Sugar Spun Run

Sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes

Join My Facebook Page Follow Me on Pinterest Follow Me on Instagram Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Work with Me
  • Subscribe
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Work with Me
  • Subscribe
You are here: Home / Desserts / Cookies / Pecan Sandies

Pecan Sandies

July 24, 2019 By Sam 13 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

These crisp, buttery Pecan Sandies are loaded with pecan pieces and absolutely melt in your mouth! They’re so easy to make (no chilling necessary!) and the recipe can easily be doubled!

Two pecan sandies on cooling rack, one showing buttery interior

Pecan Sandies

I feel like we’re having a Christmas (Eve?) in July moment right now.

Traditionally, I always expect at least a few Pecan Sandies on my cookie tray every December (and they’re definitely worthy a spot on my Best Christmas Cookies list!). But… but, we’re all adults here, right? We can make Pecan Sandies any time of the year that we like, and this summer they’ve been super popular in my kitchen.

They’re such an easy cookie to make with just a few ingredients, no chilling, and a brief baking period. If you’re going to bake cookies in the summertime, why not make it these??

Pecan Sandies have a delicate crispness at first bite (beneath that snowy powdered sugar coating) and a deliriously buttery, melt-in-your-mouth interior. They’re similar to my shortbread cookies, or even more similar to my snowball cookies, only disc-shaped rather than snowball shaped, and loaded with pecan chips rather than chocolate ones.

Pecan Sandies cookie dough in glass bowl

This recipe for Pecan Sandies varies a little bit from others you might have tried or tasted in the past.

Rather than sticking strictly to powdered sugar, we’re using a blend of powdered and just a touch of brown sugar. The brown sugar enriches the cookie, adds a subtle but oh-so-good depth of flavor, and just plain puts them over the top. I’ve also notched up the vanilla extract just a tad, and added cornstarch to keep those cookie centers insanely soft.

Pecan sandies on cooling rack, some being tossed in powdered sugar

Tips for Making Pecan Sandies

  • You can absolutely 100% chop your own pecans, but recently I’ve been lazy and have been buying pre-chopped “Pecan Chips”. Saves a few seconds of prep time!
  • If you’re opting to chop your own pecans, you might want to go the extra mile and toast them, too. Toast your pecans before chopping them, spread pecan halves evenly over a baking sheet and cook on 350F for about 5 minutes or until you can smell the nuts roasting. Let them cool completely before chopping and adding to your cookie dough. Toasted pecans add even more flavor to pecan sandies!
  • The sugar on top is optional. In the grand scheme of things, this recipe really doesn’t use that much sugar, so I didn’t think that these cookies would be sweet enough without a generous dusting of powdered sugar. However, my picky taste testers (AKA Zach and my siblings) liked the un-sugared cookies just as much as the sugared ones. Do your own taste-testing and decide which you like best!

Can You Freeze Pecan Sandies?

Yes! These pecan sandies can be frozen. My personal preference is to freeze the dough rather than the baked cookies (because who doesn’t love warm out of the oven cookies). Scoop, roll, and flatten the dough and then freeze in an airtight container. You may need to bake an additional minute or so if baking from frozen.

If you’d like to freeze the baked cookies, that will also work so long as you freeze in an airtight container. I don’t recommend adding the powdered sugar before freezing, though, wait until after thawing to do so.

Pecan Sandies on cooling rack

Enjoy!

More Recipes You Might Like:

  • Butter Pecan Cookies (soft and chewy!)
  • Thumbprint Cookies
  • Biscotti
  • Or find more favorite cookie recipes!

Let’s bake together! Be sure to check out my video at the bottom of the recipe where I’ll show you exactly how I make these Pecan Sandies in my own kitchen! If you enjoy watching, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel where I’ve already uploaded over 150 recipe videos that you can watch for free!

Pecan sandies stacked on top of each other on wire cooling rack with bite taken out.

Pecan Sandies

A simple recipe for crisp, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth Pecan Sandies! This recipe can be doubled.
Be sure to check out the how-to VIDEO just below the recipe!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: cookie, Dessert, cookies
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pecan cookies, pecan sandies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 16 cookies
Calories: 244kcal
Author: Sam Merritt

Ingredients

  • 1 cups unsalted butter softened¹ (226g)
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar 65g
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar firmly packed
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose (plain) flour (250g)
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans or pecan chips (118g)
  • Additional powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375F (190C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • Place butter in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until creamy.
  • Add powdered sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, and salt and beat until creamy and well-combined.
  • Gradually add flour and stir until combined.
  • Stir in pecan pieces.
  • Scoop dough by about 1 ½ Tablespoon portions and roll into a ball. Gently flatten and place on prepared baking sheet, spacing cookies about 1” apart.
  • Transfer to 375F (190C) oven and bake for 12 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn light golden brown.
  • Allow to cool completely on baking sheet. If desired, toss in additional powdered sugar until cookies are completely coated with sugar (alternatively you can sift sugar over cookies).

Notes

¹Not too soft, though! The butter shouldn't be melting or melty, which can easily happen if it's left to sit out for longer than 30-60 minutes during these hot summer months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie (assumes 2 teaspoons of additional powdered sugar per cookie from rolling) | Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 4mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

Free E-Book

Treat yourself to a FREE E-BOOK!

Filed Under: Cookies, Egg Free

Related Posts

None found

Previous Post S’mores Cereal Bars
Next Post Something Sweet

Comments

  1. susan says

    August 3, 2020 at 3:27 pm

    Are these crispy? I’m looking for a homemade version of the Keebler Pecan Sandies.

    Reply
    • Sugar Spun Run says

      August 3, 2020 at 5:29 pm

      Hi, Susan! These are a buttery, crispy cookie. I hope that you give the recipe a try. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Mitch says

    April 22, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    5 stars
    Sam…These are terrific. I made a double batch and divided into plain, THEN I went crazy and kneaded in 1/4 cup baking cocoa (Kroger) powder. I had to wrap and refrigerate a few hrs to run errands.
    RESULTS: O-M-G. Texture of both identical. I added 2 tsp cocoa powder to powdered sugar dusting on choc , plus also so we could tell choc from plain once sugar coated. Plain is rich & buttery traditional awesomeness and the chocolate is bold rich and smoothe (can i use that to describe it)

    Reply
    • Sugar Spun Run says

      April 22, 2020 at 5:20 pm

      The addition of the cocoa powder sounds delicious, Mitch. I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for commenting. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jules says

    August 2, 2019 at 9:21 pm

    If I wanted to make a larger cookie (like 1.5 the amount of dough), how much longer would I need to bake it?

    Reply
    • Sam says

      August 2, 2019 at 9:25 pm

      Hi Jules! Probably just another minute or two. Just keep an eye on them. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Eric says

    July 25, 2019 at 8:35 pm

    5 stars
    Your recipe is superb just made me a batch, loved them. Made with fresh Georgia pecans! I also made your key lime pie for the in laws coming in, they said it was the just best they ever had.
    love all your recipes, thanks for all of them.

    Reply
    • Sam says

      July 26, 2019 at 1:05 pm

      Thank you so much, Eric! I am so glad you enjoyed the cookies and the pie! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Brenda McBride says

    July 24, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    Is it powdered sugar sifted before measuring?

    Reply
    • Sam says

      July 25, 2019 at 11:59 am

      Hi Brenda! No need for sifting here. 🙂

      Reply
    • Brenda McBride says

      July 25, 2019 at 1:05 pm

      Thanks.

      Reply
  6. KAY PICKERING says

    July 24, 2019 at 1:23 pm

    5 stars
    FABULOUS COOKIE!!!

    Reply
    • Sam says

      July 24, 2019 at 9:54 pm

      Thank you, Kay!! So glad you liked them 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

Most Popular

flaky biscuit on white cloth

Easy Homemade Biscuits

Pizza dough in glass bowl, after rising

The Best Pizza Dough Recipe

Slice of yellow cake with chocolate icing on white plate

The Best Vanilla Cake Recipe

stack of 5 chocolate chip cookies

The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookies

Slice of cheesecake

The Best Cheesecake Recipe

Potato soup in bowl, with toppings

The Ultimate Creamy Potato Soup

Best Holiday Recipes!

christmas sugar cookie decorated with icing on white plate

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe (With Icing!)

Stack of decorated gingerbread cookie men on plate

Gingerbread Men Cookies

Gingerbread slice with whipped topping

Gingerbread

cookies dipped in chocolate on marble surface

Butter Cookies

Peppermint bark fudge stacked

Peppermint Bark Fudge

Hot Chocolate Bombs

Never miss a recipe!

places sugar spun run has been featured (Women's Day, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, the huffington post, People, Delish, MSN, TLC, Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed)

Copyright © 2021 · Sugar Spun Run

Privacy Policy|Accessibility Statement