A snowball is a round dessert with a soft center - often cake, ice cream, or marshmallow - coated in whipped cream or meringue and rolled in shredded coconut, giving it a snowy white, textured exterior. It is an American confection, most associated with Southern soda fountains and county fairs.
It is usually eaten on its own or with a drizzle of chocolate syrup or fruit compote; some versions swap the coconut coating for crushed cookies, sprinkles, or powdered sugar, and Southern versions often use a vanilla-ice-cream center.
Snowballs are related to other whipped-egg-white-and-coconut Southern desserts like ambrosia and divinity, and the same shape and coating can be used as a component in layer cakes or as a pastry filling rather than served as a standalone treat.