If you think you don’t like pecans in cookies, you should know this cookie converted a staunch anti-pecan member of our family. Combined with brown sugar and warm spices, the added toasted pecans makes this a festive take on classic sugar cookies, and one that will make your kitchen smell amazing.
A few tips for these cookies–rolling and shaping the dough is made much easier with a quick chill. Also for this recipe, and for any rolled sugar cookie dough, always use powdered sugar to sprinkle over the rolling pin and rolling surface, as flour can make the dough tougher and drier. These don’t need a frosting, but I had some eager helpers excited to practice piping and decorating.
Spiced Pecan Sugar Cookies
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Serves: 2-3 dozen
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecans
- ¾ cups butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Powdered sugar, for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Put pecans on a small baking sheet and place in oven. Bake for about 4-5 minutes until pecans are fragrant and toasted. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Place in food processor or blender and process until finely ground.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until smooth, light, and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix in flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg, being careful not to over mix. Stir in ground toasted pecans until just combined. Cover, and chill dough for at least 20 minutes or up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick silicone mat.
- Place dough on a surface that has been generously dusted with powdered sugar. Roll out dough ¼ to ½ inch thick, using additional powdered sugar to prevent sticking, as necessary. Cut out with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart on cookie sheets. Bake cookies for about 5-7 minutes, until just barely cooked. Do not over-bake. Remove from oven and let cool.
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