Nanny’s Famous Snowballs

Nanny's Famous Snowballs are a Newfoundland snowball cookie recipe! A chocolatey, fudge-like graham crumb and coconut cookie surrounds a fluffy marshmallow! This no bake cookie is a favorite Christmas cookie at our house.

Nanny's famous snowballs are my husbands favorite Christmas cookie. So, needless to say, I make dozens of them every Christmas. This year, I had barely finished making the marshmallow snowballs when he started "testing" them. (while they were still soft because I hadn't even gotten them into the refrigerator to chill yet) These no bake cookies freeze amazingly well, so they are another great make ahead Christmas cookie to have in the freezer!

This snowball recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law, who my children called Nanny. But, the original recipe came from her mother, who was also called Nanny or Nan by her grandchildren! And yes, these Nanny's were from Newfoundland! 🥰 Snowball marshmallow cookies are a favorite cookie from Newfoundland.

Snowball cookies recipe is easy to make, with no baking required. Just boil the cocoa, butter, brown sugar, and milk. Then add the vanilla, salt, graham crumbs, and coconut. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes before pressing it over half marshmallows.

The first time I ever made this marshmallow snowball recipe, I got SO frustrated! The fudgy cookie part just kept sticking to my hands! When I mentioned this to my sister in law, she told me her mom always greased her hands before shaping these no bake cookies...I guess this was a family secret? Anyways, you have to grease your hands! Or have damp hands! And, when it starts sticking again, wash your hands and grease again!!

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I always cut the large marshmallows in half for this snowball recipe. I have seen whole marshmallows used but I find we prefer a smaller cookie. Some people use half rolled oats and half graham crumbs or only rolled oats for marshmallow snowball cookies. After trying the cookie recipe with only graham crumbs, my family all prefers the recipe like this. So, I have used only graham crumbs since then!

History of Marshmallow Desserts

Marshmallows were originally a treat enjoyed by royalty, as early as 2000 B.C. These were delicacies made from the mallow plant which grows wild in Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The marshmallow plant had many medicinal properites, but, somehow this healthy confection has now become a concoction made from gelatin, sugar, and water. Marshmallows were introduced to North America in the early 1900s. This began the mass consumption of them as candy and used in recipes!

To Store Nanny's Famous Snowballs

• Store snowball cookies in the refrigerator for the best texture. They will keep up to 2 weeks this way.
• To store longer than 2 weeks, freeze the marshmallow snowballs in a sealed bag or container for up to 4 months.

Variations

Nanny's Famous Snowballs are successfully made so many different ways!

• Can use up to 3x the cocoa in this recipe.
• You can use rolled oats instead of the graham crumbs.
• Could roll in toasted chopped nuts instead of the coconut.
• Some people love these snowballs with colored marshmallows.
• You could dip these snowballs in chocolate for a more candy like dessert.

Ingredients for Nanny's Famous Snowballs

• Brown sugar, the amount can be cut in half if you are using sweetened coconut and want your marshmallow snowballs to be less sweet. Or you can double the brown sugar if you are using rolled oats since they aren't as sweet as graham crumbs.
• Cocoa, you can use anywhere from 2 Tbsp , up to 6 Tbsp, depending on how chocolatey you like your snowball cookies.
• Butter, I use salted, margarine also works for this recipe.
• Milk
• Vanilla extract
• Salt
• Coconut, can be either sweetened or unsweetened. These cookies are candy-like, so I usually use sweetened. You will need some for the cookies and some to roll them in.
• Graham crumbs, or rolled oats, or a blend of the two. I do prefer total graham crumbs!
• Marshmallows, preferably the regular sized, cut in half.

How to Make Nanny's Famous Snowballs

1.Cut the marshmallows in half. I find that rubbing my sharp knife on butter first helps the knife glide smoothly through the marshmallows.

2. Combine the sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk in a large saucepan.

3. Bring to a boil on medium heat, stirring constantly.

4. Remove from heat and add the vanilla and salt. Stir well, then add 1 cup of coconut and the graham crumbs and combine.

5. Shape into balls with half of a large marshmallow in the centre. (make sure to have wet or greased hands😉)

6. Put another 1-1 1/4 cup of coconut on a plate, then roll the cookie balls in it.

7. Place on waxed or parchment covered plate or a nonstick plate, and chill until firm.

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Other Candy-Like Recipes to Try

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