Ah yes, Christmas cookies. While I will be posting several of my most favorite traditional cookie recipes here for the holiday season, I will also be posting a few healthy variations of them to help reduce the amount of sugar induced comas we all fall into on occasion this time of year. The first of these Christmas-cookies-gone-healthy recipes is this one for snowballs (A.K.A. Mexican wedding cookies). I almost did not believe it when I bit into this cookie. It tastes so much like the real thing I was blown away. Of course the texture is different, but the sweet buttery shortbread taste is ever present and oh so tasty!
Ingredients
1/2 cup raw pecans
1/2 cup raw macadamia nuts
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup coconut (dried, shredded, and unsweetened)
2 tablespoons raw honey
For Rolling
1/4 cup coconut (dried, shredded, and unsweetened)
Process the pecans in a food processor to break up into little pieces. Empty these pieces into a small mixing bowl to mix in later. Process the macadamia nuts, cashews, and coconut in a food processor until they resemble a coarse meal. Add in the honey and process until the mixture starts to form a sticky ball of dough. Transfer this mixture to the small mixing bowl with the chopped pecans. Incorporate the pecans in the dough mixture. Scoop rounded spoonfuls (either with a cookie scoop, or with a spoon and then roll into balls in your hands) and roll each ball in the coconut. Quickly chill them for more immediate consumption in the freezer, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.
Sounds amazing!... but when do you add the pecans?
ReplyDeleteHa! Thank you for catching that ;) I just edited the post to incorporate that missed step! Right after making the dough in the processor, before shaping them into balls. Thank you again, silly me!
DeleteThank you! =)
ReplyDeleteDid you use dried cranberries or something in your cookies or what is the red stuff?
ReplyDeleteOh what you see are the pecan pieces I use in the recipe!
DeleteHELP!!!! Weeks ago my cookies came out delicious, Now I'm giving them as a Christmas gift tonight, and they came out crumbly, oily, and don't hold together......WHAT happened?! I used the exact measurements and I'm pressed for time. Thanks Jessie
ReplyDeleteI would guess that you need to add a bit more honey to bind them together
DeleteDo you soak the nuts first?
ReplyDeleteNo, not needed in this recipe!
DeleteCan you use a Vitamix to make these?
ReplyDeleteHi there! I have actually never used one so I can't say for sure. From what I just read online doing some research on vitamixes - they are great at pulverizing and blending but don't work so well with thick mixtures (like this recipe) I'm sorry!
DeleteThanks! I do make raw brownies with the vitamix. I ll try these hopefully it will work out. I do have a Ninja too if you think that might work.
DeleteOh great! It might work then! I hope it does and that you get to enjoy them, I love these little guys. I have sadly never used a Ninja either, but if your vitamixes makes raw brownies this shouldn't be much different thickness wise (maybe even easier to make!).
DeleteThanks! Cant wait to make them and try them. I ll let you know how they turn out.
DeleteJessie, They turned out really good. They are delicious. Can you keep them in the freezer overnight?
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm so glad. And sure you can! I usually keep mine in the fridge, but the freezer works too! I hope you have a Merry Christmas.
DeleteThanks Jessie! Merry Christmas to you too!
DeleteThank you so much for sharing your recipe!
ReplyDelete