In my last post I mentioned some new things I had been baking in recent days. I also hope to make a couple of old recipes too. One of my very favorite cookies are these snowballs. My mom didn't bake much during the year, but she always made some of these for Christmas. They are very simple to make but they are so good. You may already have a recipe similar to this one in your file.
Snowballs
1 cup (or 2 sticks) butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Additional powdered sugar for rolling
Cream butter and then add powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix in flour and chopped nuts. Form into small balls a little smaller than a walnut. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 mins. Cookies should be brown on the bottom only. Let cool slightly and then roll in additional powdered sugar. After they cool a bit more roll in the sugar a second time to give them a more "snowy" appearance. Makes about three dozen.
Another family favorite is this peanut butter fudge. This is another recipe I got years ago from that recipe program on the radio. It, too, is very simple, but very good. Mrs. Pra---, who used to teach in the RTV department at school gave this recipe and said that her boys called pieces of this fudge erasers because it looks like those brown art gum erasers. It is good plain, but over the top with the chocolate layer added. Sorry there's no picture--haven't made this one yet.
Peanut Butter Erasers
2/3 cup evaporated milk
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup chocolate chips
Combine evaporated milk and sugar in a saucepan and cook to softball stage (a drop of the mixture with form a ball when dropped in a cup of cold water. The ball will be soft and will flatten when you try to pick it up on your finger.) Stir constantly while this mixture is cooking and be sure to use a big enough pan as the sugar mixture will froth up.
Remove the pan from the heat and then add the peanut butter. Stir the fudge until it is about the consistency of runny mashed potatoes and then quickly pour it into a buttered 7" x 11" pan. Immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and let sit for about 5 mins. until the chips soften and you can spread them on top of the fudge. Let cool completely and cut into pieces. Enjoy your delicious fudge!
Becka
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on Dec 23rd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
I made snowballs today also – we call them Russian Teacakes, but it’s the identical recipe. I made a double batch, but I do cut down on the chopped nuts, and also used some almond flavoring as well as vanilla.
I also made a batch of ambrosia balls, which is the same recipe, minus the nuts, with a tablespoon of grated orange peel and a cup of coconut added. For those I used orange extract as well as vanilla.
Tomorrow is fudge and dipped pretzels. Then we’ll make plates for the neighbors and try to get rid of most of the goodies so we don’t get too fat!
on Dec 24th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
We called your snowballs “melt-aways”–and they were always a Christmas staple in my home growing up. My sister still makes them and always includes them in her holiday box of goodies for us.
I love them!!!!
on Dec 29th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Yes, we love snowballs! Just so yummy. The fudge sounds good too. It’s the third fudge recipe I’ve wanted to try in as many days. The others are Orange and 3-minute microwave fudge.