There is just something about pecans that makes them feel really classy, and this is a list of 18 pecan cookie recipes that are worth baking. These recipes range from buttery shortbread all the way to soft, gooey caramel styles. Let's take a look.
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1) Classic Pecan Shortbread
First up is your classic pecan shortbread. This is a cookie that you will want to keep on hand specifically for surprise guests or midnight snacking, and it is going to hit that craving you have for a classic shortbread cookie every single time.
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Classic Pecan Shortbread
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and powdered sugar until pale and fluffy, then beat in the vanilla.
- Stir in the flour and salt just until a soft dough forms, then fold in the toasted pecans.
- Shape into a log, wrap, and chill for 30 minutes until firm.
- Slice into 1/4-inch rounds and arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 325F for 16 to 18 minutes until the edges are barely golden.
- Cool on the pan a few minutes before transferring to a rack.
Notes
2) Maple Pecan Delights
These maple pecan delights are going to deliver a warm fall flavor that you can enjoy any time of year. But this is a soft cookie flavored with maple syrup, and it is one that you are going to want to keep in rotation.
Maple Pecan Delights
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and brown sugar, then beat in the maple syrup and egg until smooth.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt, then stir into the wet mixture.
- Fold in the chopped pecans and scoop tablespoon mounds onto lined sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until set but still soft in the center.
- Whisk the powdered sugar with a splash of maple syrup and drizzle over the cooled cookies.
Notes
3) Salted Caramel Pecan Cookies
These are simply caramel cookies with pecans and a flaky sea salt finish. And that sea salt finish is what makes these visually appealing. They look like they are a bakery showstopper, but they are done right at home, and everyone is going to want to give them a try.
Salted Caramel Pecan Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the melted butter and brown sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Stir in the flour and baking soda until a thick dough forms, then fold in the pecans.
- Scoop into balls and press a few caramel pieces into the center of each.
- Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are set.
- Sprinkle with flaky salt right out of the oven and let the caramel firm up before serving.
Notes
4) Pecan Chocolate Chip Wonders
These pecan chocolate chip wonders are a step up from a traditional chocolate chip cookie. They are going to have toasted pecans folded straight into the dough and make such a flavor difference in your cookie; guests are going to want you to make more.
Pecan Chocolate Chip Wonders
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter with both sugars until light, then beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together and stir into the wet ingredients.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and chopped pecans until evenly distributed.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons onto lined baking sheets, spacing them apart.
- Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until golden at the edges and soft in the middle.
Notes
5) Spiced Pecan Snickerdoodles
Next up are spiced pecan snickerdoodles. A snickerdoodle is a classic cookie. They are soft, they are delicious, and they are built with warm spices. Having crunchy pecans folded in really keeps that classic charm, but gives you an added texture.
Spiced Pecan Snickerdoodles
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter with 1 1/4 cups sugar, then beat in the eggs.
- Stir together the flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda, then mix into the butter.
- Fold in the finely chopped pecans until evenly combined.
- Combine the remaining sugar with the cinnamon and nutmeg in a shallow bowl.
- Roll dough balls in the spiced sugar and place on lined sheets.
- Bake at 375F for 9 to 11 minutes until puffed and just set.
Notes
6) Butter Pecan Sandies
The butter pecan sandies are another spin on a classic cookie. These will have a texture that melts on your tongue and keeps you reaching for more.
Butter Pecan Sandies
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the butter and powdered sugar until creamy, then mix in the vanilla.
- Stir in the flour and salt until a crumbly dough comes together.
- Fold in the toasted pecans and gently knead to combine.
- Roll into small balls and place on lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 325F for 13 to 15 minutes until set but still pale.
- Roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar and cool, then roll again.
Notes
7) Cranberry Pecan Gems
There is just something about cranberries in cookies that works. And these cranberry pecan gems are no different. This is going to be a cookie with a flavor combination of buttery pecans and tart dried cranberries that everyone loves and quickly becomes your new classic holiday cookie.
Cranberry Pecan Gems
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and brown sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt, then stir into the wet mixture.
- Fold in the cranberries and chopped pecans until evenly spread.
- Drop rounded tablespoons onto lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 11 to 13 minutes until the edges turn golden.
- Cool on the pan briefly before moving to a rack.
Notes
8) Honey Pecan Crunchies
This recipe yields a crisp-edged cookie made with a small amount of honey, which creates an irresistible scent while baking. These are the types of cookies that, as they are in the oven, you can't wait for them to come out because you've been smelling them for 20 minutes. These honey pecan crunchies are going to be a new favorite for kids and adults alike.
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Honey Pecan Crunchies
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the butter, honey, and sugar until smooth, then mix in the egg.
- Stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt and add to the bowl.
- Fold in the chopped pecans until the dough is studded throughout.
- Drop spoonfuls onto lined sheets and flatten slightly with the back of a spoon.
- Bake at 350F for 12 to 14 minutes until crisp and golden at the edges.
Notes
9) Chewy Pecan Molasses Cookies
Adding molasses to a cookie recipe just makes it so deliciously chewy, and these chewy pecan molasses cookies are just that. These are going to take you on a one-bite trip into holiday flavors and a cookie you will want to make again and again.
Chewy Pecan Molasses Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and brown sugar, then beat in the molasses and egg.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon, then stir into the wet mixture.
- Fold in the chopped pecans until evenly combined.
- Roll into balls and place on lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 9 to 11 minutes until crackled on top and soft in the center.
- Let cool on the pan a few minutes so they set up chewy.
Notes
10) Pecan Oatmeal Softies
These softies are wholesome enough to count as a great breakfast. These are going to be good-sized cookies that pair well with coffee or act as a breakfast dessert everyone is sure to enjoy.
Pecan Oatmeal Softies
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter with both sugars, then beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon, then stir into the wet mixture.
- Mix in the oats and pecans until the dough is thick and chunky.
- Drop rounded scoops onto lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 11 to 13 minutes until set at the edges and soft in the middle.
Notes
11) Glazed Pecan Lemon Drops
Here's the perfect summer cookie because that lemon flavor is just sunshine in a bite. This one has bright lemon and toasted pecans, which is an unexpected combo that actually works.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and sugar, then beat in the egg, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
- Stir together the flour and baking powder, then mix into the wet ingredients.
- Fold in the finely chopped pecans to make a soft dough.
- Drop spoonfuls onto lined baking sheets and bake at 350F for 9 to 11 minutes until pale gold.
- Whisk the powdered sugar with a little lemon juice and drizzle over the cooled cookies.
Notes
12) Pecan Praline Crisps
This recipe gives you a thin, lacy caramelized cookie that tastes like praline candy that decided to become a cookie. These smell delicious while they bake, and they are actually fun to make.
Pecan Praline Crisps
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth, then beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Stir in the flour and baking soda to make a loose batter.
- Fold in the finely chopped pecans.
- Drop small teaspoons onto lined sheets, spacing well since they spread.
- Bake at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes until deeply golden and lacy at the edges.
- Cool completely on the pan so they crisp up before lifting off.
Notes
13) Cinnamon Pecan Swirls
Here's a pinwheel cookie swirled with cinnamon and pecans that looks a lot harder to make than it actually is. And these are going to taste like fall, but it's a cookie you're going to want to enjoy year-round.
Cinnamon Pecan Swirls
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and granulated sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Stir in the flour and salt to make a smooth dough, then roll into a rectangle on parchment.
- Mix the cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans and sprinkle evenly over the dough.
- Roll up tightly into a log, wrap, and chill for 1 hour.
- Slice into 1/4-inch rounds and place on lined sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until set and lightly golden.
Notes
14) Toffee Pecan Chews
These coffee pecan chews are sure to be your new favorite coffee cookie, and they are so good that you may just want to hide a batch from the rest of your family. Chewy cookies just give you that feel-good comfort vibe that everyone enjoys, and these are ones that are fun to make.
Toffee Pecan Chews
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and brown sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt, then stir into the wet mixture.
- Fold in the toffee bits and chopped pecans.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons onto lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until golden at the edges and chewy in the middle.
- Let cool on the pan so the toffee resets.
Notes
15) White Chocolate Pecan Dreams
Mixing white chocolate and pecans is just the perfect combination for a cookie. These white chocolate pecan dreams are going to be a delicious cookie that you make again and again. This is another spin on chocolate chip, except you're going with white chocolate here, which does have a different flavor profile, but mixing it with the pecans just brings this one to life.
White Chocolate Pecan Dreams
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter with both sugars until fluffy, then beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Whisk the flour and baking soda, then stir into the wet mixture.
- Fold in the white chocolate chips and chopped pecans.
- Drop rounded scoops onto lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are golden and centers look soft.
Notes
16) Pumpkin Pecan Spice Cookies
These pumpkin pecan spice cookies are going to be your new favorite fall recipe. These are soft, pillowy cookies that are built around warm, cozy spices and basically taste like a hug in cookie form.
Pumpkin Pecan Spice Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and brown sugar, then beat in the pumpkin and egg.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice, then stir into the wet mixture.
- Fold in the chopped pecans to make a soft, thick batter.
- Drop rounded scoops onto lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 12 to 14 minutes until puffed and set.
- Cool fully before serving since they firm up as they sit.
Notes
17) Vanilla Bean Pecan Delicacies
These cookies are made with real vanilla bean specs rather than just plain extract, giving you a more luxurious flavor as a result. I love using real vanilla bean. There is just something that makes it stand out, and that is especially true for vanilla bean ice cream. It pairs well with pie and cookies, and vanilla bean is a really special ingredient; using it in these cookies is something you'll do again and again.
Vanilla Bean Pecan Delicacies
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and sugar until light, then beat in the egg and vanilla bean seeds.
- Stir in the flour and salt until a soft dough forms.
- Fold in the finely chopped pecans.
- Roll into balls and gently flatten on lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 11 to 13 minutes until set and barely golden at the edges.
- Cool on the pan before transferring to a rack.
Notes
18) Espresso Pecan Bliss Bites
These espresso pecan bliss bites are another cookie that is going to round out your morning coffee so well. This is a small cookie built around using espresso powder, and it really just gives you that grown-up flavor that you want to enjoy in the morning.
Espresso Pecan Bliss Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and brown sugar, then beat in the egg and espresso powder.
- Stir together the flour and baking soda and mix into the wet ingredients.
- Fold in the mini chocolate chips and finely chopped pecans.
- Roll into small bite-sized balls and place on lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 9 to 11 minutes until set at the edges.
- Cool briefly on the pan before serving with coffee.