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ByRosemary
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These Pecan Cookies, are a thin buttery brown sugar cookie, full of chopped pecans, that have a delicious caramel taste. Flattened and baked until golden and crispy. You won’t be able to stop at one!
Fall has sprung in a lot of the world, but unfortunately not in Italy. We are still having 30C weather, which I am not happy about! I love the Fall and everything it brings, from Pumpkin to Broccoli to everything Apple Recipes.
So I really thought now would be the perfect time to share My Mom’s Pecan Cookie Recipe. A thin crunchy yet chewy cookie with a caramel buttery flavour, a tasty delicious cookie. I hope you like them as much as we do!
Table of Contents
Ingredients for the Cookies
- Butter – I use salted butter, but you can use unsalted, just add a bit more salt.
- Brown Sugar – I use golden brown, lightly packed.
- Egg – make sure the egg is room temperature
- Vanilla – to add flavour
- Flour – I like to use all purpose with a protein count of at least 11%
- Salt – adds flavour to the cookies.
- Pecans – be sure to coarsely chop them.
How to make Pecan Cookies
Coarsely chop the pecans and set aside.
In a large bowl cream together the butter, sugar and egg until light and fluffy, beat in the vanilla. Sift the flour onto the creamed mixture then combine either with the flat beater or with a spatula or wooden spoon until combined.
Gently stir in the chopped pecans, until combined. Either leave the dough in the bowl or move to a clean bowl, cover with plastic and refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight if you prefer.
Remove the dough from the fridge and roll into 1 inch balls, place on the prepared cookie sheets.
With a flat bottomed glass, dip in flour then flatten the dough balls until they are quite thin.
Bake in the pre-heated oven until lightly golden brown. Let cool before serving.
Tips for making the best Buttery Pecan Cookies
- Be sure to use room temperature ingredients.
- Chill the dough for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.
- Don’t make the cookie too large, if you go by weight, my dough balls were approximately 8 grams or .3 ounces each.
- Make sure to flatten the dough until very thin with a flat bottomed glass that you dip in flour every time with every cookie. They also say if you chill the glass before using it helps to keep the cookie dough from sticking.
- Rather than using flour you might want to try dipping the glass in some cinnamon sugar before flattening.
- Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for about 10 minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
How to make Cinnamon Sugar
For every 1/2 cup of granulated sugar (or try with brown sugar) and add 2-3 teaspoons of ground cinnamon. Combine well in a small bowl or shake well in a small jar. Be sure to store any leftover cinnamon sugar in a tight fitting jar in damp free area. It will keep for up to a year, it will actually keep indefinitely although cinnamon may lose its flavour.
Can you use toasted pecans?
Yes you can if you want a nuttier tasting cookie, to toast them, place the pecans on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake in a pre-heated 350F (180C) oven for about 5-8 minutes. Halfway through move them around with a flat oven safe spatula, keep your eye on them as pecans burn quicker than other nuts.
Remove from the oven and place immediately in a clean bowl to cool completely, before adding to the recipe. If you leave them on the pan they will continue to bake and you definitely do not want that.
Recipe FAQs
Can you substitute the pecans with other nuts?
Yes you could substitute with chopped walnuts or even hazelnuts. Or why not throw in some chocolate chips along with the nuts.
How do they taste?
They actually taste at least to me, buttery crunchy & chewy all at the same time. Believe me, the Italian nor I could stop at just one!
How to store them.
Store the baked cooled cookies in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
How to freeze them.
They can also be frozen in a freezer safe container or bag, for up to 2 months, but frozen cookies are best eaten in a month. You can also freeze the cookie dough for up to 2 months. Freeze the flattened cookies on a cookie sheet then when firm move to a freezer safe bag or container. They can be baked while still frozen, they may need an extra minute or 2 to bake.
More Pecan Recipes
- Caramel Banana Pecan Cake
- Moist Pecan Zucchini Bread
- Pecan Pie Cookies
I hope you enjoy these Thin Crunchy Chewy Pecan Cookies as much as we did, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Thin Crunchy Chewy Pecan Cookies
Rosemary Molloy
These Pecan Cookies, are a thin buttery brown sugar cookie full of chopped pecans with a delicious buttery caramel taste. You won’t be able to stop at one!
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Chilling Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 27 minutes mins
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 40 cookies
Calories 88 kcal
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)*
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar (lightly packed)
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 cup Pecans (coarsely chopped)
If using unsalted butter then add 2 pinches of salt.
Instructions
In a large bowl cream together the butter, sugar and egg until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes, beat in the vanilla.
Sift the flour onto the creamed mixture and combine either with the flat beaters until combined or with a spatula or wooden spoon.Gently stir in chopped pecans, mix until combined, do not over mix. Either leave the dough in the bowl or move to a clean bowl, cover with plastic and refrigerate for at least one hour or even overnight. (cookie dough will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge).
Pre-heat oven to 350F (180 C), line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Remove the dough from the fridge and roll into 1 inch balls (mine weighed approximately 8 grams or .3 ounces each) place on the prepared cookie sheets, 2-3 inches apart, then with a flat bottomed glass, dipped in flour, flatten the dough balls until they are quite thin, a little thicker than pastry dough (see photos).
Bake for approximately 12-14 minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool on the pan for approximately 10 minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Store the baked cooled cookies in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
They can also be frozen in a freezer safe container or bag, for up to 2 months, but frozen cookies are best eaten in a month. You can also freeze the cookie dough for up to 2 months.
Freeze the flattened cookies on a cookie sheet then when firm move to a freezer safe bag or container. They can be baked while still frozen, they may need an extra minute or 2 to bake.
If you don’t like pecans you can aways substitute. with hazelnuts or walnuts.
Nutrition
Calories: 88kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 28mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 78IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
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