First Step: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Your Baking Sheets : Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.

Second Step: Mix the Wet Ingredients : In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. You can do this with an electric mixer or by hand using a whisk. Once the mixture is smooth and pale, stir in the vanilla extract.

Third Step: Add the Dry Ingredients : Gradually add the flour, ground pistachios, and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix until everything is well combined, forming a soft dough. The dough should be slightly crumbly but hold together when pressed.

Fourth Step: Shape the Cookies : Use your hands to roll the dough into small 1-inch balls. If you find the dough too soft to handle, refrigerate it for 10-15 minutes to firm up. Place the shaped dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.

Fifth Step: Bake the Cookies : Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. These cookies should remain pale, so be careful not to overbake them.

Sixth Step: Cool and Coat : Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once they are cool enough to handle, roll them in powdered sugar to give them that snowy appearance. Coat each cookie generously for that signature snowball effect.

Seventh Step: Serve and Enjoy : Serve the cookies once they’re fully coated in powdered sugar, or store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.