These Butter Pecan Cookies are a delight to the senses with their plush, buttery texture that nearly melts away in your mouth. Made with butter, brown sugar, and lots of yummy pecans! A classic that never goes out of style, these cookies are an essential part of the holiday festivities. However, our love for their rich flavor and soft texture extends beyond the holiday season, and we enjoy them all year round!
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What Ingredients do I Need For Butter Pecan Cookies?
Butter, divided: I can’t wait to introduce you to brown butter if you’ve never tried it before. The extra buttery flavor will have you hooked for life once you taste it!
Brown sugar: Light brown sugar, with its caramel flavor, complements the pecans and butter in the cookies and adds moisture while sweetening them.
Large egg: Required to keep all ingredients together so they don’t fall apart.
Vanilla extract: An ingredient that enhances flavor and is a signature in butter pecan cookies.
All-purpose flour: Accurately measured flour gives the cookie the right structure and texture, not too heavy or dense and just soft enough.
Baking soda: An agent to prevent cookies from becoming flat and retain their soft, fluffy texture!
Chopped pecans: For a stronger nutty flavor, you can opt to toast them beforehand.
How to make Butter Pecan Cookies?
This best butter pecan cookies recipe is so easy to make and takes less than 1 hour, including a 30-minute refrigeration time.
Step 1: In a small saucepan, melt a stick of butter over medium heat and stir or swirl the pan occasionally for 5 minutes.
As the butter begins to turn a light brown color, the unmistakable nutty aroma will fill the air and you’ll notice the presence of browned milk solids at the bottom of the pan. That’s the desirable result. This liquid is commonly referred to as “liquid gold.”
Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the browned butter and bits. Next, melt the remaining butter using either a pan or the microwave and add it to the same bowl that contains the brown butter.
Then, blend the brown sugar into the mixture using either a whisk or a hand-held electric mixer. Afterward, mix in the egg and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.
Step 3: Mix the flour and baking soda in a separate small bowl. Subsequently, gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until only just combined and still visible with pockets or lumps of flour.
Step 4: With care not to overmix, delicately fold in the pecans to ensure even distribution. While the dough chills in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, take the opportunity to preheat the oven to 375°F.
Step 5: After chilling, scoop 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of dough and roll into balls using your hands. Arrange the dough balls on a baking sheet that has been prepped, making sure to leave about 2 inches of room between each one. Gently press each ball to a thickness no greater than ½ an inch.
Step 6: Preheat your oven and then bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes until they are golden brown with crispy edges. The cookies will come out soft and are perfect for adding nuts or sprinkling with sea salt. After taking them out of the oven, let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for 2 minutes to cool down before moving them to a rack for further cooling. Enjoy one or a few of these delicious Butter Pecan Cookies!
My Best Tips :
Does cookie spread being too much or not enough pose a problem for you? The temperatures of both dough and oven impact it.
- To start, always measure ingredients accurately. Insufficient flour can cause excessive spread while excessive flour can hinder proper spread. Weighing ingredients is the most precise method, despite variations in measurement techniques.
- Next, ensure your oven is fully preheated. If subsequent batches turn out differently than the first, it may indicate your oven wasn’t fully heated at the beginning.
- An oven thermometer is the best tool for monitoring actual temperature as some ovens may be too hot or too cold.
- Once you verify that your ingredients were accurately measured and your oven temperature is set correctly, examine the impact of the cookie dough temperature on its spread.
The step-by-step instructions Butter Pecan Cookies pictures can be found in the recipe card below.
Questions and answers about Butter Pecan Cookies
Recipe variations
After removing from the oven, sprinkle coarse salt on each cookie for a tantalizing sweet and salty blend that’s sure to be habit-forming.
For a purely sweet taste, coat the dough balls in white sugar prior to baking.
For a visually appealing touch, place a single pecan half on top of each cookie as soon as it comes out of the oven. This not only adds a cute touch but also serves as a clear indication of the nutty flavor in store.
For added coziness, incorporate cinnamon into your cookie dough. This makes them the ideal treat for a crisp autumn day!
Mix in ½ cup of either white chocolate chips or toffee bits into the batter before portioning it.
What Do You Serve With Butter Pecan Cookies?
Pecan cookies can be served with a variety of beverages such as milk, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. They can also be paired with other desserts such as ice cream or fruit.
Have a look at our other dessert recipes, how about pecan pie cobbler or creamy coconut cake
Can You Freeze Pecan cookies?
Yes, freeze the items in a freezer-safe container that seals tightly, with parchment paper between the layers. This has a storage lifespan of three months or less.
Can You Store Butter Pecan Cookies?
These butter pecan cookies should be kept in an airtight container for no longer than 3 to 4 days, or stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. Alternatively, they can be frozen for up to 3 months by allowing them to cool and placing them in a freezer container or freezer bag. Defrosting is a breeze, simply let them reach room temperature on the countertop.
Is it really better to toast pecans before baking?
Toasting pecans before baking can enhance their flavor and aroma. The heat of the oven causes the natural oils in the nuts to release, creating a nuttier taste and fragrance. Toasting can also help to bring out the sweetness of the pecans and add a crunchier texture. However, it is not necessary and whether or not to toast the pecans is a personal preference.
Are Butter Pecan Cookies healthy?
this recipe is not typically considered healthy as they are made with ingredients like butter, sugar, and flour, which are high in calories and fat. They may provide some short-term energy but do not provide the essential nutrients your body needs to maintain good health. For a more nutritious option, consider incorporating fruits, nuts, or whole grains into your snacks.
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Butter Pecan Cookies
Ingredients
For The Butter Pecans:
- 185 g chopped pecans
- 21 g butter
For The Butter Pecan Cookies:
- 227 g unsalted butter
- 287 g all-purpose flour (dip and sweep method)
- 14 g cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 99 g granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
- 198 g packed dark or light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
To Decorate (optional):
- Granulated sugar
- Sea salt
- Pecan halves
Instructions
For The Butter Pecans:
- To prepare sautéed pecans, begin by melting butter in a pan over medium heat, then add the chopped pecans. Cook for approximately 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are toasted and emit a fragrant aroma. Be cautious to prevent burning, as small pieces of pecan may brown faster. Once finished, remove from heat and allow the pecans to cool.
For The Butter Pecan Cookies:
- For a rich golden-brown butter, heat it in a pan with a light-colored surface over medium-high heat. Allow the butter to come to a boil, and stir it occasionally until the solids at the bottom turn a beautiful golden brown color. Be careful near the end as it can burn quickly. Once done, pour into a large mixing bowl to halt the cooking process and let cool for 10 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt, using a whisk
- Mix the cooled browned butter with the sugars using a whisk. Next, incorporate the vanilla and eggs into the mixture and continue whisking until everything is thoroughly blended
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the bowl and stir until the mixture is evenly blended and no flour streaks are visible.
- Mix in the buttered pecans.
- Wrap the dough with plastic wrap, making sure it touches the surface. Refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours, or for up to 3 days. If the dough has been chilled for more than 3 hours, allow it to come to room temperature for 30 minutes before scooping to make it easier to handle.
To Bake The Cookies:
- Adjust the oven temperature to 350°F and arrange a baking tray with parchment paper for a smooth baking experience.
- Shape the dough into 60g balls (approximately 3 tablespoons each) and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared sheet. Refer to notes for decorative options.
- Place the cookies on the middle oven rack and bake until the edges are firm and just starting to turn golden brown, taking 9-12 minutes. The centers of the cookies should be soft, but will firm up during cooling.
- In 5 minutes, extract the cookies from the baking sheet and relocate them to a cooling rack.
- To keep them fresh, put the cookies in an airtight container where they can be stored for a maximum of 5 days.
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