When we were kids we always called this cookie butterballs. That's what we were told they were. But when I grew up and started reading cookbooks I have since seen them called snowballs or Italian wedding cookies. I even had one once that had crunched up potato chips as an ingredient!
As far as tradition goes these cookies are on the same level as the turkey for Thanksgiving. I can't remember ever a Thanksgiving or Christmas when these were not part of the offering.
I double the recipe so I only have to do them once. The freezer is my best friend. We like them just this side of underdone, we don't like them over cooked so they are watched very carefully.
Roll them in powdered sugar almost immediately from the oven and the sugar will melt and they will get a little gummy coating. Then when completely cooled I roll them again.
Ahhh! Snowballs, of course. I make these too and you're right about the walnuts. Why waste the calories if there is no nuts inside. I love the picture of your old recipe.
ReplyDeletewe're allergic to tree nuts, so we make these without nuts ... my mom called them Russian teacakes, but the recipe in my BH&G Mexican cookbook calls them povrolones/ Mexican wedding cookies ... i lurve them, no matter what they're called
ReplyDeletelook like delicious cookies...
ReplyDeleteit's good you make them still...thanksgiving is about tradition...i wouldn't think of veering off our regular tried and true lineup of favorites...
ReplyDeleteThey sound wonderful, I love walnuts!
ReplyDelete