Description
This Butter Pecan Cookies recipe delivers a deliciously soft and buttery cookie with the perfect balance of sweetness and nutty flavor from toasted pecans. Ideal for cookie lovers seeking a luxurious, homemade treat with a tender crumb and rich aroma.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes using an electric mixer.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, ensuring a smooth and homogenous mixture.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl to remove any lumps and evenly distribute the baking soda and salt.
- Fold Dry Ingredients into Wet: Gradually fold the sifted dry ingredients into the butter and sugar mixture, mixing gently just until a soft cookie dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Add Pecans: Fold in the toasted, chopped pecans evenly throughout the dough for that signature nutty crunch.
- Shape and Chill Dough: Scoop the dough into 1.5-inch balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Cover the tray with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour to enhance flavor and improve texture.
- Preheat Oven and Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the chilled cookie dough balls for 10-12 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown while the centers remain slightly soft to the touch.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents breakage and allows residual heat to finish baking the centers.
Notes
- Use softened butter (not melted) to achieve a smooth and creamy dough.
- Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes before chopping to enhance their flavor.
- Do not overmix the dough to keep cookies tender and soft.
- For extra indulgence, add a pinch of cinnamon or drizzle caramel sauce over the cooled cookies.
- You can substitute walnuts or almonds if you prefer a different nut.
- The cookie dough can be frozen; thaw overnight in the fridge before baking as directed.
- If using salted butter, reduce added salt in the recipe to 1/4 teaspoon.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Butter Pecan Cookies, homemade cookies, soft cookies, pecan cookie recipe, sweet nutty cookies, baked cookies
