Sweetened Condensed Milk Snowballs Recipe
Sweetened Condensed Milk Snowballs are a delightful no-bake holiday dessert featuring a rich, creamy, and chewy texture from sweetened condensed milk and shredded coconut. These festive snowball cookies are easy to prepare, require no baking, and are perfect for holiday celebrations or any time you want a simple, crowd-pleasing sweet treat that looks like little winter snowballs dusted with powdered sugar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 12 snowballs 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (optional)
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)
Optional Mix-ins
- 1 cup mix-ins such as shredded coconut, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, nuts, or sprinkles
Instructions
- Cream the Butter: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, to create a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Sweetened Condensed Milk: Gradually mix in the sweetened condensed milk and continue beating for 2 minutes until fully combined. If using vanilla or almond extract for flavor, add it now (limit 2 teaspoons) and mix well.
- Scrape and Mix: Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat the mixture for another 1 to 2 minutes ensuring a smooth and creamy consistency without lumps.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour and baking powder to the butter mixture. Beat until just incorporated to avoid overmixing.
- Add Optional Mix-ins: If desired, fold in up to 1 cup of shredded coconut, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, nuts, or other mix-ins gently using a spatula.
- Shape the Cookies: Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion the dough into evenly sized mounds and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart to allow for baking expansion.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 320°F (160°C) and bake the cookies for 12 minutes until they are lightly puffed but not browned.
- Cool on the Pan: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the pan to set.
- Transfer and Dust: Carefully move the cookies to a wire cooling rack. Generously dust them with confectioners’ sugar using a sifter to give a beautiful snowball effect.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cookies to cool entirely before storing in an airtight container to retain their soft, chewy texture.
Notes
- These snowballs store well in the refrigerator for up to 1 week when kept in airtight containers with parchment paper between layers.
- For long-term storage, freeze the snowballs in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for about an hour at room temperature before serving.
- For a nut-free version, substitute shredded coconut with crushed graham crackers or cookie crumbs.
- Enhance flavor by adding a pinch of cinnamon or rolling the cookies in cocoa powder before dusting with sugar.
- To make a dairy-free/vegan version, use dairy-free sweetened condensed milk and coconut oil instead of butter.
- These cookies are perfect as edible gifts and holiday treats that require minimal preparation and no complicated baking skills.
Keywords: Sweetened Condensed Milk Snowballs, no bake cookies, holiday dessert, coconut snowballs, easy Christmas cookies, chewy snowball cookies, festive treats
