Butterscotch Chip Snowball Cookies

#12DaysofChristmasCookies

One of my favorite things about Christmas time and the holiday season is baking cookies. I remember baking cookies with my mom while growing up and continuing to bake cookies once I moved out on my own. Now that my daughter is a teenager, she not only wants to help make the cookies but enjoys the freedom to pick out her own recipes to make. This is our 3rd Christmas living in Tennessee and this year we are hosting our 1st Christmas Cookie Exchange party. What started out as a small girl’s night has grown to a couples party with over 15 people. That means a lot of cookies will be making there way into our home and the homes of our friends. The best part is that each person only has to bake one type of cookie but will take home at least 15 types.

To help you get ready for your own Christmas Cookie Exchange or holiday party, I have teamed up with some of my favorite bloggers to bring you 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. I will be sharing with you my favorite Christmas Cookie and will have the links to 11 other fantastic Christmas Cookies for you to try out and share with your friends and family.

The Christmas Cookie Recipe I have for you is a spin on the classic Snowball Cookies. These have been a long-time favorite of mine and this year I wanted to give them a little twist for maximum flavor without a lot of work. I did this by adding butterscotch chips. The end result is a burst of flavor from the butterscotch chips paired with the classic light taste of the Snowball Cookies. These Butterscotch Chip Snowball Cookies are sure to be a crowd pleaser this holiday season, so make sure you make a second batch or there won’t be any left for you.

Butterscotch Chip Snowball Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup butterscotch chips, chopped into small pieces (mini butterscotch chips can be used also)
• 1 cup powdered sugar, divided
• 1 cup/2 sticks butter, softened (unsalted or salted)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. In a large mixing bowl add butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer until fluffy and completely combined. 
3. Add salt to the flour and stir together. Slowly add flour to the butter-sugar mixture using the electric mixture until the dough comes together. 
4. Using your hands, mix in the butterscotch chips so that it is scattered through-out the dough. 
5. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place on cookie sheets. 
6. Bake for 9-14 minutes until the bottoms are slightly brown. Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes, until you are able to touch them. 
7. Fill a small bowl with the remaining powdered sugar and place a cookie into the bowl. Roll the cookie in the sugar to cover all sides. Set on a rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining cookies. 

Recipe makes approximately 24 1 inch Butterscotch Chip Snowball Cookies.

Tips and Tricks:

Place parchment paper on metal baking sheets for easy clean-up and better protection from burnt cookie bottoms.

If using a Kitchen-Aid or Stand Mixer start with the whisk attachment for the butter and sugar and switch to the paddle when adding the flour to the mixture.

Make the cookies 1/2 inch balls to double the amount of cookies.

Swaps & Substitutions:

Swap out the butterscotch chips for any small baking chip like chocolate, peppermint, toffee bits, etc. 

For a classic snowball cookie omit the butterscotch chips and add chopped pecans or walnuts.

Omit the butterscotch chips and roll out the cookies without any add-ins. 

Don’t roll in powdered sugar and once cooled, dip in melted chocolate and place on rack until the chocolate cools. Dust with powdered sugar. 

I hope these Butterscotch Chip Snowball Cookies, and the other cookies in our 12 Days of Christmas Cookies, get you inspired to start baking cookies this holiday season. Even if you only make a few cookies, time spent in the kitchen is shown to decrease stress and with all the running around during the holiday season, take some time to de-stress with your family and friends making cookies. 

I would love to hear what your favorite Christmas cookie is, so make sure to let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to share our 12 Days of Christmas Cookies with your family and friends. Have a Wonderful Christmas and Warm Holiday wishes to you and yours. 

Yield: 24 - 1 inch balls

Butterscotch Chip Snowball Cookies

Print

This twist on the classic snowball cookies will surprise you with a pop of flavor in each bite. The recipe also includes simple swaps to try to create other varieties of Snowball Cookies, including the classic instructions.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 5 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup butterscotch chips, chopped into small pieces (mini butterscotch chips can be used also)
• 1 cup powdered sugar, divided
• 1 cup/2 sticks butter, softened (unsalted or salted)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. In a large mixing bowl add butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer until fluffy and completely combined. 
3. Add salt to the flour and stir together. Slowly add flour to the butter-sugar mixture using the electric mixture until the dough comes together. 
4. Using your hands, mix in the butterscotch chips so that it is scattered through-out the dough. 
5. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place on cookie sheets. 
6. Bake for 9-14 minutes until the bottoms are slightly brown. Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes, until you are able to touch them. 
7. Fill a small bowl with the remaining powdered sugar and place a cookie into the bowl. Roll the cookie in the sugar to cover all sides. Set on a rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining cookies. 

Notes

Tips and Tricks:

Place parchment paper on metal baking sheets for easy clean-up and better protection from burnt cookie bottoms.

If using a Kitchen-Aid or Stand Mixer start with the whisk attachment for the butter and sugar and switch to the paddle when adding the flour to the mixture.

Make the cookies 1/2 inch balls to double the amount of cookies.

Swaps & Substitutions:

Swap out the butterscotch chips for any small baking chip like chocolate, peppermint, toffee bits, etc. 

For a classic snowball cookie omit the butterscotch chips and add chopped pecans or walnuts.

Omit the butterscotch chips and roll out the cookies without any add-ins. 

Don't roll in powdered sugar and once cooled, dip in melted chocolate and place on rack until the chocolate cools. Dust with powdered sugar.