I remember fondly the first time I had these irresistible cookies. It was on a day that forever changed my life. It was on my wedding day over 31 years ago.
My husband’s mother said she was bringing cookies to our wedding reception. She told me serving cookies was a family tradition. Little did I know I would fall in love with her cookies too.
Russian Tea Cakes Cookie
Russian Tea Cakes are also known as Mexican Wedding Cookies, Snowballs, Pecan Dreams, and Tea Cakes, which are easy to make, crunchy sugar-dusted nutballs that are not too sweet, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
My husband’s mother is no longer with us, but I have all her favorite recipes in her family’s cookbook. You will be seeing more of her delicious recipes soon.
This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you purchase from one of these links, I will make a small commission.
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- Rovenko Family Cookbook
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- Russian Christmas Carol
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- Grandfather Rovenko from Russia
How to Make Russian Tea Cakes Recipe
Making these buttery cookies is so quick and easy. You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry.
Cookie Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups sifted flour
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar (plus more for topping the cookies)
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
Equipment Needed
- Stand Mixer with a bowl
- Sifter
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Sheet pan
- Silpat
- Cooling rack
- Cutting board and knife
Sift the flour and place in a mixer bowl with sugar and butter and cream them together, then add vanilla.
Sift the flour
Chop nuts and mix into the butter and sugar mixture.
Chopped Nuts
Line the sheet pan with parchment paper or a Silpat.
Prepare the pan for cookies.
Using a cookie scoop, measure out dough and roll dough into a ball.
Roll dough into a ball
Place dough balls on the cookie sheet about 1.5′ to 2″ apart. Place in a preheated 375-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes. The bottoms should be lighted brown. Place hot cookie sheets on a trivet.
Cookies ready for the oven
Pick up hot cookies with two spoons.
Use spoons to lift hot cookies
Add Sugar Topping
Place the hot cookies in a bowl of confectioners sugar roll then in the sugar to coat. Then place hot sugared cookies on a wire cooling rack to cool.
Roll hot cookies in confectioners sugar and return to wire cooling rack
Allowing the cookies to sit a few moments in the sugar
Cookies on a cooling rack
I after the cookies cooled added more confectioners sugar with one of these
Russian Tea Cakes Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 2 cups sifted flour
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 cup chopped nuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Place a Silpat or a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet
- Using a stand mixer with a large bowl cream together butter, sugar, and flour.
- Mix in chopped nuts.
- Using a cookie scoop to measure out cookies
- Roll them into a ball
- Place them on the baking sheet about 1.5" apart
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes
- Place about a cup of confectioners sugar in a bowl with low sides
- Place the hot pan on a trivet
- Remove hot cookies with two spoons and drop into confectioners sugar
- Roll the hot cookies in the sugar to coat and place them on a wire rack to cool completely
Equipment
Nutrition
When my children were little, I used to read this book about drinking tea. It is a fun book to read while sipping hot tea and eating tea cakes. Make your tea in a samovar for a special treat.
Tea and Cookies
You Might Also Enjoy These Recipes
This is one of my favorite cookies of all time Christmas Crack.
Christmas Crack
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Bon appétit,
Kippi
Elena Jenkins says
Wow this is so delicious looking! Going to try it for the Holidays! Thank you for such detailed recipe!
Kymberly Priller says
ILOVE the Russian Tea Cakes! I’m looking forward to making these this holiday season to share. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Olivia O'Hern says
Thanks for sharing, I love to eat these cookies all year round!
Rebecca says
Yum! These look so good! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I’ll definitely be making these soon 🙂
Crissy says
These cookies are a favorite of mine at Christmas. Yours looks so delicious!
Ashley says
So easy and delicious. I remember my grandma making these and calling them snowballs, they were my favorite! They taste just the same.
Kimberly says
I’m a baker of hand decorated cookies and this cookie base is amazing! Love the tutorials on this blog. Thanks again for another awesome creation!
Debbie Whitfield says
Don’t miss this wonderful recipe. Its easy to make but hard to resist the final result .YUM
Michelle Leslie says
If I could reach into my screen right now I would finish off the entire batch 😀 The tea cakes look scrumptious.
Sara says
My husband’s mother also brought baked wedding treats to our reception. Looking forward to seeing more of your MIL’s recipes 🙂
[email protected] says
These look so yummy! They are my oldest daughters favorites so I will try this recipe this year!
Anita Holland says
They look really yummy, and your recipe looks so easy to follow. And you Christmas crack is just up my street,
Ann says
Love these cookies! My ( Slovak) mom used to make them and called them Russian Tea Cookies. She always made them in a crescent moon shape – I don’t know why. Have not made her recipe in years. How wonderful you have all of your mother’s recipes…what a blessing!
Kristi @ Mulch and Paint says
This brings back memories of my childhood! My mom always made these cookies and I loved them so much! Thank you for sharing and reminding me of Christmas past. I need to make these for my kids. PINNED!
Rachel Harper says
These sound wonderful. Pinned. I’m so excited to feature you on Wednesday’s Charming HOmes & Garden Link Party.
Rachel
Kristin says
I can’t wait to try and make these with your recipe! I love this kind of cookie! I’m featuring you this week at Charming Homes & Gardens! Thanks for linking up!
Susan B. says
Just finished making these cookies. They are worth making. Definitely brings back memories as these were served at my wedding (store bought). Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 to all.