Rich buttery shortbread cookie filled with glorious pecans make up this perfect Pecan Sandies Cookie! This popular cookie is usually more popular in cooler months, but we love it all year round! Just in case you love cookie recipes as much as I do, check out my super popular Chocolate Chip Cookie and Sugar Cookie recipes!
Pecan Sandies
These cookies are basically a shortbread cookie with chopped pecans. They are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. One thing you will notice with this recipe is that we add granulated sugar when pressing them down. We choose this option instead of the traditional powdered sugar that is sprinkled on top. If you look closely at the images you can see a few of that version! I did a little taste test in our house but ultimately the granulated sugar version won in the minds of my adorable taste testers.
In classic Pecan Sandies, the dough is usually rolled into a rounded log shape, then refrigerated overnight. The chilled dough is then sliced into individual cookies, placed on a cookie sheet, sprinkled with confectioners sugar and baked. When I tested chilling the dough versus not chilling the dough, we didn’t taste a difference in the final cookie. So this version does not require any chilling!
These cookies are buttery, rich, and super flavorful and are very easy to put together. Rich, tasty and flavorful, Pecan Sandies are actually really easy to put together. So easy that even the kids can help! They are a perfect combination to satisfy many people’s sweet tooths.
How to Prepare Pecans
I purchased already chopped pecans from my local grocery store but you could also buy them whole and chop them yourself. If you happen to have a food processor you could easily (and quickly) get the pecans chopped fine enough for this cookie. Just be sure to use the “pulse” options so they are not too finely ground.
I have to admit, as an adult, I prefer a Pecan Sandie over a Chocolate Chip Cookie. I KNOW! I know. It’s shocking, to say the least, but as my tastes change in my old age, I am learning that things I never used to appreciate are worth giving another shot.
There is just something so magical about that rich buttery shortbread cookie paired with the texture and flavor of the pecans. Add the granulated sugar and they are simply perfection!
Can You Freeze Pecan Sandies?
You can! If given the choice to freeze cookie dough or baked cookies, I would go with cookie dough. It’s simple to do and quite frankly, if I am baking the cookies, I can’t resist eating them! My favorite way to freeze Pecan Sandie’s batter is to scoop the dough balls and then place onto a baking sheet as close together as you can but make sure they don’t touch. Freeze for about 30 minutes and transfer to freezer bags.
If you want to freeze a cookie that has already been baked, just make sure they are stored in an airtight bag or container.
Looking for More Cookie Recipes?
Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies
Peppermint Patty Stuffed Chocolate Cookies
Rich buttery shortbread cookie filled with glorious pecans make up this perfect Pecan Sandies Cookie!
- 1 cup (2 sticks, 226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar plus additional for pressing
- 1/2 cup (60g) powdered sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups (256 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup pecans, finely chopped
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream the butter, granulated, and powdered sugars together until smooth.
- Add egg and vanilla and beat until completely incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.
- Add the sifted flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl and mix until just combined.
- Stir in pecans and make sure they are fully incorporated.
- Using a cookie scoop that holds 3 tablespoons, scoop dough place on the prepared baking sheet at least 2" apart.
Press a kitchen glass onto a damp paper towel and then dip it into granulated sugar. Press the glass down onto the dough ball until cookies about 1/2 inch thick. Repeat with all cookies.
- Bake 9–11 minutes or until tops of cookies change to a dry look and edges are a light golden brown.
- Remove from oven and cool completely on wire racks.
Recipe Video
Can you explain to me why some recipes call for unsalted butter and then you have to add salt to the mix?
Wouldn’t it be easier to just use salted butter and less salt?
Using unsalted butter allows allows the baker to control the sodium content.
These turned out more like pecan sugar cookies than pecan shortbread. Maybe the addition of the egg makes it more like a regular cookie and less shortbread-like.
Thank you for sharing your recipes 🌷
I made these this week and they are easy and delicious! No more store bought pecan sandies. They are the perfect marriage of shortbread & pecans. Thank you so much!
One of my favorite cookies. ❤️
I make a similar recipe often, a favorite of a very family friend. These are much better if you brown the butter first.
Being in the pecan business, I am always looking at pecan recipes and this one has caught my eye as I once could consume a large number of pecan sandies at one sitting. I really like your recipe and I think I will try to swap out the all-purpose flour for some pecan meal/flour for our gluten intolerant daughter. We’ll see! Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Thanks for a great cookie recipe. I have an ice cream dessert recipe that needs pecan sandies and I miss making this dessert. I just can’t force myself to buy commercial cookies because of all the preservatives and unhealthy ingredients. Now I can make the pecan sandies and our family can enjoy the dessert again.
Has anyone made these with bread flour?
I’ve made sandies for years and though they are a favorite, I was always frustrated at how crumbly they were. I figured the batter needed an egg. Not easy to find in a shortbread recipe. These are above and beyond what I was looking for!!! My husband says they are the best cookie I have ever made! Thanks!!!
Awesome to hear Tracy!
Thank you for this. It sounds delicious and I can hardly wait to try it. I am very glad the cookies freeze successfully (so I do not eat them as quickly as I make them!).
Just made these tonight and really love them. Made them a bit smaller (2tbsp) scoop and loved the light crisp bottom and edges along with the lightly sugared top. They are not dry at all and am glad i really worked to chop the pecans very fine to make them just little specs in the cookies. Certainly will make these again.
Made these for the first time last week. They tasted great and were a hit with the co-workers. Thanks!!!
Took this delicious recipe and brought it to another level I made cookie sandwiches with a browned butter pecan filling and praline topping its definitely a keeper they went fast
To Milligan Pecan, switch out all purpose for a cup 4 cup gluten free flour…..I am a non tested Celiac and it works well every time!! Using a nut flour, you have to adjust your liquids as they absorb more! Enjoy. 😋
Good, but too much sugar in cookie.
Good texture.
the printed recipe on the web site does not have cream of tartar but the video uses it and not baking soda. Which is correct?
The written recipe is correct.
Help! The recipe says baking powder but the video says cream of tartar. . .which is it?
Wonderful
I saw the video showing cream of tartar but its not in the ingredients, so is this a misprint , does it take cream of tartar or not?
The written recipe is correct. 🙂
I wasn’t a fan of the texture. I’ve used a recipe without powdered sugar, and the results were much better. When the pecans are toasted a little before adding to cookie dough, they taste better.
These are great! I roll the entire dough balls in sugar, and bake at 325 for a good 18 minutes because I like them completely dry and very crisp. Also delicious made with macadamia nuts instead of pecans.