Toasted Southern Snowballs Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cream the butter with 1/2 cup of the confectioners' sugar and the vanilla. Mix in the flour, pecans, and salt. Roll about 1 tablespoon or so of dough into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until bottoms are golden, about 15 minutes. Do not allow these cookies to get too brown: it's better to undercook them than to overcook them. While cookies are still hot, roll them in confectioners' sugar. Once they have cooled, roll them in confectioners' sugar once more.

Steps:

• In a medium skillet over medium heat, toast the almond flour, stirring constantly, until golden brown and fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Immediately pour flour into a small bowl to cool. Watch carefully: Once the flour begins to toast, it will happen very quickly.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a handheld electric mixer, beat butter and 1 cup confectioners' sugar on low speed until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Beat in egg yolk, brandy and almond extract until well combined.
• Reduce speed to low and gradually add all-purpose flour, salt and toasted almond flour until just incorporated.
• Scrape the dough into an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• When ready to bake, heat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Using your hands, roll dough into 1-inch balls and place balls 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 18 minutes, until cookies begin to brown at edges. Rotate cookie sheets halfway through for even baking.
• Place 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar into a sieve. As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, sift a thick layer of confectioners' sugar over the tops. Once cookies are cool, put remaining 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar (plus any sugar in the sieve) into a shallow bowl and toss cookies again in confectioners' sugar.

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Arrange cracker squares on waxed paper. Use a small ice cream scoop to place scoops of ice cream on each cracker square. Cover and freeze while preparing frosting.
• Prepare frosting mix according to package directions. Place frosting in a large pastry bag fitted with a large round tip (1/4-inch). Pipe frosting over each ice cream mound to cover. Or use a spoon to spread frosting over each ice cream scoop, spreading to cover. Freeze at least 1 hour (cover loosely after frosting is firm).
• Preheat oven 500 degree F. Transfer squares to a greased baking sheet. Bake, uncovered, for 3 to 4 minutes or until frosting is golden brown. Serve immediately. Makes 12 servings.

Steps:

• About 30 minutes before serving, freeze scoops of ice cream shaped into balls. Scoop out 4 portions, placing each scoop on a cookie sheet with about 2 inches between them. Put the sheet of ice cream scoops in the freezer. (Before you do, make sure there's enough room in the freezer).
• Meanwhile, toast the coconut: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place a thin layer of the coconut on a cookie sheet and toast it in the oven. Toast about 10 minutes or until it begins to turn light brown. Spread the coconut in a shallow bowl.
• When ready to serve the ice cream, lift off the snowballs with a large spoon and roll each, one at a time, in the toasted coconut. Arrange on a small cookie sheet and freeze again about 10 minutes or more to resolidify.
• Place 1 snowball in each serving bowl. Drizzle with honey. Serve at once.