Classic Snowball Cookies Recipe

 Ingredients:

– 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus more for rolling
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 1 cup finely chopped nuts (such as pecans, walnuts, or almonds)

Instructions:

1. **Preheat Oven**: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

2. **Cream Butter and Sugar**: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.

3. **Combine Dry Ingredients**: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Stir in the chopped nuts.

4. **Shape Cookies**: Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Place the balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.

5. **Bake**: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden. The tops of the cookies should not brown.

6. **Cool and Roll in Sugar**: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then roll them in powdered sugar while they are still warm. Place the cookies on a wire rack to cool completely.

7. **Final Roll in Sugar**: Once the cookies are completely cooled, roll them in powdered sugar again to give them a beautiful, snowy appearance.

8. **Serve and Enjoy**: Store the cookies in an airtight container. They can be enjoyed immediately or allowed to sit for a day to develop more flavor.

### Variations:
– **Chocolate Snowball Cookies**: Add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to the flour mixture for a chocolatey twist.
– **Citrus Snowball Cookies**: Add the zest of one lemon or orange to the butter mixture for a fresh, citrus flavor.
– **Spiced Snowball Cookies**: Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg to the flour mixture for a warm, spiced flavor.

Enjoy baking these delightful cookies! If you have any other specific variations or additional recipes you are interested in, feel free to ask.