Pecan Shortbread Cookies
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Rolled in coarse sugar, these sophisticated pecan shortbread cookies are long on buttery, nutty flavor.
If you’re a fan of my classic shortbread cookies, these buttery, sugar-crusted pecan shortbread cookies are a must-try. The recipe comes from my friend Lisa Kolb Ruland, a self-described recovering lawyer turned CIA-trained pastry chef. Lisa has worked in some of New York City’s top bakeshops, and she is also the voice behind the lovely blog Unpeeled, where she shares trusted recipes. Lisa describes these cookies as “sweet but not cloying, hearty and nutty but still delicate…a standout.” I have to agree—they are one of the most delicious cookies I have ever made. If you’re looking for something sophisticated to nibble on with coffee or tea, a gift-worthy treat to share with friends or neighbors, or just a fun baking project, these cookies fit the bill.
“The best batch of shortbread I’ve ever made…thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It is perfect!”
What You’ll Need To Make Pecan Shortbread Cookies
- Chopped Pecans: Add a nutty flavor and crunchy texture. Toasting them, as the recipe indicates, deepens their slightly sweet flavor.
- Butter: Provides richness and moisture to the cookies.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps achieve a tender dough.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the cookies with its aromatic richness.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure to the cookies. Measure it by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off to ensure accuracy.
- Egg Yolk: Helps the sugar adhere to the dough and adds richness.
- Demerara or Turbinado Sugar: The large crystals create a sweet, crunchy coating on the cookies’ edges.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Begin by toasting the pecans in a 350°F-oven for about five minutes to bring out their flavor. Let the pecans cool on the baking sheet while you prepare the cookie dough.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt.
Beat until smooth and lightened a bit, two to three minutes.
Scrape the bowl with a spatula and add the flour.
Mix on low speed until just combined.
Add the toasted pecans.
Mix on low speed until evenly incorporated.
Turn the dough onto a clean countertop lightly dusted with flour. Dust the dough with a little flour as well.
Shape and roll into a squared log between 1-1/2 to 2 inches wide and 1-1/2 to 2 inches high, dusting with more flour as necessary. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap or parchment paper and chill for at least one hour or overnight, until the dough has gotten very firm.
Once chilled, slice the chilled log into two halves. Brush the log with a beaten egg yolk.
Roll the logs in demerara sugar, pressing as necessary, until fully coated. If there are any areas of the log that are bare, sprinkle with the demerara sugar to cover.
Use a serrated knife to slice each log into about 12 individual cookies, each about 1/2-inch thick. Place the cookie slices onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each.
Bake until lightly golden, 18 to 20 minutes.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Make-Ahead, Freezing & Storage Instructions
The cookies will keep in a covered container at room temperature for up to a week. They can also be frozen. Let the cookies cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature. If you’d like to freeze the dough before baking, shape it into a squared log, then wrap it securely in plastic wrap and then a layer of foil; freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, remove the log from the freezer, thaw it until pliable, and then proceed with the recipe.
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Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Rolled in coarse sugar, these sophisticated pecan shortbread cookies are long on buttery, nutty flavor.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
- 10 tablespoons (1¼ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Scant ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off with a knife, plus more for dusting
- 1 egg yolk, beaten
- ¼ cup demerara or turbinado sugar (Note: You'll use less than this, but you need extra to roll the dough in.)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
- Place the pecans on a baking sheet and toast for around five minutes, until fragrant. Cool on the baking sheet. (The nuts can be toasted and stored at room temperature.)
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth and lightened a bit, two to three minutes. Scrape the bowl with a spatula. Add the flour and mix on low just until fully combined. Add the pecans and mix until evenly combined.
- Turn the dough onto a clean countertop lightly dusted with flour. Dust the dough with a little flour. Shape and roll into a squared log between 1½ to 2 inches wide and 1½ to 2 inches high, dusting with more flour as necessary. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap or parchment paper and chill for at least one hour or overnight, until the dough has gotten very firm.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and set two oven racks in the centermost positions. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Lightly beat the egg yolk and ½ teaspoon of water in a small bowl and set aside. Pour the demerara sugar into a rimmed baking sheet or shallow casserole pan. Slice the chilled log in half to make it more manageable. Working with one log at a time, brush all sides of the log with the egg yolk mixture, then roll in the demerara sugar, pressing as necessary, until fully coated. If there are any areas of the log that are bare, sprinkle with the demerara sugar to cover.
- Use a serrated knife to slice each log into about 12 individual cookies, each about ½-inch thick. Place the cookie slices onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each. Bake, rotating from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until lightly golden, 18 to 20 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. The cookies will keep in a covered container at room temperature for up to a week.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: Let the cookies cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature. If you'd like to freeze the dough before baking, shape it into a squared log, then wrap it securely in plastic wrap and then a layer of foil; freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, remove the log from the freezer, thaw it until pliable, and then proceed with recipe.
Nutrition Information
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- Serving size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 112
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Sugar: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Sodium: 51 mg
- Cholesterol: 19 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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These were soooo delicious! Some of the best tasting cookies I’ve had!
This is a great recipe. I baked different kinds of cookies this year, and there are everyone’s favorites. I also made them guten-free (with Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour), and they turned out just fine. The texture may be a little different, but the taste is the same. Definitely a keeper!
These cookies are delicious! Such an easy recipe to follow and so quick to make (I refrigerated the dough overnight). Absolutely love the flavor; they are sweet (not too sweet) and buttery. Really delicious. I didn’t have time to use the egg wash/roll logs in sugar but thought they were perfect without it. I made the logs slightly longer/thinner to yield a few more cookies. Next time I will definitely double the recipe and might dip them half-way in melted dark chocolate for a different taste! Thank you for another wonderful & dependable recipe!
Just made these today for the first time. They look very much like yours, except that I think I’m not too good with inches (grew up with metrics). I only got 8 cookies per 1/2 log.
I’ll try the recipe with gluten-free flour. I will let you know how the cookies turn out.
Hi Jenn,
I followed the recipe exactly however, my log is only 7″ long if I keep the width and height to the inches noted. (1 1/2 in to 2 in). Doesn’t seem like other folks are having this problem. Any ideas? Thanks. Dimar
Hi Dimar, as long as the width and height are correct, you should be fine. You’ll have enough length to slice the dough into approximately 12 1/2-inch cookies. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Jenn! I’m a new fan and tried these last weekend as part of the cookie menu at my holiday party. I’d love to show you how they turned out, but alas they all got eaten! They are a very tasty, buttery cookie and quite easy to make and bake. I pulled the dough together early and froze it in logs for several days before thawing in the fridge over night and then sugaring, slicing and baking. They fit in really well from a time and taste perspective with my other cookies. Thank you for such a phenomenal recipe! It will get added to my annual cookie list.
These are yummy.
Would you make any adjustments for high altitude, around 6,000 feet? I’m struggling with the recent move and baking.
Hi Reggie, Thanks for your note. I don’t have experience baking at high altitudes so, unfortunately, I don’t have any wisdom to share – I’m sorry! You may find these tips helpful though. Hope you enjoy the cookies if you make them!
These are wonderful, and fast and easy! We are shortbread fanatics, and these are less messy than Mexican Wedding Cake Cookies and Russian Tea Cake cookies.
I like that it goes into the fridge to firm up. Because I then cooked them the following day, so it shortened the prep and baking time by splitting it up.
Great recipe!
Oven temp? 350? 300 like the Scottish shortbread? Help please, I just don’t see it here.
Hi Mary, the oven temp is 350°. Hope you enjoy!