Kue Putri Salju (Snow White Cookies)
Kue Putri Salju or Snow White Cookies are typical classic cookies that many consider to be a must-bake during the major holidays in Indonesia. These cookies are buttery and nutty with an airy, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Kue Putri Salju is also known by many different names around the world, such as Mexican wedding cakes, Russian tea cakes, Swedish tea cakes, Italian butter not, Snowdrops, and Snowballs.
Regardless of what they are called, they always contain finely chopped or ground nuts and are rolled in powdered sugar. In addition, they are usually shaped into balls or crescent moons. Indonesian versions usually use ground almonds or cashews. Meanwhile, the European version of this recipe often uses walnuts, hazelnuts, or pecans.
These buttery cookies are a melt-in-your-mouth treat. They are super rich, buttery, nutty, and crumbly cookies. It is clear why they are a much-loved favorite around the world.
What is Kue Putri Salju?
Kue is an Indonesian bite-sized snack or dessert food. Putri Salju literally means “snow princess” or “snow white”, referring to the powdered sugar coating that resembles snow. It is an Indonesian cookie shaped into balls or crescents and covered with powdered sugar.
Kue Putri Salju is a typical delicacy for festive occasions and major holidays, such as Lebaran (Eid al-Fitr), Christmas, and Chinese New Year. The cookies are usually sold in air-tight plastic or glass jars in traditional markets, bakeries, and supermarkets.
Variations
Nuts – Almonds and cashews are the most common in Indonesia. Other nuts also work well too, such as walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, and pistachios.
Flavoring – Several variants of Kue Putri Salju are also available including cheese, pandan, and chocolate flavors.
How to Shape Kue Putri Salju
These particular cookies are usually shaped into round balls or crescent moons. If you shape them by hand, just portion out 1 1/2 teaspoons of dough and shape them into the shape you prefer. Or you can roll the dough into a thin slab and cut the dough with a cookie cutter.
How to Make
- Finely grind roasted cashews into powder. Make sure not to over-blend them or the cashews will turn into nut butter.
- Make the cookie dough. Mix the unsalted butter, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract until well combined. Sift in cake flour, salt, and cashew powder. Mix until well incorporated.
- Spoon 1 1/2 teaspoons of dough.
- Shape into balls or crescents.
- Bake at 300F/150°C in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the edges are light brown.
- While the cookies are still warm, coat them with confectioners’ sugar. Cool completely before storing them in an airtight container.
How to Store
Once you coat them with confectioners’ sugar, make sure to let them cool completely. Transfer the cookies to an airtight container and add silica gel to absorb the moisture.
If they are stored properly in a sealed airtight container, they will last for about 1-3 months at room temperature. Once opened, consume the cookies within 1-2 weeks.
Kue Putri Salju (Snow White Cookies)
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (75 gr) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/3 cup (45 gr) confectioners’ sugar, plus more for coating
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 13 tbsp (100 gr) cake flour, 100 gr
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup (70 gr) roasted cashews, 70 gr
Instructions
- Toast cashews – If you have raw cashews, you can toast them in the oven at 300F/150°C for 10-12 minutes. Cool the roasted cashews completely before blending them.
- Preheat oven to 300F/150°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Blend roasted cashews with a food processor until finely ground. Set aside.
- Mix wet ingredients – Using a mixer or hand spatula, mix butter and confectioners sugar just until combined. Add vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
- Add dry ingredients – Sift in all-purpose flour and salt. Add finely ground cashews and mix with a spatula until well incorporated.
- Shape – Scoop 1 1/2 teaspoon of dough and shape into balls or crescents. Arrange them onto the prepared pan.
- Bake the cookies for 15-17 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are light golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool the cookies slightly.
- Roll into sugar – While the cookies are still warm, roll them in confectioners' sugar.
- Cool the cookies completely before transferring them into an airtight container.
