Vegan snowball cookies are a holiday classic, with their sweet vanilla flavor and fluffy, powdery coating of snow-white confectioner's sugar.

They are traditionally made by creaming butter, eggs, and sugar to form a rich, melt-in-your-mouth cookie dough. After baking, the cookies are rolled into balls and coated with powdered sugar to resemble freshly fallen snow.

Beyond their cute name and appearance, their soft, buttery texture makes snowball cookies a hit during the holidays.

In this blog post, we will walk through a simple recipe for making allergy-friendly, best vegan snowball cookies that are just as delicious as the original. So, continue reading.

Ingredients

Making delicious vegan cookies is easy with simple pantry ingredients. Here's what you will need:

• All-purpose flour: This provides the base for the cookie dough. Make sure to use regular flour instead of self-rising.
• Vegan butter: Use quality dairy-free butter like Earth Balance for the best flavor and texture.
• Granulated sugar: This gives the cookies their signature sweetness.
• Vanilla extract: A teaspoon of vanilla provides warmth and enhances the flavor.
• Salt: Just a pinch balances out the sweetness.
• Powdered sugar for rolling: This coats the baked cookies to look like snowballs.
• Non-dairy milk: A small amount helps bind the dough. Opt for unsweetened almond or oat milk.

Step-by-Step Directions

Step 1: Creaming The Butter And Sugar

Pour the vegan butter and granulated sugar into a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy. You will know the mixture is ready when it turns pale in color. This step is important for incorporating air into the dough to create the signature soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture snowball cookies are known for.

Step 2: Adding The Vanilla

Next, mix the vanilla extract and salt until fully incorporated. The vanilla adds warmth and enhances the buttery flavors—the salt pinch balances the sugar's sweetness. Scrape down the bowl's sides as needed to blend everything well.

Step 3: Mixing In The Flour

Gradually stir the flour into the creamed butter and sugar mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time. Go slowly to avoid overmixing. Use a spatula to fold until a dough forms gently. Be careful not to overwork the dough, resulting in tough cookies. The dough should come together while still being slightly crumbly.

Step 4: Refrigerating The Dough

Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This allows the dough to firm up, making it much easier to roll into uniform balls. Chilled cookie dough holds its shape better during baking as well.

Step 5: Rolling The Dough Into Balls

Once chilled, use your hands to roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Work quickly to prevent the dough from becoming too warm. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.

You can also use a cookie scoop (if available) to make the perfect round cookies of equal size.

Step 6: Baking

Bake the vegan butter cookies for 12-14 minutes at 375°F until lightly golden brown on the bottom. Baking time can vary based on oven calibration. Rotate sheets halfway through for even baking.

Step 7: Coating In Powdered Sugar

While still warm, roll the freshly baked vegan cookies in powdered sugar to coat. The heat helps the sugar adhere. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before serving or storing. Enjoy these snowy vegan treats!

Variations To Try On

The basic snowball cookie recipe leaves lots of room for customization and creativity. Consider trying some of these tasty variations:

Add Mix-Ins

Mix in chocolate chips, chopped nuts, coconut flakes, crushed candy canes, or dried fruit before chilling and baking. The add-ins will be distributed throughout the cookies for extra flavor and texture. Chopped pecans or walnuts pair especially well with snowball cookies.

Use Different Extracts

Substitute the vanilla extract with almond, maple, orange, lemon, or mint extract. This infuses the cookies with unique complementary flavors. Almonds and lemon work nicely for a light springtime cookie.

Coat In Coconut

Roll the warm-baked vegan snowball cookies in shredded coconut instead of powdered sugar for a tropical twist. Make sure to use unsweetened coconut for the right balance of flavors.

Decorate With Sprinkles

After coating them in powdered sugar, decorate the cookies by drizzling them with melted dairy-free chocolate and sprinkling them with festive sprinkles or crushed peppermint.

Storage Of Vegan Snowball Cookies

Snowball cookies will stay fresh for about 1 week when stored properly. The key is to keep them in an airtight container at room temperature. Glass containers, plastic containers, or resealable bags all work well. Just ensure air doesn't leak in, or the cookies will lose their texture.

Don't refrigerate or freeze the cookies until they have completely cooled. The temperature change from chilling warm cookies causes moisture condensation, making them soggy. Let them fully cool for 1-2 hours after baking.

For longer shelf life, snowball cookies also freeze remarkably well. Simply let baked cookies cool completely, then place them in a single layer in a freezer bag or airtight container. Press out excess air before sealing and store in the freezer.

When ready to eat, take out only as many cookies as needed so they don't all thaw. Let thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. Unbaked cookie dough can also be frozen in balls after chilling and scooping. Bake frozen dough balls by adding 2-3 extra minutes to the baking time.

Serving Suggestions

These best vegan snowball cookies make for wonderful holiday treats and edible gifts. Arrange them on decorative platters, wreath-shaped trays, or glass cookie jars tied with ribbons for pretty presentations.

Their compact size makes them perfect for packaging in cellophane gift bags or boxes. Offer them on a tiered serving stand at your next Christmas party or cookie exchange. No matter how you share them, these melt-in-your-mouth vegan snowball cookies will impress with their adorable shape and delicious taste.

Conclusion

Vegan snowball cookies are a holiday classic, but traditional recipes exclude vegans and others with dietary restrictions. However, with a few simple plant-based ingredient swaps, anyone can enjoy fluffy snowball cookies during the holiday season.

This easy vegan recipe produces cookies with all the sweet flavor and tender melt-in-your-mouth texture of the original. Dusting powdered sugar transforms them into perfect snowy spheres that disappear with just one bite. With this recipe, no one has to miss the joy of Christmas cookies!