Pecan Shortbread Cookies
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Rolled in coarse sugar, these sophisticated pecan shortbread cookies are long on buttery, nutty flavor.
Perhaps you’ve tried my shortbread cookies. If so (or even if you haven’t), these buttery, sugar-crusted pecan shortbread cookies provide a slightly different twist on traditional shortbread. They come 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 baked good 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 sugars’ 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.
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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! OMG! These are the most decadent shortbread cookies I’ve ever made! I recently went on a mountain spa trip with my girlfriends and made these to take along. They all raved. The demerara sugar is what kicks these up a notch (IMO). These are just WOW!!
Superfantastic! Better than the “Pecan Sandies” I loved as a kid (half a century ago). Will definitely be trying more of your recipes!
Excellent and EASY to make. Just found your site and am trying Many new recipes – especially Asian. The way you present information is perfect for both right and left brain learners (few sites can make this claim), and has terrific visual appeal. The still photos make it easy for us speed demons to quickly zip through the information.
TEXTURE from the coarse sugar is so important in recipes. I would advise people to not make substitutions. After caring for my mother at end of life when ALL her meals were run through a blender, I realized the importance of texture in a way I had never before. I will never consume anything from a blender until I have no teeth! Take that extra step and follow the recipe for best results. Live life to the fullest while you can.
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The dough was really crumbly and would just not hold together. I put it back in the mixer with a other 1/4 cup butter, cut in small pieces, and mixed it all well. Made the cookies and they turned out great!
I will definitely make these again!
They were really delicious. I made a few new types of shortbread this year but hands down this was my favourite. The sugar around the outside makes it ( so does toasting the nuts) and they look really nice on the plate. Another great recipe from your site!
I’ve made these twice , the first time for my Mothers Birthday, because she always loved store bought Pecan Sandies , they are such a delicious cookie ,the roasted pecans and buttery dough, one of the best cookies I’ve ever tasted.
Good to see another baker had some issues with this recipe. I only had salted butter on hand, so reduced the overall amount of salt needed. Mine turned out a bit too salty with overly browned bottoms. 18 minutes was also too long in my oven. When I baked the second tray, they looked nicer as I reduced the time to 15 mins, but you really need to use unsalted butter. Oh well, this baker has certainly learned from her mistake.
As a follow-up to my first attempt of this recipe which didn’t turn out well, this time around, it was successful. I used unsalted butter, added some lemon zest & cardamom (simply because I love those 2 flavors together), skipped rolling in demerara sugar before baking. After they were baked & still warm , I rolled the tops in a mixture of white sugar & cinnamon. What a fun recipe to play with.
I made these as directed the first time but felt the sugar coating was unnecessary. I’ve made them many times since just as a simply delicious square pecan shortbread cookie! Always get rave reviews when I serve them.
Yes! I agree they are a delicious simple scrumptious shortbread cookie, no need for the extra sugar!
Hi Jen!
Your recipes are all amazing! I only use your site now for my cooking. Thank you so much! I’m looking to make these for Christmas. I have Sea salt not Kosher salt. Is there a difference in measurements? Thank you! Merry Christmas!
Denise
So glad you like the recipes, Denise! The measurements will be the same for sea salt. Hope you enjoy the cookies!
Just mixed up ANOTHER batch of these last night. This will be the fourth or fifth time I’ve made them and I always get rave reviews from those who get the ‘privilege’ of sampling some. Don’t change a thing on the recipe; they are beyond perfect just as they are! They have now become one of my Christmas cookie additions. They’re just that good!