Raspberry-Filled Almond Snowball Cookies Recipe
Delight in these Raspberry-Filled Almond Snowball Cookies, a tender and buttery treat featuring a soft almond-infused dough wrapped around a sweet dollop of raspberry jam. Perfect for festive occasions or everyday indulgence, these cookies combine nutty flavors and fruity sweetness, all dusted with a snowy layer of powdered sugar for an irresistible finish.
- Author: Elena
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert / Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar (plus extra for dusting)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup finely ground almonds (almond meal)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Filling
- ½ cup raspberry jam (seedless preferred)
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a tender texture. Then beat in the vanilla and almond extracts to infuse the dough with rich, aromatic flavors.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond meal, and salt, ensuring even distribution of the salt and nuts for balanced flavor and texture.
- Form Dough: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until a soft dough comes together that is easy to handle but not sticky.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Arrange the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart to allow space for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly golden, indicating they are cooked through but still tender.
- Cool Slightly: Let the cookies cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes to firm up enough for shaping without breaking.
- Add Jam Filling: Gently flatten the tops of each cookie and create a small indentation in the center. Fill each indentation with about ½ teaspoon of raspberry jam, distributing the fruity sweetness evenly.
- Cool Completely and Dust: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the tray. Once cooled, roll them generously in powdered sugar to give them a festive, snowy appearance and enhance the sweetness.
Notes
- Use seedless raspberry jam for a smoother filling that is easier to bite into.
- Almond meal adds a wonderful nutty flavor and tender texture; finely grind whole almonds if almond meal is unavailable.
- For a twist, substitute raspberry jam with other berry preserves or lemon curd.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
- Ensure butter is softened but not melted for best creaming results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: almond snowball cookies, raspberry filled cookies, almond cookies, holiday cookies, raspberry jam cookies, sweet almond cookies