Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe

The oven hums like an old friend. I can hear the faint clink of measuring spoons and the soft thud of a wooden spoon against a bowl. The kitchen light spills warm gold across the counter, and the first whiff of butter and toasted almond makes me smile.

I make Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe on slow Sundays when the city feels like it moved a little farther away. My kids press their noses to the glass while the cookies bake. Meanwhile, I sneak a small spoon of jam and pretend I am not the one. If you love cookies that feel like an embrace and a small project that pays off big, this recipe will become a favorite. For another cookie I turn to on busy afternoons, I often compare textures and notes with my beloved cookies and cream cookie recipe.

Why Make This Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe

This cookie brings gentle sweetness and a nutty richness that feels like a little celebration. It works for school lunches, holiday platters, or a cozy evening with tea and a book. The jam center gives a bright, tart pop that balances the soft, buttery dough. My kids call them “surprise balls.” The name sticks because the raspberry center hides like a tiny present in each bite.

This recipe is realistic for busy families. It asks for basic tools and keeps the steps tidy. The dough is forgiving, and the jam filling can be playful. From there, these cookies stay fresh in a cookie tin for a few days, so you can bake in one go and enjoy later.
Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe

In my small New York kitchen, I like recipes that let me chat with my neighbor or fold laundry between steps. These snowball cookies fit that rhythm. They give instant warmth in the form of buttery crumbs and a fragrant almond scent. You do not need special skills to feel proud of the result.

The Heart Behind This Recipe

My grandmother taught me this style of cookie at her tiny kitchen table. She did not measure with a scale. She measured with habit and heart. She would hum a tune while she pressed the jam into each ball and tell us stories about the holidays when the whole family spilled into her living room.

I now make Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe with the same slow, sure acts she taught me. It is a way to pass down small rituals. Baking these becomes a way to stop and be present. The process invites conversation, little hands, and laughter while the oven does the rest.

I like to set aside an afternoon so the kids and I can take our time. We hum along, we wipe counters, and we taste little bits of jam. Once it is ready, the cookies cool and the house fills with a smell that makes the whole week kinder.

How to Make Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe

“Every time I stir this pot, it smells just like Sunday at home.”

The work here is gentle and tactile. You will cream butter until it feels light. The dough will come together like soft sand and hold a dot of jam at the center. Watch the edges for the slightest golden blush. Meanwhile, the almond scent will float through the kitchen and make everyone look up from whatever they were doing.

Before we list ingredients, imagine the color and texture. The dough is pale and buttery. Tiny specks of finely ground almonds give a soft nuttiness and a tender crumb. The raspberry jam is a jewel of deep red. When baked, the cookies bloom with a tiny dome and become slightly firm to the touch. After they cool, rolling them in powdered sugar makes them look like little snowballs, described well by kids and adults alike.

Ingredients You’ll Need

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus more for coating
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup finely ground almonds
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam

Personal side note: Use good quality almond flour if you can. It gives the cookies a true, buttery almond flavor. If your jam is runny, chill it for a bit so it is easier to portion. Also, if your butter is too hard, let it sit at room temperature for a short while but do not let it melt.

I like to use seedless jam here because it makes filling easier and gives a smooth center. If you prefer a fruitier texture, a chunky jam will work, though you may need to manage seeding. Meanwhile, plain powdered sugar is perfect for that classic snowball look.

You might be tempted to swap out almond flour for ground hazelnut or pistachio. Go ahead and experiment. Each nut will make the cookie sing in a slightly different key. I often nudge the kids to try one with pistachio, and they always notice the color first, then the taste.

One more practical note: if you want to make these gluten-free, try a one-to-one gluten-free flour blend and reduce the oven time slightly. Keep an eye on the edges.

Step-by-Step Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ground almonds, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
  6. Roll a tablespoon of dough into a ball, make an indentation, and fill with 1/4 tsp of raspberry jam.
  7. Seal the filling by pinching the edges together, then re-roll into a smooth ball.
  8. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, until lightly golden.
  9. Let cookies cool slightly on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Once cooled, roll the cookies generously in powdered sugar, twice for best coverage.

Tip after step 2: stir until creamy and pale. That helps the cookies feel delicate later on. Tip after step 5: do not overmix. The dough should be just combined and still tender. Tip after step 8: watch for golden edges. The top should not brown too much. The cookies will firm up as they cool.

I like to line the baking sheet so the bottoms do not brown too fast. If you have a convection oven, check after 8 minutes because it may be slightly quicker. Once you make a tray, small things happen: your kid might ask to press the dough, your phone might buzz. Use these moments to slow down and laugh.

Make ahead idea: You can form the dough and the jam-filled balls, then freeze them on a tray before baking. Once frozen solid, transfer to a freezer bag. When you want fresh cookies, bake them straight from frozen and add a minute or two to the baking time.

Serving Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe at the Family Table

We serve these cookies on an old ceramic plate that has a faint chip on the rim. It is the plate my husband bought at a flea market and somehow it holds every memory. The cookies look like little white moons on that plate. Children reach for them and crack a powdered sugar smile.

Place them next to simple black tea or a glass of cold milk. I like to warm the jam slightly and drizzle a little extra for anyone who wants a more juicy bite. The contrast between the soft crumb and the raspberry center brings small gasps of delight from my two girls.

Set a napkin, call the family, and let the clink of spoons and laughter fill the room. These cookies do well on a dessert board alongside sliced apples and a small bowl of almonds. Once they are on the table, conversations get easier and small moments stretch longer.
Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe

When friends come by after school pickups, I hand them a plate and watch their faces soften. The cookie invites a break. It invites a story about the day. The powdered sugar dust makes children sparkle with giggles. Serve them warm for the most tender crumbs.

Storing and Reheating Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days. Place a sheet of parchment between layers to keep them from sticking. The powdered sugar coating will settle a bit, but a light dusting before serving refreshes the look.

To freeze, lay cookies on a tray until they harden, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Thaw at room temperature. If you want a just-baked feel, warm them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes. Watch the filling so it does not bubble out too much.

Flavors deepen overnight. The almond becomes more pronounced and the jam melds with the dough. If you like, make the dough a day ahead and bake fresh on busy mornings. I often do this before school runs to save time but keep the experience of warm cookies.

If your cookies soften after storage, a quick crisp-up in a warm oven will restore some texture. Use low heat and brief timing. The result will be a cookie that tastes nearly like it just came from the oven.

Quick Tips from My Kitchen

  1. Use room temperature butter. It creams better and gives a lighter dough.
  2. Use a small scoop to portion the dough uniformly. This helps the cookies bake evenly.
  3. Chill the jam in the fridge for 15 minutes if it is very loose. It makes filling simpler.
  4. Roll gently when sealing the jam. Press too hard and the filling may break through.
  5. For cleaner powdered sugar, roll once, wait five minutes, and roll again for good coverage.

These are little habits I picked up from years of baking with kids. They save time and keep the cookies predictable. I keep a small container of powdered sugar on hand for last-minute refreshes.

If your almond flour is coarse, pulse it in a food processor for a few seconds. This makes the texture more tender. If the dough seems crumbly, add a teaspoon or two of milk. The dough should hold together without being sticky.

Variations on Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe

Play with flavors. Swap raspberry jam for apricot or strawberry for a different fruit note. Use lemon curd for a bright citrus surprise. If you want a richer nut flavor, toast the almonds lightly before grinding them.

For chocolate lovers, press a small square of dark chocolate into the jam before sealing. The chocolate will melt slightly as the cookie cools. If you prefer a center with texture, use a jam with seeds or small fruit pieces.

Turn these into sandwich cookies by making smaller rounds and adding jam between two cookies. Dust with chocolate shavings for a grown-up finish. For a gluten-free option, try a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour and add a minute or two of baking time.

In my New York spin on Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe, I sometimes add a pinch of cardamom. It smells like a city spice market and gives a warm, unexpected lift. My kids were skeptical at first and then asked for only the cardamom ones. Try a small batch before committing to a full tray.

If you want to make them vegan, use plant-based butter and a flax egg binder. Textures will change a bit, but the result often stays tender and delightful.

What I’ve Learned Cooking Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe

Baking teaches patience more than most kitchen tasks. I learned to read dough by touch and to trust small cues like a faint scent or a golden edge. These cookies taught me the joy of hidden pleasures the jam that surprises you and the comfort of rituals.

I also learned that the best recipes are forgiving. If you forget to cream the butter for a full time, the cookies still come out cozy and familiar. If the jam spills a little, you can wipe and press it back in. The work is humble and kind.

I keep a small notebook with variations and notes. It has smudges of jam and small chocolate fingerprints. In the margins I write what my kids thought and whether the texture was perfect. It keeps the recipe alive and responsive to small changes in the pantry or season.

Across seasons, I make small adjustments. In winter, I might swap a teaspoon of vanilla for almond extract to double down on nuttiness. In summer, I use fresh jam for a lighter brightness. The recipe invites these changes without losing its heart.

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Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe raspberry almond snowball cookies delightful easy 2026 01 07 000024 819x1024 1

Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies


  • Author: Natali Rossi
  • Total Time: 32 minutes
  • Yield: 24 cookies
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Delightful and easy cookie recipe filled with tart raspberry jam, surrounded by soft, buttery dough, perfect for cozy family moments.


Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus more for coating
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup finely ground almonds
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam


Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ground almonds, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
  6. Roll a tablespoon of dough into a ball, make an indentation, and fill with 1/4 tsp of raspberry jam.
  7. Seal the filling by pinching the edges together, then re-roll into a smooth ball.
  8. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, until lightly golden.
  9. Let cookies cool slightly on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Once cooled, roll the cookies generously in powdered sugar, twice for best coverage.

Notes

For a gluten-free option, use a one-to-one gluten-free flour blend. If your jam is runny, chill it to make filling easier.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

FAQs About Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes. I often prep it in the morning before the girls wake up, then finish it right before dinner. The dough can rest in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Can I use a different jam?

Yes. Apricot, strawberry, or lemon curd all work well. If a jam is very loose, chill it to make filling easier.

How do I keep the powdered sugar from getting sticky?

Cool the cookies fully before rolling them. If the kitchen is humid, roll them twice with a short pause between rolls.

Can I freeze the cookies after baking?

Yes. Freeze on a tray first, then transfer to a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature and refresh in a warm oven if desired.

What if my dough is crumbly?

Add a teaspoon of milk at a time until it binds. Don’t overwork the dough.

A Final Thought

Baking Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe is like pressing pause on a rushed day. It invites small hands and warm conversation. The recipe is simple, but it gives a lot back in memories and comfort. When the cookies come out, the house feels kinder and the table seems to hold room for one more story.

I hope you make these on a quiet afternoon or for a small crowd. Let the jam be bright and the almonds be soft. Share a tray and watch how a tiny cookie can make a big memory. Thank you for letting me share this recipe and these little bits of kitchen life.

Conclusion

For a similar filled cookie idea with Italian roots, I like to compare notes with Filled Almond Snowball Cookies at Italian Food Forever and see how different kitchens handle fillings and shapes. If you want another home-style take on jam-filled almond snowballs, the version at Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies at Cooking Classy offers a lovely comparison and extra photos to guide you.

Author

  • Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies Delightful Easy Recipe Natali Rossi

    Natali Rossi, a New York City culinary expert, transforms everyday meals into vibrant, healthy celebrations. She empowers home cooks to create delicious, quick weeknight dinners and comforting dishes with a nutritious twist, proving that healthy eating can be both easy and incredibly satisfying.