Delicate Butter Shortbread Pecans (Printable)

Buttery shortbread with chopped pecans, dusted in powdered sugar for a festive finish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Nuts

03 - 1 cup finely chopped pecans

→ Creaming Mixture

04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus additional for rolling
06 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour and salt; set aside.
03 - Using an electric mixer or whisk, cream softened butter with 1/2 cup powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
04 - Beat in pure vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
05 - Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, mixing just until combined.
06 - Gently fold finely chopped pecans into the dough.
07 - Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls; place them on baking sheets spaced about 1 inch apart.
08 - Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until bottoms are barely golden and tops are set; avoid browning the cookies significantly.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then while still warm, roll each cookie in additional powdered sugar to coat.
10 - Cool cookies completely on a wire rack and roll again in powdered sugar for a light, snowy finish.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're buttery and tender without being heavy, the kind of cookie that makes you reach for just one more.
  • The pecans add a nutty depth that feels fancy but comes together in under an hour.
  • Rolling them in powdered sugar twice creates that signature snowy coat that looks like you spent all day on them.
02 -
  • Don't overbake them trying to brown them—these cookies stay pale on top and golden only on the bottom, and that's exactly right.
  • The cooling time on the baking sheet matters; cookies that are too hot will crumble when you roll them, but if they're too cold the sugar won't stick properly.
03 -
  • Softening butter at room temperature instead of microwaving it makes a real difference in how the cookies texture out—it aerates better and creates a lighter crumb.
  • Rolling the cookies in powdered sugar while they're still warm is the trick that makes them look professionally made, so don't skip that timing.
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