diff --git a/docs/reference/compute-engine/snowflake.md b/docs/reference/compute-engine/snowflake.md
index e7b0dc5bd63..f6c633a4e40 100644
--- a/docs/reference/compute-engine/snowflake.md
+++ b/docs/reference/compute-engine/snowflake.md
@@ -24,5 +24,10 @@ batch_engine:
   role: sysadmin
   warehouse: demo_wh
   database: FEAST
+  python_udf_runtime_version: "3.10"
 ```
 {% endcode %}
+
+## Configuration
+
+* `python_udf_runtime_version` *(optional, default: `"3.10"`)* -- The Snowflake Python UDF `RUNTIME_VERSION` used when Feast deploys its materialization UDFs. Snowflake periodically decommissions old Python UDF runtimes (for example, the 3.9 runtime was decommissioned, requiring Feast to bump its default to 3.10 -- see [#6606](https://github.com/feast-dev/feast/issues/6606)). If Snowflake decommissions the 3.10 runtime in the future, set this field to a still-supported version (e.g. `"3.11"`) instead of waiting for a new Feast release.
diff --git a/sdk/python/feast/infra/compute_engines/snowflake/snowflake_engine.py b/sdk/python/feast/infra/compute_engines/snowflake/snowflake_engine.py
index d0a1152eb55..ddcdad9578a 100644
--- a/sdk/python/feast/infra/compute_engines/snowflake/snowflake_engine.py
+++ b/sdk/python/feast/infra/compute_engines/snowflake/snowflake_engine.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+import re
 import shutil
 from datetime import timezone
 from typing import Literal, Optional, Sequence, Union
@@ -7,7 +8,7 @@
 import pandas as pd
 import pyarrow as pa
 from colorama import Fore, Style
-from pydantic import ConfigDict, Field, StrictStr
+from pydantic import ConfigDict, Field, StrictStr, field_validator
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
 import feast
@@ -87,8 +88,41 @@ class SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig(FeastConfigBaseModel):
 
     schema_: Optional[str] = Field("PUBLIC", alias="schema")
     """ Snowflake schema name """
+
+    python_udf_runtime_version: StrictStr = "3.10"
+    """
+    Snowflake Python UDF RUNTIME_VERSION used when Feast deploys its materialization
+    UDFs (see `snowflake_python_udfs_creation.sql`).
+
+    Snowflake periodically decommissions old Python UDF runtimes -- e.g. the 3.9
+    runtime was decommissioned, which required Feast to bump its default runtime
+    from 3.9 to 3.10 (see https://github.com/feast-dev/feast/issues/6606). Rather
+    than hardcoding a version that will eventually go stale again, this field is
+    user-configurable so you are not blocked on a new Feast release the next time
+    Snowflake deprecates a runtime.
+
+    Defaults to "3.10", matching Feast's own minimum supported Python version
+    (`requires-python` in `pyproject.toml`). If Snowflake decommissions the 3.10
+    runtime in the future, override it in your `feature_store.yaml`, e.g.:
+
+        batch_engine:
+          type: snowflake.engine
+          ...
+          python_udf_runtime_version: "3.11"
+    """
+
     model_config = ConfigDict(populate_by_name=True, extra="allow")
 
+    @field_validator("python_udf_runtime_version")
+    @classmethod
+    def validate_python_udf_runtime_version(cls, v: str) -> str:
+        if not re.fullmatch(r"\d+\.\d+(\.\d+)?", v):
+            raise ValueError(
+                "python_udf_runtime_version must be a valid Python version string "
+                f"such as '3.10' or '3.11.2', got {v!r}"
+            )
+        return v
+
 
 class SnowflakeComputeEngine(ComputeEngine):
     def get_historical_features(
@@ -110,25 +144,18 @@ def update(
         entities_to_delete: Sequence[Entity],
         entities_to_keep: Sequence[Entity],
     ):
-        stage_context = f'"{self.repo_config.batch_engine.database}"."{self.repo_config.batch_engine.schema_}"'
-        stage_path = f'{stage_context}."feast_{project}"'
+        stage_path = f'"{self.repo_config.batch_engine.database}"."{self.repo_config.batch_engine.schema_}"."feast_{project}"'
         with GetSnowflakeConnection(self.repo_config.batch_engine) as conn:
-            query = f"SHOW USER FUNCTIONS LIKE 'FEAST_{project.upper()}%' IN SCHEMA {stage_context}"
-            cursor = execute_snowflake_statement(conn, query)
-            function_list = pd.DataFrame(
-                cursor.fetchall(),
-                columns=[column.name for column in cursor.description],
-            )
-
-            # if the SHOW FUNCTIONS query returns results,
-            # assumes that the materialization functions have been deployed
-            if len(function_list.index) > 0:
-                click.echo(
-                    f"Materialization functions for {Style.BRIGHT + Fore.GREEN}{project}{Style.RESET_ALL} already detected."
-                )
-                click.echo()
-                return None
-
+            # Always (re)deploy the materialization functions, using
+            # `CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION` below, instead of skipping deployment
+            # when functions already exist. Previously, an early return here
+            # (triggered by a `SHOW USER FUNCTIONS` check) combined with
+            # `CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS` in the SQL template meant that
+            # once UDFs were deployed for a project, they were never
+            # redeployed -- so a config change to `python_udf_runtime_version`
+            # (e.g. after Snowflake decommissions a runtime) would silently
+            # keep using the stale, already-deployed runtime version. See
+            # https://github.com/feast-dev/feast/pull/6608#discussion_r3602461959.
             click.echo(
                 f"Deploying materialization functions for {Style.BRIGHT + Fore.GREEN}{project}{Style.RESET_ALL}"
             )
@@ -151,7 +178,11 @@ def update(
                 sqlCommands = sqlFile.split(";")
                 for command in sqlCommands:
                     command = command.replace("STAGE_HOLDER", f"{stage_path}")
-                    query = command.replace("PROJECT_NAME", f"{project}")
+                    command = command.replace("PROJECT_NAME", f"{project}")
+                    query = command.replace(
+                        "RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER",
+                        self.repo_config.batch_engine.python_udf_runtime_version,
+                    )
                     execute_snowflake_statement(conn, query)
 
         return None
diff --git a/sdk/python/feast/infra/utils/snowflake/snowpark/snowflake_python_udfs_creation.sql b/sdk/python/feast/infra/utils/snowflake/snowpark/snowflake_python_udfs_creation.sql
index e39b12c1f79..b1a0d85f526 100644
--- a/sdk/python/feast/infra/utils/snowflake/snowpark/snowflake_python_udfs_creation.sql
+++ b/sdk/python/feast/infra/utils/snowflake/snowpark/snowflake_python_udfs_creation.sql
@@ -1,127 +1,127 @@
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_binary_to_bytes_proto(df BINARY)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_binary_to_bytes_proto(df BINARY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_binary_to_bytes_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_varchar_to_string_proto(df VARCHAR)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_varchar_to_string_proto(df VARCHAR)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_varchar_to_string_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_bytes_to_list_bytes_proto(df ARRAY)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_bytes_to_list_bytes_proto(df ARRAY)
     RETURNS BINARY
     LANGUAGE PYTHON
-    RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+    RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
     PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
     HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_bytes_to_list_bytes_proto'
     IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_varchar_to_list_string_proto(df ARRAY)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_varchar_to_list_string_proto(df ARRAY)
     RETURNS BINARY
     LANGUAGE PYTHON
-    RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+    RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
     PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
     HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_varchar_to_list_string_proto'
     IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int32_proto(df ARRAY)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int32_proto(df ARRAY)
     RETURNS BINARY
     LANGUAGE PYTHON
-    RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+    RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
     PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
     HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int32_proto'
     IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int64_proto(df ARRAY)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int64_proto(df ARRAY)
     RETURNS BINARY
     LANGUAGE PYTHON
-    RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+    RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
     PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
     HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int64_proto'
     IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_float_to_list_double_proto(df ARRAY)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_float_to_list_double_proto(df ARRAY)
     RETURNS BINARY
     LANGUAGE PYTHON
-    RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+    RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
     PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
     HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_float_to_list_double_proto'
     IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_boolean_to_list_bool_proto(df ARRAY)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_boolean_to_list_bool_proto(df ARRAY)
     RETURNS BINARY
     LANGUAGE PYTHON
-    RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+    RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
     PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
     HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_boolean_to_list_bool_proto'
     IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_timestamp_to_list_unix_timestamp_proto(df ARRAY)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_array_timestamp_to_list_unix_timestamp_proto(df ARRAY)
     RETURNS BINARY
     LANGUAGE PYTHON
-    RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+    RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
     PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
     HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_timestamp_to_list_unix_timestamp_proto'
     IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_number_to_int32_proto(df NUMBER)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_number_to_int32_proto(df NUMBER)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_number_to_int32_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_number_to_int64_proto(df NUMBER)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_number_to_int64_proto(df NUMBER)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_number_to_int64_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_float_to_double_proto(df DOUBLE)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_float_to_double_proto(df DOUBLE)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_float_to_double_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_boolean_to_bool_proto(df BOOLEAN)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_boolean_to_bool_proto(df BOOLEAN)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_boolean_to_bool_boolean_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_timestamp_to_unix_timestamp_proto(df NUMBER)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_snowflake_timestamp_to_unix_timestamp_proto(df NUMBER)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_timestamp_to_unix_timestamp_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_serialize_entity_keys(names ARRAY, data ARRAY, types ARRAY)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_serialize_entity_keys(names ARRAY, data ARRAY, types ARRAY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_serialize_entity_keys'
   IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip');
 
-CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS feast_PROJECT_NAME_entity_key_proto_to_string(names ARRAY, data ARRAY, types ARRAY)
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_PROJECT_NAME_entity_key_proto_to_string(names ARRAY, data ARRAY, types ARRAY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = 'RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_entity_key_proto_to_string'
   IMPORTS = ('@STAGE_HOLDER/feast.zip')
diff --git a/sdk/python/feast/infra/utils/snowflake/snowpark/snowflake_udfs.py b/sdk/python/feast/infra/utils/snowflake/snowpark/snowflake_udfs.py
index 23026d79109..c9cbb87a953 100644
--- a/sdk/python/feast/infra/utils/snowflake/snowpark/snowflake_udfs.py
+++ b/sdk/python/feast/infra/utils/snowflake/snowpark/snowflake_udfs.py
@@ -14,11 +14,21 @@
 )
 from feast.value_type import ValueType
 
+# NOTE: The `CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION ...` blocks below are illustrative reference
+# documentation only; they are not executed as-is. The SQL Feast actually runs is
+# templated from `snowflake_python_udfs_creation.sql`, which fills in placeholders
+# (stage path, project name, and Python UDF RUNTIME_VERSION) at deploy time -- see
+# `SnowflakeComputeEngine.update()` in `snowflake_engine.py`. The RUNTIME_VERSION
+# shown here documents Feast's default (`SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig
+# .python_udf_runtime_version`, currently "3.10"); if you override that config
+# field, the runtime actually deployed to Snowflake will differ from what's shown
+# below.
+
 """
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_binary_to_bytes_proto(df BINARY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_binary_to_bytes_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -43,7 +53,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_binary_to_bytes_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_varchar_to_string_proto(df VARCHAR)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_varchar_to_string_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -68,7 +78,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_varchar_to_string_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_array_bytes_to_list_bytes_proto(df ARRAY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_bytes_to_list_bytes_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -96,7 +106,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_array_bytes_to_list_bytes_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_array_varchar_to_list_string_proto(df ARRAY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_varchar_to_list_string_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -120,7 +130,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_array_varchar_to_list_string_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int32_proto(df ARRAY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int32_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -144,7 +154,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int32_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int64_proto(df ARRAY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int64_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -168,7 +178,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_array_number_to_list_int64_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_array_float_to_list_double_proto(df ARRAY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_float_to_list_double_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -194,7 +204,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_array_float_to_list_double_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_array_boolean_to_list_bool_proto(df ARRAY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_boolean_to_list_bool_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -218,7 +228,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_array_boolean_to_list_bool_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_array_timestamp_to_list_unix_timestamp_proto(df ARRAY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_array_timestamp_to_list_unix_timestamp_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -244,7 +254,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_array_timestamp_to_list_unix_timestamp_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_number_to_int32_proto(df NUMBER)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_number_to_int32_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -269,7 +279,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_number_to_int32_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_number_to_int64_proto(df NUMBER)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_number_to_int64_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -296,7 +306,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_number_to_int64_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_float_to_double_proto(df DOUBLE)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_float_to_double_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -321,7 +331,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_float_to_double_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_boolean_to_bool_proto(df BOOLEAN)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_boolean_to_bool_boolean_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -346,7 +356,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_boolean_to_bool_boolean_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_snowflake_timestamp_to_unix_timestamp_proto(df NUMBER)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_snowflake_timestamp_to_unix_timestamp_proto'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip');
@@ -374,7 +384,7 @@ def feast_snowflake_timestamp_to_unix_timestamp_proto(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_serialize_entity_keys(names ARRAY, data ARRAY, types ARRAY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_serialize_entity_keys'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip')
@@ -423,7 +433,7 @@ def feast_serialize_entity_keys(df):
 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION feast_entity_key_proto_to_string(names ARRAY, data ARRAY, types ARRAY)
   RETURNS BINARY
   LANGUAGE PYTHON
-  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.9'
+  RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.10'
   PACKAGES = ('protobuf', 'pandas')
   HANDLER = 'feast.infra.utils.snowflake.snowpark.snowflake_udfs.feast_entity_key_proto_to_string'
   IMPORTS = ('@feast_stage/feast.zip')
diff --git a/sdk/python/tests/unit/infra/compute_engines/snowflake/__init__.py b/sdk/python/tests/unit/infra/compute_engines/snowflake/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/sdk/python/tests/unit/infra/compute_engines/snowflake/test_snowflake_compute_engine.py b/sdk/python/tests/unit/infra/compute_engines/snowflake/test_snowflake_compute_engine.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f450c124bed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sdk/python/tests/unit/infra/compute_engines/snowflake/test_snowflake_compute_engine.py
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+"""Regression tests for SnowflakeComputeEngine.update().
+
+See https://github.com/feast-dev/feast/pull/6608#discussion_r3602461959: a
+maintainer pointed out that once materialization UDFs were deployed for a
+project, a `SHOW USER FUNCTIONS` check made `update()` return early on every
+subsequent call, and the SQL template used `CREATE FUNCTION IF NOT EXISTS`.
+Together, this meant a user changing `python_udf_runtime_version` (e.g. after
+Snowflake decommissions a runtime) would never actually get the new runtime
+version deployed -- the stale, already-deployed UDFs were left untouched.
+
+The fix removes the early return and switches the SQL template to
+`CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION`, so `update()` always (re)deploys the UDFs using
+the currently configured runtime version.
+"""
+
+import shutil
+import tempfile
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+from feast.infra.compute_engines.snowflake.snowflake_engine import (
+    SnowflakeComputeEngine,
+    SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig,
+)
+
+MODULE = "feast.infra.compute_engines.snowflake.snowflake_engine"
+
+
+def _make_engine(python_udf_runtime_version: str = "3.10") -> SnowflakeComputeEngine:
+    repo_config = MagicMock()
+    repo_config.offline_store.type = "snowflake.offline"
+    repo_config.batch_engine = SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig(
+        database="FEAST",
+        schema="PUBLIC",
+        python_udf_runtime_version=python_udf_runtime_version,
+    )
+
+    return SnowflakeComputeEngine(
+        repo_config=repo_config,
+        offline_store=MagicMock(),
+        online_store=MagicMock(),
+    )
+
+
+def _run_update(engine: SnowflakeComputeEngine, mock_execute: MagicMock) -> None:
+    mock_conn_cm = MagicMock()
+    mock_conn_cm.__enter__ = MagicMock(return_value=MagicMock())
+    mock_conn_cm.__exit__ = MagicMock(return_value=False)
+
+    def _fake_package_snowpark_zip(project_name):
+        copy_path = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+        return copy_path, f"{copy_path}/feast.zip"
+
+    with (
+        patch(f"{MODULE}.GetSnowflakeConnection", return_value=mock_conn_cm),
+        patch(f"{MODULE}.execute_snowflake_statement", mock_execute),
+        patch(f"{MODULE}.package_snowpark_zip", side_effect=_fake_package_snowpark_zip),
+        patch(f"{MODULE}.shutil.rmtree", side_effect=shutil.rmtree),
+    ):
+        engine.update(
+            project="myproject",
+            views_to_delete=[],
+            views_to_keep=[],
+            entities_to_delete=[],
+            entities_to_keep=[],
+        )
+
+
+def test_update_never_short_circuits_on_existing_functions():
+    """update() must not query `SHOW USER FUNCTIONS` and skip deployment --
+    that early-return path is what caused stale runtime versions to stick
+    around after a config change.
+    """
+    engine = _make_engine()
+    mock_execute = MagicMock()
+
+    _run_update(engine, mock_execute)
+
+    executed_queries = [call.args[1] for call in mock_execute.call_args_list]
+    assert not any("SHOW USER FUNCTIONS" in q for q in executed_queries), (
+        "update() should no longer perform a SHOW USER FUNCTIONS check that "
+        "causes it to skip (re)deploying the UDFs"
+    )
+    assert any("CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION" in q for q in executed_queries), (
+        "update() should deploy UDFs using CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION so "
+        "redeploys pick up a changed python_udf_runtime_version"
+    )
+
+
+def test_update_redeploys_with_current_runtime_version_on_every_call():
+    """Calling update() twice (simulating two `feast apply` runs, e.g. before
+    and after a user bumps `python_udf_runtime_version`) must deploy the UDFs
+    both times, each time using whatever runtime version is currently
+    configured.
+    """
+    engine = _make_engine(python_udf_runtime_version="3.11")
+    mock_execute = MagicMock()
+
+    _run_update(engine, mock_execute)
+    first_call_count = mock_execute.call_count
+    assert first_call_count > 0
+
+    _run_update(engine, mock_execute)
+    second_call_count = mock_execute.call_count
+    assert second_call_count == 2 * first_call_count, (
+        "the second update() call should re-run the full deployment (no "
+        "early return), just like the first"
+    )
+
+    executed_queries = [call.args[1] for call in mock_execute.call_args_list]
+    create_function_queries = [
+        q for q in executed_queries if "CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION" in q
+    ]
+    assert create_function_queries, "expected CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION queries"
+    assert all("RUNTIME_VERSION = '3.11'" in q for q in create_function_queries), (
+        "every deployed UDF should use the currently configured "
+        "python_udf_runtime_version ('3.11'), including on redeploy"
+    )
diff --git a/sdk/python/tests/unit/infra/utils/snowflake/test_snowflake_udfs.py b/sdk/python/tests/unit/infra/utils/snowflake/test_snowflake_udfs.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5e8046bd83d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sdk/python/tests/unit/infra/utils/snowflake/test_snowflake_udfs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+import os
+import re
+
+import pytest
+
+DECOMMISSIONED_RUNTIME_VERSION = "3.9"
+
+# Snowflake requires the Python UDF RUNTIME_VERSION to match a Python runtime
+# that Snowflake still supports, and Feast should never request a runtime
+# below the minimum Python version Feast itself supports
+# (see `requires-python` in pyproject.toml).
+MIN_SUPPORTED_RUNTIME_VERSION = "3.10"
+
+# Placeholder substituted into snowflake_python_udfs_creation.sql at deploy time by
+# SnowflakeComputeEngine.update(), using
+# SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig.python_udf_runtime_version. See
+# https://github.com/feast-dev/feast/issues/6606 and the follow-up request to make
+# the runtime version user-configurable on PR #6608.
+RUNTIME_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER = "RUNTIME_VERSION_HOLDER"
+
+
+def _snowpark_dir() -> str:
+    import feast
+
+    return os.path.join(
+        feast.__path__[0],
+        "infra",
+        "utils",
+        "snowflake",
+        "snowpark",
+    )
+
+
+def _render_udf_creation_sql(runtime_version: str) -> str:
+    """Reproduce the substitution SnowflakeComputeEngine.update() performs on
+    snowflake_python_udfs_creation.sql, using a given runtime version, without
+    needing a live Snowflake connection.
+    """
+    sql_path = os.path.join(_snowpark_dir(), "snowflake_python_udfs_creation.sql")
+    with open(sql_path) as f:
+        sql = f.read()
+
+    sql = sql.replace("STAGE_HOLDER", "feast_stage")
+    sql = sql.replace("PROJECT_NAME", "myproject")
+    sql = sql.replace(RUNTIME_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER, runtime_version)
+    return sql
+
+
+def test_udf_creation_sql_template_uses_runtime_version_placeholder():
+    """The CREATE FUNCTION statements Feast executes against Snowflake must not
+    hardcode a specific (and eventually decommissioned) Python runtime version.
+    Instead, the SQL template should carry a placeholder that
+    SnowflakeComputeEngine.update() fills in from the user-configurable
+    `python_udf_runtime_version` setting (see
+    https://github.com/feast-dev/feast/issues/6606).
+    """
+    sql_path = os.path.join(_snowpark_dir(), "snowflake_python_udfs_creation.sql")
+    with open(sql_path) as f:
+        sql = f.read()
+
+    versions = re.findall(r"RUNTIME_VERSION\s*=\s*'([^']+)'", sql)
+    assert versions, (
+        "expected to find RUNTIME_VERSION declarations in the UDF creation SQL"
+    )
+    assert DECOMMISSIONED_RUNTIME_VERSION not in versions, (
+        f"snowflake_python_udfs_creation.sql still requests the decommissioned "
+        f"Snowflake Python runtime {DECOMMISSIONED_RUNTIME_VERSION!r}"
+    )
+    assert all(v == RUNTIME_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER for v in versions), (
+        "expected all RUNTIME_VERSION declarations to use the "
+        f"{RUNTIME_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER!r} placeholder (filled in at deploy time "
+        f"from the configurable python_udf_runtime_version), got "
+        f"{sorted(set(versions))}"
+    )
+
+
+def test_udf_creation_sql_renders_default_runtime_version():
+    """When rendered with the default `python_udf_runtime_version`
+    ("3.10"), the UDF creation SQL should request Feast's default runtime and
+    never the decommissioned 3.9 runtime.
+    """
+    from feast.infra.compute_engines.snowflake.snowflake_engine import (
+        SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig,
+    )
+
+    default_runtime_version = SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig(
+        database="FEAST"
+    ).python_udf_runtime_version
+    assert default_runtime_version == MIN_SUPPORTED_RUNTIME_VERSION
+
+    rendered_sql = _render_udf_creation_sql(default_runtime_version)
+    versions = re.findall(r"RUNTIME_VERSION\s*=\s*'([^']+)'", rendered_sql)
+    assert versions, "expected to find rendered RUNTIME_VERSION declarations"
+    assert DECOMMISSIONED_RUNTIME_VERSION not in versions
+    assert all(v == MIN_SUPPORTED_RUNTIME_VERSION for v in versions)
+
+
+def test_udf_creation_sql_renders_custom_runtime_version():
+    """A custom `python_udf_runtime_version` should flow through to every
+    rendered RUNTIME_VERSION declaration, so users aren't blocked on a Feast
+    release the next time Snowflake decommissions a runtime.
+    """
+    custom_runtime_version = "3.12"
+    rendered_sql = _render_udf_creation_sql(custom_runtime_version)
+
+    versions = re.findall(r"RUNTIME_VERSION\s*=\s*'([^']+)'", rendered_sql)
+    assert versions, "expected to find rendered RUNTIME_VERSION declarations"
+    assert RUNTIME_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER not in versions
+    assert all(v == custom_runtime_version for v in versions), (
+        f"expected all RUNTIME_VERSION declarations to be "
+        f"{custom_runtime_version!r}, got {sorted(set(versions))}"
+    )
+
+
+def test_udf_module_docstrings_do_not_reference_decommissioned_runtime_version():
+    """The reference `CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION` docstrings embedded in
+    snowflake_udfs.py document the same UDFs and should stay consistent with
+    the SQL template that is actually executed.
+
+    Note: we read the file as text rather than importing the module, since
+    `snowflake_udfs.py` imports `_snowflake`, which is only available inside
+    Snowflake's own Python UDF runtime.
+    """
+    udfs_path = os.path.join(_snowpark_dir(), "snowflake_udfs.py")
+    with open(udfs_path) as f:
+        source = f.read()
+
+    versions = re.findall(r"RUNTIME_VERSION\s*=\s*'([^']+)'", source)
+    assert versions, (
+        "expected to find RUNTIME_VERSION declarations in snowflake_udfs.py"
+    )
+    assert DECOMMISSIONED_RUNTIME_VERSION not in versions, (
+        f"snowflake_udfs.py docstrings still reference the decommissioned "
+        f"Snowflake Python runtime {DECOMMISSIONED_RUNTIME_VERSION!r}"
+    )
+
+
+def test_python_udf_runtime_version_defaults_to_3_10():
+    """The Snowflake compute engine config should default
+    `python_udf_runtime_version` to "3.10", matching Feast's own minimum
+    supported Python version, without requiring users to set it explicitly.
+    """
+    from feast.infra.compute_engines.snowflake.snowflake_engine import (
+        SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig,
+    )
+
+    config = SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig(database="FEAST")
+    assert config.python_udf_runtime_version == MIN_SUPPORTED_RUNTIME_VERSION
+
+
+def test_python_udf_runtime_version_accepts_custom_value():
+    """Per maintainer feedback on
+    https://github.com/feast-dev/feast/pull/6608 (@ntkathole: "is it possible
+    to make it user configurable?"), users must be able to override the
+    runtime version Feast requests, e.g. once Snowflake decommissions 3.10.
+    """
+    from feast.infra.compute_engines.snowflake.snowflake_engine import (
+        SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig,
+    )
+
+    config = SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig(
+        database="FEAST", python_udf_runtime_version="3.11"
+    )
+    assert config.python_udf_runtime_version == "3.11"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("bad_version", ["", "three-ten", "3", "3.x", "3.10.", "v3.10"])
+def test_python_udf_runtime_version_rejects_invalid_values(bad_version):
+    """python_udf_runtime_version should validate that it looks like a Python
+    version string (e.g. "3.10" or "3.11.2"), so misconfiguration is caught
+    early rather than surfacing as an opaque Snowflake SQL compilation error.
+    """
+    from pydantic import ValidationError
+
+    from feast.infra.compute_engines.snowflake.snowflake_engine import (
+        SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig,
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
+        SnowflakeComputeEngineConfig(
+            database="FEAST", python_udf_runtime_version=bad_version
+        )