South African Snowballs

Snowballs

Delicious Snowballs

Snowballs, those little cakes colored either pink or just the color of baked cake, brushed with dessicated coconut has been a favorite of ours since we were children. I enjoy it every time I go back to South Africa.

I also associate snowballs with happy times as a child. It brings back fond memories. One of those is of my father.
I was probably around 8 years old. We had attended a family wedding and were walking back home. There were 2 other siblings with me. It was a hot day, so my father stopped at a little convenience store, (tea-room) and bought each of us pink snowballs and cans of raspberry soda. It was a very welcome treat and not one that we often had. That memory still lingers with me. So when I have snowballs at home I like to have it with Raspberry soda, a popular soda in South Africa

A viewer recently requested a recipe for Snowballs. I found a recipe on Food.com by Sudika, that I have adapted. When trying this recipe, be sure to bake the cakes for just 9-10 minutes. I attempted this recipe with just half the quantity the first time. The cakes were the texture of cookies, ( biscuits), but still delicious. On my second attempt, I baked the cakes for just 10 minutes and I got nice soft cakes. I am very happy with the end results.

Of course this recipe is not recommended for anyone who has to keep away from sugar desserts

Here is the recipe for Snowballs



INGREDIENTS

  1. 125g/ 1 stick/4oz. soft butter
  2. 125ml/½ cup cream*
  3. 125ml/ ½ cup caster sugar/confectioners sugar
  4. 625ml/2½cups/ self raising flour**
  5. 200g. raspberry or strawberry jam, (I used raspberry)
  6. 375ml or 1½ cup boiling water
  7. 5 ml red food color
  8. Approximately 1½ cup dessicated coconut
  9. 1 teaspoon strawberry essence (optional)

METHOD

  • Sift flour
  • Cream butter and sugar until soft. Add cream and continue to mix together until soft and fluffy
  • Add flour to cream mix. Knead to make a soft dough
  • Divide dough into 24 balls. Flatten and place on a cookie sheet or shallow muffin pan
  • Prepare baking pan by applying a a spread of melted butter. Now dust some flour into pan. Shake to remove excess flour
  • Place flattened shapes on baking tray/trays into a 180°C/350°F oven for 9-10 minutes
  • Boil water and add to jam. Beat together with a whisk, until smooth. Add food color and essence
  • Remove baked snowballs from oven, allow to cool then add to jam mix, about 2 at a time.
  • Sandwich cakes. Roll in dessicated coconut
  • Place on tray to cool. Enjoy
 snowballs

Snowballs Sliced

 Mix in pan

Mixture in Baking Pan

 snowball dough

Snowball dough

 ingredients

Cream/butter Mix and Flour



*I used fresh cream for this recipe. I believe that any cream should work as the purpose of the cream is to ensure a soft texture. Please note that I have not tried the recipe with any other cream, as yet.

**If you do not have self raising flour, use 5ml/1teaspoon of baking powder and ¼ tsp. of salt per cup of flour. Sift together. You may find the links below useful.
Find Your Correct Baking Pan Size

If you have any questions or would like to add a recipe of your own, email me, Nirmala, at email address.
I will be happy to help in any way I can. The site will be regularly updated with tasty recipes and hints and tips. You can also reach me at Contact


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