Candy Cane Snowball Cookies

Candy Cane Snowball Cookies are a must-add to your holiday cookie tray. Buttery sweet shortbread, peppermint and vanilla candy melts make for holiday flavor perfection.

Prep Time:25 minutes Chill Time: 3-4 hours Cook Time:10 minutes Total Time:3 hours 35 minutes Yield: 60 cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (4 sticks)  Unsalted Butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups white (vanilla) candy melts
• 2/3 cup crushed candy canes

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheets with parchment paper.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat Butter, vanilla and confectioners’ sugar until smooth and creamy.

Add in flour, walnuts and salt. Mixing until just combined. Chill dough for 3-4 hours.

Using a small cookie scoop (about 2 teaspoons), measure and roll dough into balls. Place dough balls onto prepared baking sheets about 1 inch apart.

Bake in preheated oven for 9-14 minutes(mine took 14 minutes all depends on size)– taking care not to over bake. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for about 5 minutes before removing them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cookies are completely cool, melt vanilla candy melts according to package directions. Dip or spoon melted candy coating onto the tops of each cookie and immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes.  Allow to dry and set then store in air tight containers.  These cookies stay fresh quite some time.