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+ servings
Italian Butterball Cookies stacked on a red plate.
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4.34 from 74 votes

Italian Butterball Cookies

Italian butterball cookies are soft, buttery, melt in your mouth deliciousness.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Cookie, Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: butterball, cookies, italian
Servings: 20
Calories: 142kcal
Author: Don't Sweat The Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter - softened
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 4 oz pecans, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup confectioners sugar (up to 1/2 cup to coat)

Instructions

  • Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Chop the nuts, set aside.
  • In a large bowl cream together the softened butter and 3/4 cup confectioners sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract.
    1/2 cup unsalted butter - softened, 1 large egg, room temperature, 3/4 cup confectioners sugar, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • In a separate bowl whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir in the chopped pecans. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until just incorporated. Scraping down the bowl as needed.
    1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 4 oz pecans, finely chopped
  • Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
  • Bake about 10 minutes or until firm. Watch closely, you don't want them to brown too much on the bottoms. Cool on the baking pan for about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from cookie sheet to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
  • Place 1/4 cup confectioners sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll the cooled cookies in the confectioner's sugar to coat.
    1/4 cup confectioners sugar

Notes

If using salted butter omit the salt in the recipe.
Storing - Store in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Freezing - You can freeze with or without powdered sugar. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. If you freeze without the sugar, bring them to room temperature before rolling the powdered sugar. 

Nutrition

Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg