Muddy Snowballs

Muddy Snowballs are a traditional Christmas Snowball recipe with a little twist.  Chocolate chips make it muddy and the spices make it all the more Christmas cookie in flavor.  Because I am of German and Austrian descent any Christmas baking that reminds me of my childhood has to have spices added to make it a treat for me.  This cookie is subtle in flavor and that makes it perfect.  Subtle spice just kicks it up a notch.


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour
pinch ginger
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon fresh orange zest (as fine as you can zest)
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (chopped) or mini-chips.
powdered sugar for rolling the cookies in after baking.

With mixer, mix butter and sugar together until fluffy.  Add in flour, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and orange zest.

Mixture will be stiff.  Add in vanilla and mix.  Add in pecans and chocolate chips and mix.  May have to knead with hands to incorporate nuts and chips.

Roll into one inch balls and set on parchment paper lined pan.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes.

Let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. They have to be a little warm for the powdered sugar to stick.  Gently roll cookies in small bowl filled with powdered sugar. Let cool all the way until they are not sticky. Don't tell anyone but sometimes I double roll them, it's Christmas.

Makes about 30 cookies.