by Sylvia Harrison

Created on: August 01, 2010

Mexican Wedding Cake Cookies

Mexican Wedding Cake Cookies have several different names:  Tea Cakes, Pecan Shortbread, Sandies, Southern Pecan Butterballs, Snowballs and even Vienna Sugar Balls. When it comes right down to it, “What’s in a name”? These great little confections can be called whatever you wish and made for any occasion you wish! Most are made with ground pecans, walnuts or almonds.

To make Mexican Wedding Cakes you will need about 2/3 cups toasted nuts. Nuts can be toasted in a 350 degree oven for about 8 or 9 minutes. Then, depending on preferences, they can be finely ground in a food processor or chopped by hand a bit more coarsely.

You will also need 1 ½ cups butter at room temperature, 1 ½ cups confectioners (powdered) sugar, 3 cups of flour, and a “smidgen” of salt (about ¼ teaspoon) and 3 teaspoons vanilla extract.

Begin preparing the dough as the nuts are toasting in the oven. Mix together the softened butter, ¾ cups confectioners sugar and vanilla. (Use a food processor or mixture if you wish but it is not necessary.) Mix 3 cups flour and salt in a separate bowl. Add the flour mixture gradually into the butter mixture. Mix well. Gently fold in the toasted nuts.

When the dough is complete, roll it into about 1” balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Place these about 1 ½ to 2 inches apart. Bake between 12 and 15 minutes in a 350-degree oven.

On a flat surface, while the cookies are baking, spread the other ¾ cups confectioners sugar. Allow the cookies to cool slightly. While they are still warm roll them in the powdered sugar to coat them completely. Allow to continue cooling and store in a tightly closed container. (Though it’s doubtful you will have many to store!)

Idea:  Sprinkle the completed cookies with a bit of colored granulated sugar to add festive airs to Christmas, Halloween or Fourth of July cookies! Let the kids decorate a few while slightly warm by adding cinnamon candies for eyes and facial features. Use your imagination to turn out clever holiday ideas that are "melt-in-your-mouth" wonderful!

Following is a list of the ingredients used above for reference and easier reading:

Toasted nuts

1 ½ C softened butter or margarine

1 ½ C Confectioners (powdered sugar) (split in half for separate uses)

3 C flour

“Smidgen” of salt

3 t. vanilla extract

Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Roll warm cookies in confectioners sugar.

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