Pecan Sandies
Pecan sandies are one of those recipes that seem to flitter off to the back of our mind. So simple, straightforward, so rich and flavorful, that it’s a wonder we're not whipping them up once a week! These cookies have the consistency of a shortbread, albeit a bit softer and sweeter thanks to the addition of brown sugar. Packed full of pecans, the contrasting salty crunch with the sweet chewiness of the cookies is a reliable combination for when you need to satisfy a sweet or a salty craving. If we had to choose the best thing about these cookies, it would be that there is no egg in the batter, making for guilt-free dough indulgences! With a low difficulty level and no foods that could cause contamination, this is a reliable recipe to make with kids as well. Instead of chopping the nuts, let them crush the pecans in their hands. Fun for them, and lots of big chunks in the cookies, yum!
Note: This recipe will be featured on Can we Get the Recipe? in the next couple of weeks. It’s a great site with lots of wonderful meal ideas (grocery lists included!), so be sure to check it out!
One year ago: Three Cheese Beer Bread
Two years ago: Vanilla & Chocolate Hazelnut Birthday Cake
Three years ago: Pepperoni Bread
Pecan Sandies
Yield: 12 cookies Rich nut cookies- ½ cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature, (4 ounces )
- ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) salt
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (99 g) pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- 2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract and salt until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour, beating just until combined. Fold in the pecans.
- 3. Roll the dough into 1½-inch balls (we used a medium-size cookie scoop) and place on baking sheet 2 inches apart. With the dampened bottom of a glass, lightly flatten each ball.
- 4. Bake until cookies are golden brown, 15 to 17 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack and cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Yield: 12 cookies
- Prep: 10 minutes
- Cook: 17 minutes
- Total: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ cup ( 113.5 g ) unsalted butter, at room temperature, (4 ounces )
- ½ cup ( 110 g ) light brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons ( 1.5 teaspoons ) vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ( 0.25 teaspoon ) salt
- 1 cup ( 125 g ) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup ( 99 g ) pecans, coarsely chopped
Method
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- 2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract and salt until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour, beating just until combined. Fold in the pecans.
- 3. Roll the dough into 1½-inch balls (we used a medium-size cookie scoop) and place on baking sheet 2 inches apart. With the dampened bottom of a glass, lightly flatten each ball.
- 4. Bake until cookies are golden brown, 15 to 17 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack and cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
