Name: Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup Challenge Unsalted Butter (226g), softened; ½ cup (57g) powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ¼ teaspoon ground allspice; ¼ teaspoon ground cloves; 1 tablespoon molasses; 2 ¼ cups (279g) all-purpose flour; Powdered sugar for rolling

There’s something irresistibly cozy about these little treats. The **Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe** delivers a perfect blend of warm spices and buttery goodness, all wrapped up in a delicate powdered sugar coating. These cookies aren’t just festive—they’re truly comforting, and once you make them, you’ll understand why they’re a holiday favorite.

Fourteen round balls of light brown dough with small dark specks are evenly spaced on a dark baking tray. Each ball is smooth and similar in size, arranged in three rows with some crumbs scattered on the tray. The tray sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I remember the first time I baked these cookies—they filled the house with the best holiday aroma, and the texture blew me away. Soft, yet crumbly with just the right snap, the Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe is easy enough for a weeknight bake but fancy enough to share at a party.

Simple Ingredients: You probably have everything in your pantry already, making it a no-fuss, stress-free recipe.
Perfect Balance of Spice: The combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice gives each bite festive warmth without overwhelming sweetness.
Texture Magic: These cookies are tender on the inside but develop a light crust, especially after rolling in powdered sugar.
Great for Gifting: They look gorgeous dusted in snowy powdered sugar—no fancy decorating needed to impress.

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe brings together classic baking staples with holiday spice highlights. Each ingredient plays a key role in creating those melt-in-your-mouth bites, and knowing why helps you get confident in the kitchen.

Flat lay of a small mound of soft unsalted butter, a small white bowl filled with fine powdered sugar, a whole vanilla bean pod, a tiny heap of coarse salt crystals, small piles of ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, and ground cloves arranged symmetrically, a small white bowl containing dark amber molasses, and a neat pile of all-purpose flour, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Challenge Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted lets you control the salt level perfectly and adds richness.
Powdered Sugar: Adds sweetness and ensures a smooth dough that's also great for coating the finished cookies.
Vanilla Extract: Brings warmth and depth to the spiced flavors.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the spice blend.
Ground Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Allspice, Cloves: The spiced heart of the cookie. Fresh ground spices always shine brighter if you can.
Molasses: Adds that classic gingerbread richness and a touch of chewiness.
All Purpose Flour: Foundation for structure and tenderness.
Powdered Sugar for Rolling: Gives that snowy look and a sweet first bite.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love to tweak this Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe for both flavor and texture depending on my mood. It’s a forgiving dough, so don’t be shy about making it your own!

Spice Adjustment: On colder days, I often increase the ginger and cinnamon for an extra warm kick that fills the room.
Molasses Twist: Sometimes I swap molasses for a little honey or maple syrup for an earthier sweetness, and it works beautifully.
Nutty Addition: Adding finely chopped pecans or walnuts into the dough gives a wonderful crunch if you want texture variation.
Diet-Friendly Tip: For a gluten-free version, I substitute the all-purpose flour with a blend of gluten-free flour and a touch of xanthan gum—it works well here.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe

A pile of round cookies covered in white powdered sugar sits in a decorative, open blue tin with white floral and swirl patterns, lined with light parchment paper. Each cookie is dusted with finely powdered sugar and topped with small red and green sprinkles. The tin is placed on a white marbled surface surrounded by sheer white ribbon and silver Christmas ornaments, creating a festive look. The background is softly blurred with a white cloth draped around, enhancing the holiday feel. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar

Start by softening your butter to room temperature—it should be pliable but not melted. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter for about 20 seconds until it’s fluffy. This step traps air and helps the cookies be light rather than dense. Then add powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and all those warming spices plus molasses. Mix until the batter looks smooth and fragrant. Trust me, the smell here is already a little slice of holiday magic.

Step 2: Mix in the Flour to Form Dough

This part requires a bit of patience. Add your flour little by little and keep mixing—at first, it looks crumbly and dry, like it’s never going to come together. But stick with it; after a few minutes, the dough will transform into a soft, cohesive ball. If you rush or add too much flour, the cookies turn dry, so take your time here!

Step 3: Shape and Bake

Scoop out about a tablespoon of dough—that’s perfect for bite-sized cookies—and place them spaced out on parchment-lined baking sheets. Pop them in your preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes. Keep an eye on the bottoms; you’re looking for just a hint of browning, which means they’re done. Overbake and they lose that tender crumb we love.

Step 4: Roll in Powdered Sugar

As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, let them rest until you can comfortably handle them—just a minute or two. Then roll each warm cookie in powdered sugar. This initial coating sticks better while warm. Once the cookies cool completely on a rack, give them another roll in powdered sugar for that ideal snowy look and extra sweetness that'll have everyone reaching for seconds.

Top Tip

After baking these Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe dozens of times, I’ve learned a few tricks that really improve your results and make baking stress-free.

Patience with the Dough: Don’t rush mixing the dough; that crumbly phase feels weird but keep going and it will come together beautifully.
Use Room Temperature Butter: This ensures proper creaming and keeps your cookies tender rather than greasy or dense.
Roll Cookies While Warm: Rolling right out of the oven helps powdered sugar stick well without smudging or clumping.
Don’t Overbake: Remove cookies as soon as the bottoms are just starting to brown to keep that melt-in-your-mouth texture.

How to Serve Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe

gingerbread snowballs - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick to the classic dusting of powdered sugar because it feels like a winter snow scene on each cookie. But for holiday parties, I sometimes sprinkle on a bit of finely chopped crystallized ginger or a few festive red and green sugar crystals for a pop of color.

Side Dishes

These cookies are a dream next to a hot cup of spiced chai tea or rich eggnog. For a cookie platter, I like pairing them with ginger snaps or cinnamon-dusted shortbread for variety.

Creative Ways to Present

For a cozy gift, I arrange these cookies stacked in a jar layered with extra powdered sugar to keep them looking fresh and snowy. For dessert tables, I place them on a rustic wooden plate garnished with sprigs of rosemary or holly for a natural festive touch.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. I recommend placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. They stay fresh and soft for up to five days.

Freezing

I love that these cookies freeze well! After baking and rolling in powdered sugar, let them cool completely, then freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen solid, transfer to a freezer-safe container. They’ll keep for up to three months and thaw quickly at room temperature.

Reheating

If you want that fresh-baked warmth, pop frozen cookies in a 300°F oven for 5–7 minutes. It’s a simple trick I use to revive that freshly baked softness and enhance the spice aroma.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Using salted butter will add more salt to the dough, so you might want to reduce or omit the additional salt in the recipe. Unsalted butter gives you more control for balanced flavor.

What if my dough remains crumbly and won’t come together?

This dough can take a few minutes of mixing to fully come together. If it’s still too crumbly, ensure your butter is properly softened. You can also add a teaspoon of cold water, a little at a time, to help the dough bind.

Why do I have to roll the cookies in powdered sugar twice?

Rolling while cookies are warm helps the sugar stick, but some falls off as they cool. The second roll ensures a beautiful, even coating and that classic snowy appearance.

Can I make this recipe vegan?

To make these cookies vegan, you can substitute the butter with plant-based margarine and replace the powdered sugar with a vegan-friendly version. Also, ensure the molasses and other ingredients are vegan-certified.

Final Thoughts

Making this Gingerbread Snowballs Cookies Recipe has been one of my best holiday discoveries. The way the spices blossom in every bite, followed by that delicate powdered sugar coating, just feels like a warm hug on a cold day. I genuinely hope you enjoy baking and sharing these as much as I do—it’s a simple joy that really makes the season even sweeter.