Spice Snowball Cookies (Lemon-Ginger Snowballs)

These tender lemon cookies look their holiday best rolled in coconut or white nonpareils. Tea, not a typical cookie ingredient, provides just the right mix of bright flavor and spice in these cookies.

Spice Snowball Cookies (Lemon-Ginger Snowballs)
Prep Time:
30 mins
Chill Time:
1 hrs
Bake Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Yield:
4 dozen cookies

Ingredients

  • ½ cup shortening

  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger or finely chopped crystallized ginger

  • 1 tablespoon vanilla

  • 2 teaspoon honey-lemon-ginseng flavor green tea (from one 0.1-ounce tea bag)*

  • 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel

  • 1 cup packed brown sugar

  • 2 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 2 large eggs

  • 2 ½ cup all-purpose flour

  • Granulated sugar

  • 1 recipe Powdered Sugar Glaze

  • Toppings: coconut, powdered sugar, white nonpareils (optional)

Powdered Sugar Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar

  • 4 teaspoon water

Directions

  1. In large mixing bowl beat shortening, fresh ginger, vanilla, tea, and lemon peel with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Add brown sugar; beat until well-combined. Beat in ground ginger, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat in eggs. Beat in as much of the flour as you can; stir in any remaining by hand. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour or until easy to handle.

  2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar and place on two ungreased baking sheets.

  3. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheets. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Dip in Powdered Sugar Glaze and add toppings; let stand on waxed paper to dry.

Powdered Sugar Glaze

  1. In a medium bowl combine powdered sugar and water until glaze is a thick drizzling consistency.

*Tip:

Cut open the tea bag and add the loose tea to the batter. (Do not brew the tea.)

To Store:

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Molasses Tea Cookies:

Substitute 1/4 cup molasses for 1/2 cup of the brown sugar and increase flour to 2-3/4 cups. Add 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves with the ground ginger. Shape as directed above. Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are set.

Chocolate Tea Cookies:

Add 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder with the brown sugar. Reduce flour to 2-1/3 cups. Shape as directed above. Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are set.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

75 Calories
2g Fat
13g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Calories 75
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 9mg 3%
Sodium 35mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 1g
Calcium 10.1mg 1%
Iron 0.4mg 2%
Potassium 18mg 0%
Folate, total 12.1mcg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Related Articles