Equipment Needed
- Large mixing bowl (stand mixer or hand mixer recommended)
- Rubber spatula
- Fine-mesh sieve (for sifting sugar)
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper or wax paper
- Small bowls for coating
Step-by-Step Instructions
First, get your workstation ready. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. This is where your shaped snowballs will chill. Now, in your large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and softened butter. Beat them together on medium speed with your hand mixer or stand mixer for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is completely smooth, creamy, and lump-free. You should see no yellow streaks of butter. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with your spatula to ensure everything is incorporated. This creamy base is the foundation, so take your time here. The aroma is already rich and promising.
Now, with the mixer on low, gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time. After each addition, mix until just combined before adding the next. Once all the sugar is added, add the vanilla extract and salt. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for another 1-2 minutes until the mixture is very smooth, thick, and holds together like a very soft cookie dough. It will be quite stiff, which is exactly what you want. I once added the sugar all at once, and it poofed out in a sweet cloud all over my kitchen—learn from my mess! Slow and steady wins here.(See the next page below to continue…)