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Classic Butter Pecan Cookies Recipe

Classic Butter Pecan Cookies Recipe


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4.7 from 37 reviews

  • Total Time: 25-27 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Butter pecan cookies melt in your mouth with a rich, nutty charm that makes afternoon snacking pure pleasure. Crisp edges and a tender center guarantee these treats will become your new favorite sweet companion.


Ingredients

Scale

Primary Ingredients:

  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped

Supporting Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup brown sugar, packed

Finishing Ingredients:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Warm your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to create a perfect non-stick surface for your cookies.
  2. Cream 1 cup softened unsalted butter with ¾ cup granulated sugar and ¾ cup brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and airy, which takes about 3 minutes with an electric mixer.
  3. Pour in 2 tsp vanilla extract and crack in 2 large eggs, beating thoroughly after each addition to ensure smooth integration.
  4. Sift together 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, and ½ tsp salt, then slowly mix into the butter mixture until just combined.
  5. Roughly chop 1 cup of toasted pecans and gently fold them into your cookie dough, distributing them evenly throughout.
  6. Scoop rounded tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing each mound about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
  7. Slide the sheets into the preheated oven and bake for exactly 11 minutes, watching for golden edges that signal perfect doneness.
  8. Remove cookies from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

  • Toast pecans beforehand in a dry skillet to enhance their nutty flavor and provide extra crunch to the cookies.
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and create a more compact, thicker cookie.
  • For a gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend that maintains the same texture.
  • Use room temperature butter and eggs to ensure smooth mixing and consistent cookie texture throughout the batch.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 180 kcal
  • Sugar: 9 g
  • Sodium: 80 mg
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 19 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg