I received products from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the Christmas Cookies Week recipes. All opinions are mine alone.
Butter Pecan Shortbread Cookies are light and buttery. Filled with flavors and vanilla and toasted pecans make these cookies a perfect recipe for the holidays.
It is likely becoming less and less obvious that I just love shortbread. I love to make it and I love eating it even more. Today is the last day of Christmas Cookie Week, and I wanted to end with one of my favorite simple shortbread cookie recipes.
These cookies are so buttery and delicious. Even though they are rich they are so light and flaky when you bite into one. I opted to stud these cookies with pecans from our sponsor Millican Pecan Company. I love to use the pecan pieces in this recipe. The size is perfect for the cookie, and only required a quick couple of chops from me before I mix them into the cookie dough.
These cookies will be a favorite on any cookie platter. They are also delicious dipped half way into chocolate! I opted to go sans chocolate this time, but will likely opt for a quick chocolate dip for a cookie exchange.
What do you need to make Butter Pecan Shortbread Cookies?
- Unsalted Butter
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Flour
- Baking Sheet
- Stand Mixer
How do you make Butter Pecan Shortbread Cookies?
{Printable recipe below}
1. Using a stand mixer, cream butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
2. Mixing on low speed, slowly, add flour until combined. Add chopped pecans and stir to mix.
3. Remove dough from mixer and place on parchment paper. Form into a 12- to 14-inch log. It is easier to get a uniform log is you start the dough at one side of the paper, form, and then roll it into a log. freeze at least 30 minutes or until firm. Note: If you freeze the dough for longer than 30 minutes let it sit for 20-30 minutes so you are able to cut it and get even slices. If your slices are not even rounds the cookies will not cook evenly.
4. When ready to bake the cookies, preheat oven to 350°F. Cut the shortbread dough into ⅓ -½-inch slices and bake for 12-13 minutes on parchment lined or slip-mat lined baking sheets. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool a few minutes in the pan and then on parchment paper on the counter.
We are fortunate to be working with to sponsors, Adams Extract and Millican Pecan Company. I have worked with both of these companies before, and I can tell you that I was thrilled to use their products again! The products are high quality, and the flavors are wonderful! These two companies are also offering a giveaway for my readers! Check out the details at the bottom of this post.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am having a hard time cutting the cookies- any tips?
My sure that your dough is not too frozen. If it is it tends to give uneven slices and it hard to slice.
My cookies seem dry- should I be adding more butter or an egg?
No, shortbread is not a moist soft cookie. It is a bit crumbly and very buttery. You do not want to cookies to be too soft. When the cookies first come out of the oven they will be soft, but will set as they cool.
Can I use a different type of nut?
I have not experimented with this before so I can't recommend anything but pecans, but I do think walnuts or almonds would work well.
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Check out more delicious cookie recipes!
Gingerbread Cookies Dipped in White Chocolate
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Butter Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ lb unsalted butter softened at room temperature (2 sticks)
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ⅓ cups flour
- ⅔ cup chopped pecan pieces
Instructions
- Using a stand mixer, cream butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
- Mixing on low speed, slowly, add flour until combined. Add the pecans and mix.
- Remove dough from mixer and place on parchment paper. Form into a 12- to 14-inch log. It is easier to get a uniform log is you start the dough at one side of the paper, form, and then roll it into a log. freeze at least 30 minutes or until firm. Note: If you freeze the dough for longer than 30 minutes let it sit for 20-30 minutes so you are able to cut it and get even slices. If your slices are not even rounds the cookies will not cook evenly.
- When ready to bake the cookies, preheat oven to 350°F. Cut the shortbread dough into ⅓ -½-inch slices and bake for 12-13 minutes on parchment lined or slip-mat lined baking sheets.
- Remove from oven and cool a few minutes on the cookie sheet and then transfer to parchment paper.
Thank you to Ellen of Family Around the Table and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures for hosting #ChristmasCookies Week! And a huge thank you to our sponsors Adams Extract and Millican Pecan Company for supporting the bloggers and events like Christmas Cookies Week.
Check out today's cookie recipes:
Brown Butter Thumbprint Cookies by Food Above GoldButtered Pecan Shortbread Cookies by Cheese Curd In Paradise
Candy Cane Whoopie Pies by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Cherry Pecan Shortbread Rounds by Family Around the Table
Chocolate Cherry Cookies by Sweet Beginnings
Chocolate-Dipped Christmas Butter Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
Christmas Crinkle Cookies by Blogghetti
Christmas Pecan Bar Cookies by Intelligent Domestications
Cinnamon Roll Blondies by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Dark Chocolate Dipped Citrus Spice Shortbread by The Spiffy Cookie
Easy Italian Pizzelles by Frugal & Fit
Ginger Spice Cookies by Red Cottage Chronicles
Kahlua Hot Chocolate Cookies by Books n' Cooks
Linzer Cookies by Palatable Pastime
Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe by Everyday Eileen
Pecan Pie Cookies by Daily Dish Recipes
Pecan Pie Cut Out Cookies by Love and Confections
Prize 1 - Millican Pecan Tower of Treats Gift Tins
Originally founded as the West Texas Pecan Nursery in the late 1800's, Millican Pecan is now in 5th generation ownership. Located in San Saba, TX, the family continues the tradition of pecan farming while also branching the business into the online world. The family also enjoys educating people about pecans. One winner will receive The Tower of Treats Gift Tins. The tower includes 3 decorative gift tins stacked on top of each other. The bottom tin includes our 2 lb. Chocolate Pecan Sampler, the middle tin is our Flavored Pecan Sampler and the top tin is a 8 oz. tin of Milk Chocolate Caramillicans (similar to Turtles). An $80 value.
Prize 2 - Adams Extract Prize Pack
Adams traces its beginnings back to Battle Creek, Michigan, when John A. Adams began making and selling his Green Plant Sarsaparilla extract, Adamur, in 1888. In 1905, he moved his family to Beeville, TX. At the time, most vanilla sold to pharmacies and was often labeled “Do not bake or freeze.” John A. Adams' wife yearned for a flavoring that wouldn’t bake or freeze out. He announced that he could produce a better vanilla than the one his wife was currently using. Working with just $6.71 worth of materials on top of an old icebox, John A. Adams discovered the formula he wanted. To test this product, his wife whipped up a cake for the family to try. “John, this is the BEST flavoring I have ever used,” she announced. “Well, that’s old man Adams BEST,” he responded.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTwo (2) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. Bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners have 24 hours to respond once notified by email, or they forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. The #ChristmasCookies bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members living in the household cannot enter or win the giveaway. Entries will be verified. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter giveaway and contest is open only to US residents. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookies posts or entry. Thank you to our sponsors Millican Pecan Company, and Adams Extracts and Flavorings for providing prizes.
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Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck
The crunch of these cookies!!! I'm practically drooling just thinking about the sound...and the taste!!!
Hezzi-D
These cookies sound delicious! I love shortbread and th addition of pecans is yummy.
Ellen
I can just imagine how wonderful these cookies are. Definitely making these for my cookie trays.
Lisa Kerhin
I need to make shortbread cookies more often and I have plenty of pecans left to add!
Sue Lau
I love shortbread so these would be the first to disappear from my cookie tins.
Christie
These look so buttery good!! And this pecan pieces make them irresistible.