a sheet pan that has been lined with parchment paper

Bake and cool. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool and roll again in powdered sugar if desired.

a ball of mexican wedding cookie dough in a white bowl full of powdered sugar with a kitchen towel, small bowl of chopped pecans, plate with cookies, and a baking sheet lined with parchment paper around it

How to store this Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe

Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days. If you stack the cookies within the container or bag, I recommend adding a layer of parchment paper between them so they don’t stick.

a white plate full of mexican wedding cookies sprinkled with chopped pecans with a brown box in the background

Why are they called Mexican wedding cookies?

Despite the name “Mexican wedding cookies,” the origin of these cookies is not exclusively Mexican. In Russia these cookies are known as “Russian tea cakes” or “Russian tea cookies.” The name “Mexican wedding cookies” might have been associated with special occasions like weddings due to their delicate and celebratory nature. Some people believe that “Mexican” was added to the name because of the association with the use of nuts, which are commonly found in Mexican cuisine.

Why are my Mexican wedding cookies so crumbly?

Mexican wedding cookies are meant to be crumbly because they don’t contain any egg to bind them. They are more similar to shortbread cookies in texture, and are not meant to be chewy. However, if your cookies are too crumbly, it may be because the butter was too cold. It’s important to bring the butter to room temperature before adding it to this recipe. If it’s too cold, it won’t be able to bind the sugar, flour and nuts correctly, resulting in a cookie dough that is too crumbly.

a pile of mexican wedding cookies on white parchment paper on a white counter

4.84 from 6 ratings

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Best Mexican Wedding Cookies

By: Beth

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 20

Chill Time: 2

Servings: cookies

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If you want to make Mexican wedding cookies that practically melt in your mouth, you need this recipe! I'll teach you how to make these buttery pecan cookies with just 10 minutes of prep, 6 ingredients, and one mixing bowl!

Ingredients

▢ 2 cups powdered sugar, divided
▢ 1 ¼ cup chopped pecans
▢ 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature equal to 2 sticks
▢ 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
▢ 1 tsp salt
▢ 1 Tbsp vanilla

Instructions

In a large bowl cream together with a hand mixer the butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. About 3-5 minutes. Add in the flour and salt, mix again until combined.
Add in the chopped pecans, folding them in with a rubber spatula until evenly incorporated. Cover the dough and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
When done chilling, preheat the oven to 350ºF. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Form the dough into 1 inch balls. Place the remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar in a small bowl. Roll the dough balls in powdered sugar and place on a baking sheet.
Bake for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool and roll again in powdered sugar if desired.

Nutrition

Nutrition Disclosure

All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

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