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Healthy Snowball Cookies – Vegan + Grandpa Approved!

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Healthy Snowball Cookies – YES, it’s a real thing!

Healthy Snowball Cookies - Vegan + GF Option, Less than 5 ingredients & filled with holiday cheer!

You know what time it is right…?

The Recipe ReDux time that is!!!

This month the theme is FIRST COOKING RECOLLECTIONS and I have to be honest, I feel like Higher powers knew I needed this right now.

I’ve loved to cook since I was a kid – some may say it’s in my blood.

The best memories of my childhood always seem to stem around a gathering in which food was involved. Go figure – my Italian roots remain true!

Grandma’s Snowball Cookies are without question the most memorable cooking recollection I have. She’d whip up around Christmas season and hands down, these little balls of joy could seriously brighten anyone’s day. 

Healthy Snowball Cookies - @shawsimpleswaps Gluten Free Option, Vegan & Dairy Free I remember so fondly how we’d gather in the kitchen and create a “winter wonderland” in sunny Southern California from the amount of powdered sugar we’d get everywhere.

Sure, I know my mom probably wanted to slap us for being so messy, but neither her nor my grandma would yell; they just cherished the moment of sharing their passion of creating devilishly good food with us.

Over the last 5 years these cookies have remained absent from the holiday gatherings, largely in part due to my grandma’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease.

But, my wonderful grandma did a VERY important thing when she realized her memory was fading quickly – she gifted each one of the Zabel girls a handwritten Snowball Cookie recipe and wrote a kind, gentle note on the back.

This recipe has hung in my kitchen ever since and it was inevitable I HAD to make Healthy Snowball Cookies this month.

Healthy Snowball Cookies - Vegan + GF Option, Less than 5 ingredients & filled with holiday cheer!Now, I will let you know I had these babies taste tested by not only the man who has consumed these for over 60 years (aka grandpa), but also the fabulous Living Well Kitchen and Mr. CEO.

Hands down… it was unanimous … #WINNER!!!

So, let’s honor the wonderful woman who created inspired these Healthy Snowball Cookies...

Denise Mary Barbarino… Loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend!

healthy snowball cookies - Grandma's Recipe from @shawsimpleswaps Plus they are Vegan, Dairy Free & can be made GF too!

5 from 7 votes
Healthy Snowball Cookies - Vegan + GF Option, Less than 5 ingredients & filled with holiday cheer!
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Healthy Snowball Cookies - Vegan + Grandma Approved!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 
Servings: 24 snowballs
Ingredients
  • 2 cups walnuts finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons natural nut butter
  • 1/4 cup vegan butter spread or butter of choice, softened
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup white whole wheat flour sifted
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 275*F.
  2. In a food processor, pulse walnuts for 10 to 20 seconds, until finely chopped.
  3. Add to a large bowl, mixing in vanilla extract, nut butter, vegan butter and brown sugar. Stir for 2 to 3 minutes using a spatula.
  4. Add in the sifted flour until uniform and mixture resembles a dough.
  5. Portion into 1 tablespoon balls and place on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  6. Bake for 45 minutes.
  7. Remove and let cool. Dust with powdered sugar.
Recipe Notes

Store in an airtight container for 2 weeks, freeze for up to 3 months.

Healthy Snowball Cookies – think they’ll make your holiday cookie exchange?


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