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Home > Recipes > Bars And Cookies

Easy Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe

by Gabriela - Updated April 16, 2025 | 1 Comment
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Mexican wedding cookies are delicate, buttery shortbread treats made with finely chopped nuts and coated in a generous dusting of powdered sugar.

Mexican Wedding Cookies Christmas decor.

Known for their melt-in-your-mouth texture, these classic cookies are a staple at celebrations, especially during Christmas. They have international versions and can be found under different names, like polvorones, Russian tea cakes, snowball cookies, or pecan sandies in the U.S., all with similar ingredients and techniques.

Pecans are traditionally used in this recipe in the U.S., but you can also use some other nuts. Try walnuts, almonds, or macadamia nuts, and let me know what you think.

These cookies are part of my growing collection of Cookies and Bars, where you can find many recipes worth any celebration. Try these Walnut Shortbread Cookies, Rum Raisin Cookies, or these melt-in-your-mouth Polvorones De Limon- Traditional Spanish Christmas Cookies, just to name a few.

Ingredients Needed

These delicious cookies are made with simple ingredients most bakers already have in their pantries. So, here is a list of what you need:

  • Unsalted butter: The butter must be at room temperature as it will get beaten with sugar before adding other ingredients.
  • Powdered sugar: This type of sugar gives these delicious cookies a sandy texture.
  • Vanilla: Use the best vanilla you can find.
  • Orange or lemon zest(your choice): Orange zest brings that Christmas flavor to these cookies, so don't skip it.
  • All-purpose flour: It brings the dough together.
  • Salt: To bring the flavors together.
  • Ground cinnamon: For flavor.
  • Pecans: Pecans can be replaced with other nuts, based on your taste. Almonds, walnuts, or even macadamia nuts are all delicious.

Expert Tips To Make Perfect Cookies

  • Do not overbake the cookies. They should be in the oven for no more than 12 minutes.
  • Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before rolling them in powdered sugar. Due to the high butter content, they are very fragile and can crumble if you handle them right away.
  • Refrigeration of the dough is mandatory before baking.

How To Serve Mexican Wedding Cookies

These little shortbread cookies are traditionally served at weddings in Mexico and are absolutely delicious. Serve them after dinner with coffee or, perhaps, a glass of Mexican coffee liqueur Kahlua.

In the U.S., these cookies are also a popular treat during Christmas, though they aren't exclusively tied to the holiday. Their snowy, powdered sugar coating makes them a festive favorite for winter celebrations, and they often appear on cookie platters alongside other holiday classics.

Related: 43 Christmas Cookies & Bars From Around The World

Make These Cookies Ahead Of Time

  • To save time, make cookie dough early and store it in the freezer until you are ready to bake. Cookie dough can be stored in the freezer for up to a month.
  • Another time saver is to bake the cookies before a busy holiday season. Store them in the freezer and defrost them when entertaining. Pre-made cookies will keep well for one month in the freezer. Do not roll them in powdered sugar if you plan to freeze them. Do that before you serve them.
Mexican Wedding Cookies Pinterest collage.

Favorite Holiday Treats

If you liked these Mexican wedding cookies, try these delicious holiday treats next:

  • Walnut Shortbread Cookies
  • Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies
  • Chocolate Potato Chip Clusters (Two Ingredients)
  • Easy Homemade Chocolate Truffles (3-Ingredients)
  • Easy Rum Balls Recipe (No Bake)
  • Mocha Walnut Butter Cookies
  • Chewy Spicy Molasses Cookies
Thank you note for the readers.

📖 Recipe

Mexican Wedding Cookies on a Christmas plate.

Easy Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe

These easy Mexican Wedding Cookies are buttery and delicious, with a sandy texture. They are traditionally filled with pecans, but other nuts can be used.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
Refrigeration time: 2 hours hours
Total Time: 2 hours hours 32 minutes minutes
Servings: 48 cookies
Calories: 75kcal
Author: Gabriela

Equipment

  • Measuring Cups And Spoons Set 
  • KitchenAid Mixer
  • Parchment Paper
  • Baking Tray Nonstick Cookie Half Sheet Pan
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange peel or lemon
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup pecans
  • ½ cup powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  • In a bowl of an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter until creamy, about a minute.
  • Reduce the speed to low and add powdered sugar, vanilla and orange zest(or lemon). Mix until combined.
  • Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  • Reduce the speed to low and add flour, salt, and cinnamon, mixing until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chopped pecans.
  • Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 400F. Line the baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Form the dough into 1-inch balls and place them 1-inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set. (Don't overbake)
  • Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet. (This is important, as they can crumble if you handle them too soon.)
  • While the cookies are still warm, carefully roll them in powdered sugar. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool.

Notes

  • To save time, make cookie dough early and store it in the freezer until you are ready to bake. Cookie dough can be stored in the freezer for up to a month.
  • Another time saver is to bake the cookies before a busy holiday season. Store them in the freezer and defrost them when entertaining. Pre-made cookies will keep well for one month in the freezer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @thebossykitchen or tag #thebossykitchen!

More Delicious and Easy Bars and Cookies Recipes

  • Spicy molasses cookies on a platter.
    Chewy Spicy Molasses Cookies
  • Mocha Walnut Butter Cookies on Christmas decorated plate.
    Mocha Walnut Butter Cookies
  • Chocolate Potato Chip Clusters on candy paper.
    Chocolate Potato Chip Clusters (Two Ingredients)
  • This Rum Raisins Cookies Recipe comes from Romania. The cookies are flavored with rum, are very easy to make and taste delicious. Serve them next to a cup of your favorite tea, or coffee and enjoy an old recipe that is very traditional in Romania.
    Rum Raisin Cookies Recipe

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Comments

  1. Geo says

    January 17, 2025 at 7:16 pm

    5 stars
    These cookies are perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges and the holidays. They are so, so good and you can’t stop yourself from eating them.

    Reply
5 from 1 vote

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Gabriela the creator of The Bossy Kitchen

Hi! I am Gabriela, and this is my virtual home. I am a trained Pastry Chef and a self-taught cook. I inherited the cooking genes from my maternal grandma and the love for baking from my paternal grandma.

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