Butterball Cookie Recipe

Plate of round cookie balls coated in white powder and piled pyramid style sitting on a wooden surface.

These homemade butterball cookies are tender, nutty little bites dusted in soft powdered sugar. They mix together quickly, bake up beautifully, and have that nostalgic charm that fits right into holiday baking. Their warm pecan flavor and soft, delicate texture make them a simple favorite worth keeping in your seasonal rotation.

Course Desserts

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Resting Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 272kcal

Author Diane Gail

Ingredients

1 cup butter softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans
3/4 cup confectioners sugar

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cream: Beat the butter and sugar together until smooth so the dough develops its soft, tender texture.
Stir: Add the vanilla to give the dough gentle warmth and help balance the buttery flavor.
Whisk: Combine the flour, salt, and pecans in a separate bowl to distribute the nuts evenly throughout the dough.
Mix: Bring the wet and dry ingredients together, then chill for 30 minutes so the dough firms enough to roll cleanly.
Roll: Shape the dough into even-sized balls and place them on a silicone-lined baking sheet for uniform baking.
Bake: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes, rest 2–3 minutes, then gently roll the warm cookies in confectioner’s sugar so the coating adheres without crumbling.

Notes

Chill briefly: Keep the chill time under 30 minutes to prevent the dough from becoming too firm to roll easily.
Check early: Look in after 5 minutes in the oven because dough balls can shift on silicone mats and sometimes need to be gently nudged back into place.
Roll while warm: Coat the cookies when they’re warm but not hot so they hold their shape and the sugar sticks smoothly.
Chop finely: Use finely chopped pecans so they blend evenly through the dough and help the cookies stay neatly rounded.
Handle gently: Lift the cookies with care while warm to avoid breaking their delicate structure before rolling in sugar.

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