Need an easy jar mix that turns into buttery, tender holiday cookies without dragging half the pantry onto the counter? Snowballs Cookie Mix keeps it simple with flour, powdered sugar, and pecans layered in a quart jar or tucked into a bag, then finished with shortening, margarine, and vanilla when you’re ready to bake.
These classic little cookies bake up lightly sweet, nutty, and delicate, then get a final roll in confectioners’ sugar for that snowy finish. If you like make-ahead baking projects, this one earns its keep right alongside Southern Pecan Snowballs and other pantry-friendly Cookie Mix Recipes.
- 🥣 Ingredients
- 👩🍳 Instructions
- 💡 Tips
- 🔄 Variations
- 📦 Storage
- 🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- 💸 Price Breakdown
- 🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- ❓ FAQ
- 📌 Pin Recipe
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly Recipe Card
Ingredients for Snowballs Cookie Mix
You only need three dry ingredients for the giftable mix, then three more to turn it into cookie dough. Pack the flour firmly enough to settle the jar neatly, but don’t mash the pecans into dust. They’re cookies, not insulation.
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 3/4 cup shortening
- 1/4 cup margarine
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- Extra confectioners’ sugar, for rolling baked cookies
The dry mix fits in a 1 quart jar, which makes it handy for gift baskets, pantry prep, or tucking into a cupboard for last-minute baking. For the best quality, keep the dry mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot. Because nuts are the shortest-lived ingredient here, an unopened mix is best used within about 3 months at room temperature for best flavor, though the cookies themselves store longer once baked.
Once baked, these cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 weeks. If you want a longer window, the USDA notes that homemade cookies keep well at room temperature for 2 to 3 weeks, and they also freeze nicely for longer storage.
How to Make Snowballs Cookie Mix
If you’re giving the mix as a gift, layer the dry ingredients in a quart jar or seal them in a large zip-top or vacuum-seal bag. Attach the baking directions so the recipient can turn the mix into cookies without guesswork.
- Measure the confectioners’ sugar, flour, and chopped pecans into a 1 quart jar in layers, or place them in a large zip-top bag and seal tightly.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and grease a cookie sheet.
- Combine 1 package of mix with 3/4 cup shortening, 1/4 cup margarine, and 2 teaspoons vanilla until well blended.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cookies are set and lightly colored.
- Cool the cookies, then roll them in confectioners’ sugar to coat.
Using 1-inch dough balls, you’ll get about 36 cookies, depending on how tightly you roll them and how generously you coat them in sugar. That’s roughly 3 dozen, which is a respectable return for one humble quart jar.
Tips for Best Snowballs
- Chop the pecans fairly fine. Large pieces make the dough crack and can keep the cookies from holding a neat round shape.
- Don’t overwork the dough. Mix just until everything comes together so the cookies stay tender instead of tough.
- Keep the size consistent. A level 1-inch ball helps the batch bake evenly in the full 20 to 25 minute window.
- Roll after cooling. If the cookies are too hot, the sugar can melt instead of coating them evenly.
- Use a second dusting if you want a snowier finish. One coat gives you sweetness, two coats give you the proper holiday postcard look.
Easy Variations
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel here, but you can nudge the flavor a bit if you like.
- Swap the nuts: Finely chopped walnuts work if pecans aren’t on hand, though the flavor will be slightly more assertive.
- Add a little spice: A light pinch of cinnamon in the mix adds warmth without taking over.
- Use butter instead of margarine: If that’s what you keep on hand, use the same amount and expect a slightly richer flavor.
- Make them gift-ready: Layer the mix in a clear jar, add a tag with the finishing ingredients, and tie it up with a scoop of extra powdered sugar.
Storage and Shelf Life
Dry mix: Store the sealed mix in an airtight jar or bag in a cool, dry pantry and use it within 3 months for best quality. That’s a conservative estimate based on the pecans, which lose freshness faster than flour and sugar.
Prepared dough: If you mix the dough but don’t bake it right away, wrap and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. After that, the texture starts to slide downhill and the fat can pick up refrigerator odors.
Baked cookies: Keep cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or freeze them for up to 2 months for best quality. If you stack them, separate layers with wax paper so the sugar coating stays where it belongs.
Serving Suggestions
These cookies belong on a holiday tray, but they also work nicely with coffee, hot cocoa, or tucked into a cookie tin for gifting. If you’re building a mixed dessert platter, pair them with something crisp like No Fail Sugar Cookie for Perfect Results Everytime for a little texture contrast.
They also make a good small-batch dessert to keep on hand when you want something sweet without frosting, filling, glazing, chilling, or any other unnecessary drama.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Snowballs Cookie Mix
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Confectioners' sugar |
$2.24 |
1/2 C. |
$0.15 |
|
All-purpose flour |
$2.96 |
2 C. |
$0.31 |
|
Chopped pecans |
$4.48 |
1 C. |
$2.17 |
|
Shortening |
$3.98 |
3/4 C. |
$0.45 |
|
Margarine |
$1.98 |
1/4 C. |
$0.25 |
|
Vanilla |
$5.94 |
2 t. |
$0.99 |
|
Extra confectioners' sugar |
$2.24 |
1 ≈ a light dusting |
$0.01 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$4.33 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.12 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Confectioners Powdered Sugar, 32 oz
- All-Purpose Flour, 5 lb
- Pecan Halves, 8 oz
- Vegetable Shortening, 48 oz
- Unsalted Butter, 16 oz
- Pure Vanilla Extract, 2 fl oz
- Confectioners Powdered Sugar, 32 oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Snowballs Cookie Mix
You can, and it’s a straight swap for the 1/4 cup margarine. Butter gives you a slightly richer flavor, but because it contains a little water, the dough may feel a touch softer, so chilling it for 15 to 20 minutes can make rolling easier.
That usually means the pecans were chopped too coarsely or the dough wasn’t mixed quite enough to hold together. Chop the nuts finer and blend just until the fat is fully worked through the dry mix so each ball stays compact instead of crumbling like a bad attitude.
No, not usually. If your kitchen is warm or the dough feels greasy after mixing, a short 15-minute chill helps the cookies hold their round shape and keeps them from spreading more than you want.
Stick with 1-inch balls for the baking time listed here. That size gives you about 36 cookies and helps them bake through in 20 to 25 minutes without drying out or staying doughy in the center.
Wait until they’ve cooled. Rolling hot cookies in powdered sugar can melt the coating into a thin glaze, while cooled cookies hold that soft, snowy finish much better. If you want a thicker white coating, dust them a second time after the first layer settles.
Absolutely. Seal the mix tightly and store it in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months for best quality. The nuts are the limiting factor here, so freshness matters more than heroics.
Yes, and they freeze well. Pack the cooled cookies in an airtight container with wax paper between layers and freeze them for up to 2 months for best quality, then let them thaw at room temperature before serving.
Finely chopped walnuts are the easiest substitute. Use the same 1 cup amount, but chop them small so the dough rolls cleanly and the finished cookies keep that tender, sandy texture instead of turning chunky.
Make sure the cookies are fully cool and dry before coating them. Any lingering heat or steam creates patchy spots, so if the first coating looks thin, let it sit a few minutes and roll them again for a more even finish.
They’re especially good with coffee, tea, or hot cocoa because the buttery, nutty cookie isn’t overly sweet on its own. On a dessert tray, pair them with a crisp cookie or simple bar so you get a better mix of textures instead of one soft bite after another.
📌 Love this Snowballs Cookie Mix? Pin it!
Did you make this recipe? Tell us how your batch turned out, or share the tweak that made it work in your kitchen. A quick comment helps the next reader skip the guesswork.
🖨️ Print-Friendly Snowballs Cookie Mix
Snowballs Cookie Mix
Ingredients
- ½ cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ¾ cup shortening
- ¼ cup margarine
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- Extra confectioners' sugar for rolling baked cookies
Equipment
Instructions
- Measure the confectioners' sugar, flour, and chopped pecans into layers in a 1 quart jar, or place them in a large zip-top bag and seal.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and grease a cookie sheet.
- Combine 1 package mix, 3/4 cup shortening, 1/4 cup margarine, and 2 teaspoons vanilla until well blended.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 325 degrees F.
- Cool the cookies, then roll them in confectioners' sugar.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Prep time is estimated and includes measuring the mix and shaping the cookies.
Cook time reflects one batch baked for the full stated time.
Store the dry mix airtight in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months for best quality.
Store baked cookies airtight at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
