Choosing The Perfect Wedding Cookies For Your Big Day

Cookies are a great alternative to cake at weddings. One such cookie is the Mexican wedding cookie, which is also known as Russian tea cakes, polvorones, snowballs, and more. These cookies are tiny, melt-in-your-mouth, and buttery. They are usually made with flour, butter, finely chopped nuts, confectioner's sugar, and vanilla extract.

Another great option is Italian wedding cookies, which are also known as Mexican wedding cookies or butterballs. They are balls of buttery goodness rolled in powdered sugar. They are made with butter, confectioners' sugar, salt, almonds, vanilla, and flour.

Some other types of cookies that are perfect for weddings are peanut butter cookies, sweetheart sandwich cookies, and hazelnut-chocolate sandwich cookies.

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (225g or 2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
• 3/4 cup (85g) powdered sugar, sifted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups (280g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup (115g) pecan pieces or other nuts
• 1 1/4 cup (145g) powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions:

• Toast the nuts on a stovetop over medium heat until fragrant, then crush them into a coarse powder using a food processor or plastic bag and rolling pin.
• Mix the butter and 3/4 cup powdered sugar in a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat to incorporate.
• Mix in the flour and salt on low speed, then increase to medium speed once the dry ingredients are absorbed.
• Add the crushed nuts and mix on low speed until combined.
• Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and form it into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls in the remaining powdered sugar and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until the cookies are slightly browned on top and golden on the bottom.
• Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes, then roll them in powdered sugar again while still warm.
• Return the cookies to a cooling rack and let them cool completely before serving.

Tips:

• If your dough is too sticky, chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes before rolling into balls.
• You can substitute any nut of your choice for the pecans.
• Toasting the nuts before mixing them into the dough boosts their flavour.
• For an extra nutty flavour, try adding almond extract to the dough.
• If you want to freeze the cookies, it's best to freeze the dough before baking and rolling in powdered sugar.

Italian Wedding Cookies

Ingredients:

• Butter: This Italian wedding cookie dough starts with three sticks of unsalted butter.
• Confectioners' sugar: Confectioners' sugar blends perfectly into these melt-in-your-mouth cookies.
• Salt: Salt enhances the flavours of the other ingredients, but won't make your cookies taste salty.
• Nuts: Finely ground almonds are the key ingredient in traditional Italian Wedding Cookies, but you can also use pecans or hazelnuts.
• Vanilla: A hefty dose of vanilla extract enhances the overall flavour of the cookies.
• Flour: All-purpose flour creates structure and helps hold the cookie dough together.

Method:

• Beat the butter, sugar, and salt.
• Mix in the nuts and vanilla, then gradually add the flour.
• Shape the dough into balls and bake until lightly browned.
• Roll the warm cookies in confectioners' sugar.

Tips:

• The cookie dough won't spread out much, so you'll be able to fit quite a few on one baking sheet.
• Let the cookies cool until they're just cool enough to handle—they still need to be quite warm to hang onto the powdered sugar.
• You can store Italian Wedding Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you stack the cookies, place a piece of parchment paper between each layer to prevent sticking.
• You can also freeze Italian Wedding Cookies, but it's best to freeze the dough before baking and rolling in powdered sugar.

Russian Tea Cakes

The recipe for Russian Tea Cakes is quite simple, and the end product is a shortbread-like dough with chopped nuts. The dough is shaped into balls and baked until set, resulting in a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The signature finish is achieved by rolling the warm cookies in powdered sugar, giving them a delightful, sweet, and snowy appearance.

To make Russian Tea Cakes, start by mixing softened butter with powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in the flour, nuts, and a pinch of salt until the dough comes together. You can use a variety of nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds, but be sure to chop them finely. The dough may be crumbly, but it should hold together when pressed. If it's too soft, chill it until it's easier to handle.

Next, shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving about an inch of space between each cookie. Bake the cookies at 350-400°F for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just turning golden. Be careful not to overbake them, as they should remain pale.

Once the cookies are baked, let them cool slightly on a wire rack before rolling them in powdered sugar. You can then cool them completely on the rack. For an extra sweet touch, roll the cookies in powdered sugar a second time after they have cooled.

Cookie Tables

Ask your nearest and dearest to bake a batch or two of their favourite cookies and, before you know it, you'll have a delightful display of cookies to complement your wedding cake.

• Dark Chocolate Meringue Drops
• Peanut Butter Cookies
• Cocoa Wedding Cakes
• Linzer Strips
• Italian Hazelnut Cookies (Brutti Ma Buoni, meaning "Ugly But Good")
• Chocolate Chunk Cookies
• Almond Macaroon Fingers
• Pecan Lace Cookies
• Hazelnut-Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Mexican Wedding Cookies
• Italian Wedding Cookies
• Russian Tea Cakes
• Polvorones
• Snowball Cookies
• Egyptian Feast Cookies
• Nut Butter Balls
• Norwegian Snowballs
• Kourambie
• Walnut Delights
• Pecan Petites
• Holiday Nuggets
• Swedish Heirloom Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 ounces (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter (or other creamy nut butter)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk, half-and-half, oat milk, or nut milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Nonstick spray or vegetable oil for the cookie sheet (optional)
• 5 dozen (one 11-ounce package) Hershey's Kisses, foil removed

Method:

First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, peanut butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla; beat until well blended. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing thoroughly. If the dough is very soft, refrigerate for about 1 hour.

Next, roll the dough into 1-inch balls. You can be precise and divide the dough into 5 pieces, then shape each piece into 12 balls. Roll the cookies in sugar and place them 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet.

Bake until very light brown and puffed, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the sheet from the oven and lightly press a candy kiss into the center of each cookie, allowing it to crack slightly. Return to the oven until light golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Tips:

You can get creative and make some variations on this classic cookie. For a less sweet treat, try using semisweet chocolate chips instead of kisses. Or, for an extra indulgent twist, add a dollop of raspberry jam to each cookie before adding the chocolate. If you're a fan of salty-sweet combinations, try using a combination of peanut butter and almond butter - this will tone down the sweetness and highlight the salty flavour.

These peanut butter cookies are sure to be a hit at your wedding, and they're a fun option for something a little different. You can make them ahead of time and store them in an airtight container, so they're a low-stress choice for your big day!

Frequently asked questions