From a history perspective, the connection to Russia is unclear. It seems they may have originated in Europe as a popular snack with tea, hence “tea cake”, then they migrated to Mexico with European nuns where they became a popular wedding cookie. They are now also very popular in the U.S. at Christmas time
the cookies come in a variety of names:
Mexican Wedding< Cookies
wedding cookies
Mexican Cookies
Italian cookies
Pecan balls
Anginetti
Polvorones
Snowball Cookies
Pecan snowball Cookies
Noel Nut Balls
These buttery melt-in-your-mouth cookie balls go by many names in recipe collections, including Mexican Wedding Cakes. They always contain finely chopped nuts and are twice rolled in powdered sugar. A holiday favorite.
Toasted coconut can also be added to the dough.
Russian Tea Cakes
Ingredients
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1 cup butter softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, macadiam)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar
Directions
Heat oven to 400ºF.
Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.
Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.