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December 17, 2010

Twelve Weeks of Christmas Cookies—The Finale: Russian Teacakes

Well, here we are at the end of Twelve Weeks of Christmas Cookies and we have exactly one week until Christmas!  I’m finishing up this round up of some fantastic cookies and holiday goodies with one of my all time favorite cookies—Russian Teacakes, aka Mexican

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Well, here we are at the end of Twelve Weeks of Christmas Cookies and we have exactly one week until Christmas!  I’m finishing up this round up of some fantastic cookies and holiday goodies with one of my all time favorite cookies—Russian Teacakes, aka Mexican Wedding Cookies, Snowballs.  What other names do you know for these cookies?

These are one of my favorite cookies and my moms, too.  They practically melt in your mouth.  I got this recipe from Chef Paige, she told me this is the recipe she has been using since she was in 8th grade and she believes it was from Betty Crocker.  Instead of just finely chopping the pecans, she pulses them in a food processor with the flour until they are finely ground.  I used to make these with some pretty coarsely chopped pecans, but I do like the way they are more delicate with the ground pecans.

Russian Teacakes, by Chef Paige, adapted from Betty Crocker

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

2¼ cups all-purpose flour

¼ t. salt

¾ c. pecans

Cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the vanilla. Set aside.

Place the flour and pecans in a food processor and process until the pecans are finely ground. Add to the butter mixture with the salt. Stir to form a soft dough.

Mold into 1-inch balls and bake on an ungreased baking sheet at 400° until set—about 10 minutes.

Toss in powdered sugar (be gentle, they break). Finish cooling on a wire rack. Store air tight.

Makes 48 cookies.

When I made these a few days ago for my Christmas goodies addition, I really just snapped these few pictures.  Some other similar cookies I posted last year that are also delicious are these Toffee Pecan Shortbread Cookies.  I can’t believe I haven’t made these yet for the holidays this year.  That must be remedied! 

Ready or not, posting along with the rest of the Twelve Weeks of Christmas Cookies group has been really fun and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!



Archived comments (29)
AnonymousI guess u cant go wrong with a betty crocker recipe! these look delicious!
Lisa ErnstLove, love, love these cookies! They are a holiday and event staple for me. People will gobble them right up. The last time I made them for a gathering, I added dark chocolate chips and that made them even more irresistible!
Deeba PABI ♥ the 12 weeks of Christmas cookies, and I wish I were better organised to participate. About these cookies - I have always found the name entirely charming and am surprised I haven't made some yet. Reaching into the screen now for a nibble! Happy Holidays dear K. Much love to you ... & the boys of course!
A SISTER IN CHRISTThese look lovely - a total cookie for the season, all snow covered : ). Its been a lot of fun baking along with you!
SueThese cookies are well-loved classics for a reason! It is one of our family favorites! Merry Christmas!
Emily ZI have been dying to participate in this for weeks but didn't get around to baking any cookies until this week! Better late than never! Merry Christmas! Great cookies!
PaigeOne of may all time favorites. (Thanks for the shout out!)
StephSounds so yummy!! I love all the powdered sugar!
MOMWill be watching for the goodie box!! Thanks for the heads up!
AnonymousI have a similar recipe but using walnuts and almonds and I too, use the food processor. I will use pecans next time. I'd love to try the difference! Thanks for sharing!
MOMMy mouth is watering!!
KerstinOh, I love these, perfect way to finish up the 12 days of cookies!
LilaConfession: My neighbor brought us six of these cookies and I ate...every..single...one. Don't tell the hubs. They are soooo good! xoxo Lila Ferraro
CarolineThis is one cookie I still haven't tried to make. It's on my to-do list but we have so many 'must-makes' in our family it is difficult to stray from those! These look delightful though and I may just have to extend my baking into the new year just to fit these into the schedule!
Nutmeg NannyThese look great! I love russian teacakes. Yummy.....
PaulaThese take me back. I used to love licking my fingers after rolling them in the powdered sugar. I've got to try your recipe.
♥peachkins♥these tea cakes are lovely! The Peach Kitchen peach and things blowing peachkisses
CindyDMy favorite Christmas cookie. Did you see Baking Bite's post where she added sprinkles?
KatrinaI always think of you when I make these, Mom. Be on the look out in the mail for a package. ;)
TracyLove these!!
PhyllisWhen we make these, we take one third of the dough and color it green, another third red and leave the last third leave white. They looks so pretty on a tray this way.
Barbara SchievingI love these too! Great tip to put the nuts in the food processor.
LisaThese are the quintessential Christmas cookie. No cookie platter is complete without them and they are always a beloved favorite. I bet yours don't last very long before they're gone.
JulieThey look melt in your mouth wonderful! Hope you and your family have a merry Christmas :)
MickeyKatrina: I used Andes Creme de Menthe Baking Chips. I got mine at my local Kroger but Walmart also sells them. mickey
AnonymousThese look gorgeous. I've never made these sort of cookies, but a tried and tested recipe sure has made me want to :)
MickeyI have to say, I think these are my all time favorite cookies. We call them Mexican Wedding cookies. I could eat a whole batch myself :) Yours look perfect! mickey
briarroseI love these cookies. A holiday cookie tray just doesn't look complete without them. ;) Lovely job.
AnonymousThese are so awesome, and I'm hoping to get some when I see my parents on Friday. My grandma used to make them and we called them Mexican Wedding Cookies. Now my parents make them and I swear they call them Pecan Balls. Not very glamorous, but they still taste good.

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