Name: Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup pecans; 1 cup unsalted butter (softened); ½ cup powdered sugar; 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract; ½ teaspoon sea salt; 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour (270g); ¼ cup almond slices; 1 cup powdered sugar (for dusting); 30 pieces candy ropes (cherry licorice)

There’s something utterly charming about these little festive treats. The buttery texture and the sweet dusting on top make the Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe an absolute delight to share with family and friends during the holidays. Let me show you how these whimsical mice can become your new favorite cookie tradition!

This image shows many small treats shaped like mice, arranged closely on crinkled parchment paper with text. Each mouse-shaped treat has a rough texture covered fully with white powdered sugar, making a soft, powdery layer on top. They have two small toasted almond pieces on top as ears and a small clove or similar dark spice at the front as a nose. Thin, red licorice strings are placed among the treats, acting as tails. The whole scene is set against a soft-focused background with light bokeh and a white marbled surface beneath the parchment paper. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I have to admit, when I first made these Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies, I was hooked not just by the taste but by how fun they were to shape. They add a little whimsy to holiday baking that your guests won’t soon forget.

Playful Presentation: These cookies magically transform simple snowballs into adorable mice with just a little almond ear and a candy tail.
Rich, Buttery Flavor: The combination of buttery dough and toasted pecans makes each bite melt in your mouth.
Festive and Nostalgic: The powdered sugar coating brings that classic snowball cookie vibe with a creative twist.
Perfect for Gifting: Everyone loves receiving a box of these charming treats during the holidays.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe plays a role in creating those soft, nutty, and beautifully textured cookies. Here’s why I love the ones chosen for this recipe.

Flat lay of a small pile of whole pecans, a few soft cubes of unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with fine powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with clear vanilla extract, a few grains of coarse sea salt scattered near, a mound of all purpose white flour, a small handful of pale almond slices, and several bright red twisted candy ropes, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white ceramic plate and bowls, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Pecans: Toasting them brings out a warm, nutty flavor that adds depth and crunch without overpowering the cookie.
Unsalted Butter: Using softened butter ensures the dough is creamy and helps create that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Powdered Sugar: Both in the dough and for dusting, it gives the cookies a soft sweetness and the iconic snowy look.
Vanilla Extract: It’s the subtle flavor booster that ties all the ingredients together beautifully.
Sea Salt: Just a pinch enhances the sweetness and balances the flavors perfectly.
All-Purpose Flour: Supports the structure, giving the cookies their tender crumb without toughness.
Almond Slices: They make the perfect little ears for the mice and add a delicate crunch.
Candy Ropes (like cherry licorice): These become the cute and chewy tails for the mice, adding a pop of color and fun.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

While I adore the classic look and flavor of this Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe, I love mixing things up every Christmas. You can absolutely tailor these cookies to make them your own.

Nut Alternatives: I once swapped pecans for walnuts and loved the richer taste it gave — but pecans remain my top pick for that traditional texture.
Flavored Tail Options: Instead of cherry licorice, try cinnamon twists or even gummy candy strips for a different twist.
Allergy-Friendly: You can easily replace almond slices with small pieces of dried fruit or tiny chocolate chips, especially if nut allergies are a concern.
Extra Festive Shapes: Feel free to experiment - pinch different parts of the dough to make unique mouse expressions or even add tiny icing eyes.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe

The image shows several small mouse-shaped cookies dusted with white powdered sugar. Each cookie is a light golden brown and has two small toasted almond slices placed on top to look like ears. One cookie is broken open, revealing a textured filling that appears to be a mix of nuts with a slightly darker brown color inside. The cookies are resting on a white marbled surface with bits of red ribbon visible underneath, adding a festive touch. The overall look is soft, powdered, and cozy, with the cookies placed close together in a casual arrangement. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Toasting the Pecans to Perfection

First things first: preheat your oven to 355°F (180°C). Lay your pecans on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and toast them for 5-8 minutes until you can really smell their toasty goodness. I set a timer closely here because nuts can go from toasted to burnt in a blink. Once cooled, chop or crush them finely — this gives the cookies that lovely nutty crunch without big chunks.

Step 2: Creaming Together the Base

In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine your softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Beat them together until super creamy and smooth, scraping down the sides often so nothing gets left behind. This step sets the stage for tender cookies, so don’t rush it!

Step 3: Bringing the Dough Together

Next, reduce your mixer speed to low and mix in your flour and those cooled, toasted pecans. The dough will start to come together — if it looks crumbly, just keep mixing gently until it holds. If it feels too soft, chilling it slightly can help before shaping.

Step 4: Shaping Your Little Mice

Using a cookie scoop, portion out about 1 ½ tablespoons of dough. Roll it gently into a smooth ball — then pinch one side carefully to form a little pointed nose shape. Press in two almond slices for ears, and arrange your mice on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about an inch between each cookie.

Step 5: Baking and Decorating

Bake your mice for about 15 minutes, or until they're lightly golden around the edges. Right when they come out, sprinkle them generously with powdered sugar — this fresh dusting gives them that magical snowy look. Use a toothpick to poke a small hole for their tails and gently insert pieces of candy rope while the cookies are still warm so they stick nicely.

Step 6: Cooling and Serving

Let the cookies cool completely on the sheet to firm up. I like to wait patiently here because the center crisps beautifully as they cool down. Once ready, your Christmas mice are set to charm any holiday table!

Top Tip

I’ve made this recipe many times, and a few things really helped me nail it every single batch — here’s what I found useful:

Perfect Toast: Watch those pecans closely while toasting — once you catch the nutty aroma, pull them out immediately.
Soft But Firm Dough: If your dough feels too sticky to shape, pop it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes – this makes handling so much easier.
Gentle Nose Pinching: When shaping the nose, press softly to avoid flattening the ball, preserving that cute 3D shape of your mice.
Sticky Tails Hack: Insert the candy rope tails while cookies are still hot so they anchor in the cookie and don’t slide off later.

How to Serve Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe

Christmas Mice Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep garnish simple since the powdered sugar coating makes the cookies look like snowy little critters already. Sometimes a sprig of fresh rosemary on the serving plate adds a wonderful pine aroma and holiday vibe without stealing the show.

Side Dishes

These cute Christmas mice pair wonderfully with festive hot cocoa or mulled cider. They’re also fantastic alongside a cheese platter or a bowl of spiced nuts if you want to mix sweet and savory flavors during your holiday gatherings.

Creative Ways to Present

I once set up a little "mouse village" on a holiday dessert tray — I arranged pinecones, felt mats, and these cookies with tiny nut "logs" to add a whimsical touch that guests loved. You could even tuck them in gift boxes with a note for a playful homemade present!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Trust me, they keep beautifully for up to a week, and the nuts stay crunchy while the cookie remains tender.

Freezing

These cookies freeze surprisingly well! Once completely cool, I arrange them in a single layer on a tray and freeze. After firm, I transfer them to a freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper. They thaw in under an hour and taste just as fresh as day one.

Reheating

If you want to enjoy them warm, a quick 5-7 second zap in the microwave does the trick. Just be careful not to overheat — the cheese tails can get chewy, but the cookie softens delightfully.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the dough a day ahead, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Let it soften a bit at room temperature before shaping the mice. This often improves the flavor and makes rolling easier.

What if I don’t have candy ropes for the tails?

No worries! You can use thin licorice strings, pretzel sticks, or even small strips of fruit leather as creative alternatives to candy ropes for the tails.

How do I keep the almond ears from falling off?

Make sure to gently press the almond slices into the dough before baking. As the dough bakes and rises slightly, it will hold the ears in place. Avoid pushing them in too hard to keep the mouse shape intact.

Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

Yes! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. Just be sure to check that your gluten-free mix contains xanthan gum or another binder to maintain the texture.

Final Thoughts

I hope you’ll give this Christmas Mice Snowball Cookies Recipe a try this holiday season. Their buttery softness, nutty crunch, and whimsical shape always bring smiles around my kitchen table. They’re one of those recipes that not only taste amazing but also make wonderful memories. Happy baking and may your holidays be as cozy and sweet as these little mice!