Description
Pecan Sandies are classic buttery shortbread-style cookies packed with toasted pecans and a tender, sandy crumb. This easy homemade pecan cookie recipe uses simple pantry ingredients like butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla to create rich, nutty cookies perfect for holidays, cookie trays, or everyday snacking.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans, lightly toasted
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Mix in the vanilla extract until fully combined.
4. Add the flour and salt gradually, mixing just until a soft crumbly dough forms.
5. Fold in the chopped toasted pecans until evenly distributed.
6. Scoop and roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then gently press slightly to form thick rounds.
7. Place cookies on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
8. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden but the tops stay pale.
9. Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
These cookies should stay pale on top, so don’t wait for browning across the whole surface or they can turn dry.
Toasting the pecans for just a few minutes makes a huge difference in flavor, so don’t skip that step if you can.
If the dough feels too crumbly, mix for a few extra seconds and press it together gently, it will hold as the butter warms.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg