I’ll never forget the first time I pulled these Ultra-Soft Raspberry Christmas Snow Clouds out of the oven. My kitchen was suddenly filled with the sweet, tart perfume of baking berries and the warm, sugary scent of vanilla—it was like Christmas morning and a summer garden had a beautiful, fluffy baby. I’d been searching for a holiday treat that felt special but wasn’t overly complicated, and this, my friends, was it. The moment I saw them puff up into those soft, cloud-like mounds, I knew I’d found a new December tradition, and I’m so thrilled to share every cozy detail with you.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup (240g) full-fat sour cream
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (about 180g) fresh or frozen raspberries (do not thaw if frozen)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- For the Snow Topping: ½ cup (50g) powdered sugar, plus extra for dusting
Don’t let the sour cream scare you—it’s the absolute star here. I’ve tried this recipe with Greek yogurt in a pinch, and while it works, the sour cream gives an unparalleled richness and tang that makes these clouds truly ultra-soft. Trust me, do not skip it. Also, if you’re using frozen raspberries, keep them frozen until the very last second. I learned the hard way that thawed berries bleed too much and can turn your batter a strange grayish pink. The lemon zest might seem optional, but it’s not; it brightens the whole dish and makes the raspberry flavor sing.
Equipment Needed
- A standard 12-cup muffin tin
- Paper liners or non-stick spray
- Two mixing bowls (one large, one medium)
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- Whisk and spatula
- Zester or fine grater
- Small fine-mesh sieve for the “snow”
You don’t need anything fancy, but a good mixer is key for creaming the butter and sugar to the right fluffy consistency—it creates the airy foundation for our clouds. I’ve tried creaming by hand when I was feeling ambitious, and it’s just not the same. The small sieve is my personal pro-tip for the snow topping. Simply spooning powdered sugar on top works, but dusting it through a sieve gives that beautiful, delicate, freshly-fallen-snow look that makes these feel extra magical.
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