Snowball Frosting Recipes

SNOWBALL FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat 1 1/2 cups sugar, the corn syrup, and 2/3 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium- high heat. Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reaches 235 degrees.
• Meanwhile, put egg whites into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Reduce speed to medium-low. Add the hot syrup in a slow, steady stream down sides of bowl. Raise speed to medium-high; beat until stiff peaks form and frosting is smooth and cool, about 7 minutes.

SNOWBALL CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 14 cups of 2 standard (12-cup) muffin tins with foil liners. Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring. Let cool completely. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl; set aside.
• Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Mix in buttermilk and vanilla. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the eggs and yolk. Add melted chocolate; mix until smooth.
• Spoon batter into liners, filling about one-third full. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, about 12 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks.
• Assemble the cupcakes: Spread a thin layer of frosting on each cupcake. Using a 2 1/2-inch ice cream scoop dipped in hot water, place a smooth mound of frosting on top of each cupcake. Sprinkle with sanding sugar. Let stand until frosting is set, about 3 hours.

SNOWBALLS II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cream the butter with 1/2 cup of the confectioners' sugar and the vanilla. Mix in the flour, pecans, and salt. Roll about 1 tablespoon or so of dough into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until bottoms are golden, about 15 minutes. Do not allow these cookies to get too brown: it's better to undercook them than to overcook them. While cookies are still hot, roll them in confectioners' sugar. Once they have cooled, roll them in confectioners' sugar once more.

SNOWBALL CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, sour cream and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
• Spoon batter into muffin cups. Place 1 cube cream cheese in center of each cupcake; press down into batter almost to center (top of cream cheese will still show).
• Bake 21 to 27 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center of cupcake comes out clean (test between cream cheese and edge). Remove cupcakes from pan to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In 2-quart stainless steel or other non-coated saucepan, mix sugar, water and egg whites. Cook over low heat, beating continuously with electric hand mixer at high speed until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes. Add marshmallow creme; beat until stiff peaks form. Remove saucepan from heat. Beat in vanilla.
• Spread frosting evenly over cupcakes; sprinkle each with generous tablespoonful coconut. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

PEANUT BUTTER SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the sugar, peanut butter and butter. Chill in freezer for 30 minutes or until the mixture is easy to handle. Shape into 1-in. balls and place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes or until firm. , Meanwhile, melt the candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl. Dip each ball and place on waxed paper to harden. If desired, sprinkle with chopped peanuts.

COCONUT SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• Grind 1/2 cup of the coconut in food processor.
• Chop remaining coconut and set aside.
• Add flour, 1/4 cup of the confectioners' sugar and the salt.
• Pulse to blend.
• Add butter and vanilla; pulse until dough comes together.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Roll dough into 1-inch balls.
• Place dough balls 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake cookies until firm but tender, 15 minutes.
• Remove to rack, let cool completely.
• In small bowl, stir together remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar and enough milk until smooth but still thick.
• Dip cookies in glaze (about 1/2 t for each), letting it drip down sides.
• Dip in chopped coconut and set aside for glaze to dry.

CHERRY SNOWBALL COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy; gradually add flour and mix well. , Shape a tablespoonful of dough around each cherry, forming a ball. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Bake at 325° for 18-20 minutes or until the bottoms are browned. Roll warm cookies in confectioners' sugar. Cool on wire racks.