These tender “snowball cookies” have a delicate crunch from the addition of cornmeal. They’re perfect with a cup of tea or hot chocolate when you come in from making snowmen!
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup unsifted confectioners’ sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
confectioners’ sugar, for finishing cookies
Adjust rack to lower third of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream the butter, sugars, and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, and salt. Combine dry ingredients with butter mixture to form a soft dough. Shape into 1-inch balls (using about 1-1/2 teaspoonfuls of dough per cookie), and space about 1-1/2 inches apart on large, parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until bottoms are lightly colored. While cookies are still warm on the baking sheets, sprinkle them with confectioners’ sugar through a small sieve. When thoroughly cool, dredge them in confectioners’ sugar for a second coating.