Description
Sweetened Condensed Milk Snowballs are a no-bake, creamy, and chewy holiday dessert made with simple pantry ingredients like butter, sweetened condensed milk, and shredded coconut. These festive treats are dusted with confectioners’ sugar to resemble little snowballs, perfect for winter celebrations and easy to prepare without baking. Their rich, sweet flavor and soft texture make them a crowd-pleasing choice for cookie platters and edible gifts during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Cream the Butter: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, to create a smooth and creamy base for the dough.
- Add Sweetened Condensed Milk: Gradually mix in the sweetened condensed milk and beat for 2 minutes until fully combined. If using vanilla or almond extract for flavoring, add up to 2 teaspoons at this stage.
- Scrape and Mix: Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat the mixture for another 1-2 minutes to ensure a smooth and uniform consistency in the dough.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour and baking powder to the butter mixture. Beat or fold just until fully incorporated. If desired, fold in up to 1 cup of optional mix-ins such as chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or candies.
- Shape the Cookies: Using a cookie scoop, portion the dough into evenly sized mounds. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing each mound about 2 inches apart to allow room for gentle rising.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 320°F (160°C) and bake the cookies for 12 minutes until lightly set but still soft in the center.
- Cool on the Pan: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes to firm up slightly before handling.
- Transfer and Dust: Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack. Generously dust them with confectioners’ sugar using a sifter to create the signature snowball appearance.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the rack before storing them in an airtight container or serving.
Notes
- Store snowballs in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers in the refrigerator for up to one week to maintain their soft texture.
- For longer storage, freeze snowballs in a single layer then transfer to a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for about 1 hour before serving.
- To make nut-free, swap shredded coconut or mix-ins with crushed graham crackers or cookie crumbs.
- For added flavor, incorporate a splash of vanilla or almond extract (max 2 teaspoons) or a pinch of cinnamon to the dough.
- Chocolate variation: roll snowballs in cocoa powder or drizzle with melted chocolate after dusting with sugar for an indulgent twist.
- Dairy-free option: use dairy-free sweetened condensed milk and coconut oil instead of butter.
- Decorate with colored sprinkles or crushed peppermint for a festive holiday look.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: sweetened condensed milk snowballs, no-bake holiday cookies, coconut snowballs recipe, easy Christmas cookies, festive dessert, chewy cookies, no oven cookies
