Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe (2024)

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Our Mexican wedding cookies recipe is mouthwatering and super easy to make! The best part? You need only 6 ingredients to make them in a matter of minutes. Enjoy this melt-in-your-mouth cookie this next holiday season!

Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe (1)
In This Post
  • History behind mexican wedding cookies
  • Mexican wedding cookies
  • How to make mexican wedding cookies: Step by step tutorial
  • More authentic mexican recipes to enjoy
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

These classic holiday cookies are one of a kind, with a buttery, nutty flavor and perfectly coated in sugar powder. Traditionally found around the holidays and occasionally at weddings, they sure make a great treat. On top of being extremely tasty, they are one of the easiest cookies to make.

If you want to start a tradition with your family, these are the perfect cookies to bake with your kids. I still remember baking them with my son years ago when he was a little kid, and his help only meant eating cookie dough. Now the tradition of baking these Mexican wedding cookies and spending time together is one of my favorites, and I hope it becomes yours too.

Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe (2)

History behind mexican wedding cookies

Nobody really knows the origin of these cookies, but it is believed that they were introduced by western European immigrants to Mexico centuries ago. Contrary to popular belief, these wedding cookies are not very common everywhere and are only occasionally given to guests at weddings in the Northern States of México as treats or party favors.

In America, you might also know them as snowball cookies, mexican wedding cakes, Russian tea cakes, and polvorones.!

Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe (3)

Snowy day in the Sierra Tarahumara, Chihuahua, Chih., México (Photo Courtesy taringa.net)

Mexican wedding cookies

Here is a list of ingredients you will need to make this cookie recipe...

  • Pecans or walnuts
  • All-purpose flour
  • Salt
  • Unsalted butter
  • Confectioner sugar (also known as powdered sugar)
  • Vanilla

Please note:For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

How to make mexican wedding cookies: Step by step tutorial

To make things easier for you, I will break down the directions for this recipe into sections.

Before you start doing anything, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and grease 2 large baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.

Chop the nuts

  • Place the pecans in a food processor and chop them finely.
  • Remove 1 cup of the pecans and process the rest into a very fine texture, almost like cornmeal. (See the picture below for the difference in texture)

Note: Just be careful not to over-process the pecans, or you will end up with pecan butter. This way, you can still enjoy the pecans when taking a bite of every cookie.

Mix the dry ingredients

  • In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the flour, salt, and chopped pecans. Stir and set aside.
Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe (4)

Beat butter and sugar

  • In a separate bowl, beat the butter with ⅓ cup confectioner sugar.
  • When it gets light and fluffy, stir in vanilla extract.

Tip: Use your mixer for this step!

Mix the dry ingredients with the butter mixture

  • Gradually add the flour and pecan mixture to the butter and beat at a low to medium speed for a few seconds until it forms a coarse dough that resembles oatmeal.

Form the mexican wedding cookies

  • Scoop one tablespoon of dough into a small ball. They should be about 1-inch balls in size.
  • Place 1 ½ inches apart on your baking sheets. Do not overwork the dough because if you do, the end result will leave you with a flat cookie.
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Bake nutty cookies

  • Bake for about 15-18 minutes. They will be ready when their bottom begins to brown and the cookies are firm.
  • Remove from oven and let them cool for 3 minutes on the baking sheets and then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Roll cookies in sugar and enjoy!

  • Place the 1 -½ cups of confectioner sugar in a bowl. Roll cookies in the sugar, working with 2 or 3 at a time. Roll again to completely coat them completely.
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What to serve with mexican wedding cookies

When we serve these during the holidays, in some homes is a classic Christmas cookie. I also love to make a batch of my famous Mexican hot chocolate. The kids absolutely love it! Of course, it will also go great with a cup of some champurrado.

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How to store mexican cookies

To make sure these cookies stay fresh, store these cookies in an airtight container. You can leave them out on the counter for up to 3 days or save them in the fridge for 7 days.

Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe (8)

More authentic mexican recipes to enjoy

If you enjoyed this recipe for wedding cookies, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:

  • Mexican Little Piggy Cookies (Marranitos)
  • Piloncillo and Pecan Cookies (Chorreadas)
  • Hojarascas Recipes
  • Griddle Cookies
  • Mexican Polvorones- Sevillanos Style

I hope you make this recipe for Mexican wedding cookies! If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Also, please leave us a comment below and tell us all about it!

For more recipes, follow Us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. in español Visit Us at Mexico en mi cocina

¡Buen provecho!

Mely

📖 Recipe

Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe (9)

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Mely Martínez

Wedding cookies were our first choice for Christmas cookie baking, they are so easy to make, and your kids will enjoy making them too. Christmas is a good time for you and your family to make happy memories together.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Cooling time after baking 5 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Desserts

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 36 Small Cookies

Calories 92 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of pecans or walnuts
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 sticks of unsalted butter 16 tablespoons, softened
  • cup of confectioner sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 ½ cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting.

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 F and grease 2 large baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.

  • Place the pecans in a food processor and chop fine. You can also use a blender for this purpose.

  • Remove 1 cup of the pecans and process the rest into a very fine texture , almost like cornmeal. Just be careful not to over-process the pecans , or you will end up with pecan butter. This way (by leaving some coarse pieces) , you will still enjoy the pecans when giving a bite into your cookies.

  • In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the flour, salt, and pecans. Stir and set aside.

  • Use your mixer for this step. In a separate bowl, beat the butter with ⅓ cup confectioner sugar; when it gets light and fluffy , stir in vanilla. Gradually add the flour and pecan mixture and beat at a low speed for a few seconds until it forms a coarse dough that resembles oatmeal. The dough can be made one day ahead and, when ready to bake, brought back to room temperature to form the cookies.

  • Roll one tablespoon of dough into a small ball; they’re about 1 inch in size. Place 1 ½ inches apart on your baking sheets. Do not overwork the dough; if you do so, the end result will be that of a flat cookie.

  • Bake for about 15-18 minutes. They will be ready when their bottom is beginning to brown and the cookies are firm.

  • Remove from oven and let them cool for 3 minutes on the baking sheets and then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

  • Place the 1 ½ cup of confectioner sugar in a bowl. Roll cookies in the sugar, working with 2 or 3 at a time. Shake any excess if necessary. Roll again to coat them completely.

Notes

* Many recipes ask to roll the cookies into the sugar when they are still warm. I’ve found that if you dust the cookies when they are cool, they will look prettier and won’t have that gummy texture. You can even bake them ahead and just roll them into the confectioner sugar before serving or packing. If you already rolled them into the sugar just after baking, roll them again into the confectioner sugar, shake any excess and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1CookieCalories: 92kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 33mgPotassium: 36mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my Mexican wedding cookies dry? ›

However, one of the biggest mistakes or complaints about homemade Mexican wedding cookies is that they ended up being dry. While one of the most common mishaps that accounts for this is baking the cookies too long, Went Here 8 This also suggests that using too much flour could cause dry cookies.

How many cookies per person for a wedding cookie table? ›

If cookies are the primary sweet treat, consider increasing the count to 4-6 per person. Remember, if you invite families with children to the event, the little ones will likely spend a lot more time at the dessert table than the rest of your guests.

Why did my Mexican wedding cookies come out flat? ›

The blogger behind Mexico In My Kitchen warns that overworking the dough will result in flat cookies, so make sure you only roll your dough as much as you need to form tiny spheres and only mix the ingredients until they're combined (don't endlessly beat it with your mixer).

What is the difference between Italian and Mexican wedding cookies? ›

Italian wedding cookies typically contain almonds or hazelnuts and are flavored with almond extract, vanilla extracts and spices like cinnamon or anise. Mexican wedding cookies, on the other hand, use a combination of ground nuts such as pecans and walnuts, as well as butter, sugar and sometimes chocolate chips.

What adds moisture to cookies? ›

Use a higher ratio of brown sugar to white sugar. Brown sugar contains molasses, which adds moisture to the cookie dough and helps create a softer texture. Use melted butter instead of room-temperature butter. Melted butter incorporates more easily into the dough, creating a more cohesive and pliable dough.

How do you make dry cookies moist again? ›

Another way to soften cookies is by placing the cookies in an airtight container with a damp paper towel. The paper towel will release moisture and help to soften the cookies without making them too soft or mushy. Another way is to place the cookies in a plastic bag with a slice of apple or a damp tea towel.

How many cookies do I need for 100 people wedding? ›

When you have a solid idea of your RSVP count, we suggest 6 – 8 cookies per person. In other words, if you are expecting 100 guests, 100 x 6 is 600, divided by 12 is 50 dozen cookies. More than that is fine, but make sure you save your transport containers as you may be taking some home.

How many desserts to make for 100 guests? ›

We recommend 2-4 items per guest, but don't worry, we'll help make sure you have enough servings to go around! To create your own estimate, please look through all the options below. Then, choose up to the maximum quantity of items/flavors based on your guest count.

How many pounds of cookies do I need for 50 people? ›

When buying cookies, keep in mind, there is roughly about 18-20 cookies in a pound. If you estimate 2 cookies per person, every 1 pound of cookies is enough for 10 people. For example, if you're having a party of 50 people, 5 pounds should be good enough to give everyone about 2 cookies.

Can I use baking powder instead of baking soda? ›

Baking powder is made of baking soda plus cream of tartar and cornstarch. Baking powder can be substituted for baking soda by tripling the amount of baking powder.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

Why are my Mexican wedding cakes falling apart? ›

Why is my Mexican wedding cookie dough crumbly? If your dough is overly crumbly, be sure that you're using softened butter. You'll also want to make sure that you measure the correctly, so as not to use too much.

Which classic cookie ingredient do Mexican wedding cakes Lac? ›

Traditionally, these sweet cookies are made with finely chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts or almonds, though this can vary depending on the recipe's origins.

What classic cookie ingredient do Mexican wedding cake slack? ›

Ingredients in Traditional Mexican Wedding Cookies

The basic ingredients in Mexican Wedding Cookies include flour, sugar, butter, and finely chopped pecans (although almonds are a reasonable substitute).

What is the best type of cookie in the world? ›

Top 10 Cookie Flavors
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies. Chocolate chip cookies are the quintessential cookie. ...
  • Snickerdoodle. ...
  • Sugar Cookies. ...
  • Peanut Butter Cookies. ...
  • White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies. ...
  • Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. ...
  • Gingerbread Cookies. ...
  • Black & White Cookies.

Why do my cookies seem dry? ›

Overbaking: If you bake your cookies for too long, they can become dry and hard. Make sure to check your cookies frequently as they bake and remove them from the oven when they are just starting to turn golden brown around the edges.

Why do my cookies feel dry? ›

Adding too few eggs can result in dry, crumbly cookies. Beat each one in separately and thoroughly. If you run out of eggs while baking and find that you need more, you can add 1/4 cup vegetable oil for each egg required.

Why are my cookies dry and hard? ›

the more you mix cookie dough. the more the gluten develops and they become hard and dry and an unfavorable texture. reason no 3 you're over baking them. make sure you take them out when they're just slightly golden brown.

What does it mean if cookies are dry? ›

There are several reasons why the cookies may have become dry and crumbly but the two most likely are that either the cookies were baked for too long or too much flour was added to the dough. The cookie should be baked only until the edges are slightly golden and the top looks a little wrinkled.

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