Weight Watchers Snowball Cookies Recipe for the Holidays

These WW Snowball Cookies are a delightful winter treat that stay friendly to your Weight Watchers plan — each cookie is only 3 WW points.

Snowball cookies are a classic shortbread-style cookie: tender, lightly sweet, and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar so they look like little snowballs. This Weight Watchers-friendly version trims the points by using a light butter alternative and coating only the top of each cookie with powdered sugar rather than the entire surface. The recipe keeps the familiar buttery texture and includes chopped pecans for a pleasant crunch.

No specialty sweeteners are required for the dough, though you can experiment if you prefer. To keep the points low, the recipe uses a smaller amount of pecans and a light margarine substitute instead of full-fat butter. If you enjoy these, check the baking recipe collection for more Weight Watchers-friendly cookie ideas.

Why You Should Try This Recipe

• Only four main ingredients. Simple components make this an easy bake for beginners and experienced cooks alike.
• Yields a generous batch. You’ll get plenty of cookies for gifting, sharing, or freezing for later.
• Great flavor and texture. Buttery shortbread with chopped pecans and a light powdered sugar finish makes these a holiday favorite.

Recipe Overview

• Serving size: 1 cookie (about 19 g)
• Yield: 30 cookies
• Cook time: 20 minutes
• Points: 3 WW points per cookie; approximately 80 points for the full batch

Ingredients for Weight Watchers Snowball Cookies

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup light butter substitute (for example, a light margarine)
• ½ cup powdered sugar, plus about 1/3 cup more for coating

Instructions for Making Weight Watchers Snowball Cookies

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, beat the light butter substitute together with ½ cup powdered sugar until smooth and well combined.
3. Add the 2 cups of flour and the chopped pecans. Fold gently until a soft dough forms. Mix just until combined to avoid developing the gluten, which can make cookies tough.
4. Portion the dough into balls just under one tablespoon each. Roll each portion into a smooth ball and arrange on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space for spreading.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 17–20 minutes, or until the bottoms are set and the edges are lightly golden. Work in batches if necessary so cookies bake evenly.
6. While the cookies are still warm, dip the top of each cookie into the remaining powdered sugar to lightly coat. You can fully coat them if you prefer a heavier dusting, but that will increase the points.

After coating, let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack. If you like a thicker powdered sugar layer, you can dust them again once cool. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to several days; refrigeration can dry them out, so avoid it unless you live in a very warm climate.

Variations and Substitutions

• Lower the points: Reduce the pecan quantity or make slightly smaller cookies to lower points per serving.
• Use walnuts: Swap pecans for an equal amount of chopped walnuts, or mix half pecans and half walnuts.
• Sweetener swap: Powdered sugar substitutes can work for the outer coating if you prefer a lower-sugar option; the dough performs best with regular powdered sugar unless you test a replacement first.
• Full butter: Using regular butter instead of a light substitute will increase points but give a richer flavor.
• Nut-free option: Replace the nuts with mini chocolate chips for a nut-free version with a different flavor profile.

Tips and Tricks for Making Weight Watchers Snowball Cookies

• Portion evenly: Use a small scoop or tablespoon measure so cookies are consistent in size and bake evenly; this also helps keep points accurate.
• Coat while warm: Dusting the cookies while they’re still warm helps the powdered sugar adhere better and softens the outer edge slightly.
• Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Avoid refrigeration unless necessary to preserve freshness in hot conditions.

Related Recipes

Pecan Pinwheels

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies