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.
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus a little encouragement and inspiration from me, straight to your inbox.
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.
Five simple dinners. One grocery list.
No recipe hunting, no messy shopping notes, no complicated chef projects. Just family dinners that fit real weeks.
Ingredients
Method
- Add flour and salt just until soft dough forms; fold in toasted pecans.
- Shape log; wrap and chill 30 minutes until firm.
- Slice 1/4-inch rounds; arrange on parchment-lined sheets.
- Bake at 325F for 16 to 18 minutes until edges barely golden.
- Cool on pan a few minutes; transfer to 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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and brown sugar; beat in maple syrup and egg smooth.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into wet.
- Fold in pecans; scoop tablespoon mounds onto lined sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until set with soft centers.
- Whisk powdered sugar with splash of maple syrup; drizzle over 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.
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk melted butter and brown sugar; beat in egg and vanilla.
- Add flour and baking soda to form thick dough; fold in pecans.
- Scoop balls; press a few caramel pieces into each center.
- Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until edges set.
- Immediately sprinkle flaky salt; let caramel firm 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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and both sugars light; beat in eggs and vanilla.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into wet.
- Fold in chips and pecans evenly.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons onto lined sheets, spacing apart.
- Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until edges golden and centers soft.
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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar; beat in eggs.
- Mix flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda; stir into butter.
- Fold in finely chopped pecans evenly.
- Mix remaining sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in shallow bowl.
- Coat dough balls with spiced sugar; 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.
Ingredients
Method
- Beat butter and powdered sugar creamy; add vanilla.
- Add flour and salt until crumbly dough holds.
- Fold in toasted pecans; gently knead to combine.
- Roll small balls; place on lined sheets.
- Bake at 325F for 13 to 15 minutes until set but pale.
- Coat warm cookies with powdered sugar; cool and coat 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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and brown sugar; beat in egg and vanilla.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into wet.
- Fold in cranberries and pecans evenly.
- Drop rounded tablespoons onto lined sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 11 to 13 minutes until edges golden.
- Cool briefly on pan; transfer to 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.
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus a little encouragement and inspiration from me, straight to your inbox.
Ingredients
Method
- Beat butter, honey, and sugar smooth; add egg.
- Mix flour, baking powder, and salt; add to bowl.
- Fold in pecans throughout dough.
- Drop spoonfuls onto lined sheets; slightly flatten with spoon back.
- Bake at 350F for 12 to 14 minutes until crisp with golden 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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and brown sugar; beat in molasses and egg.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon; stir into wet.
- Fold in pecans evenly.
- Roll balls; place on lined sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 9 to 11 minutes until tops crackled and centers soft.
- Cool on pan a few minutes to set 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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and both sugars; beat in eggs and vanilla.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and cinnamon; stir into wet.
- Mix in oats and pecans until dough thick and chunky.
- Drop rounded scoops onto lined sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 11 to 13 minutes until edges set and centers soft.
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 butter and sugar; beat in egg, lemon zest, and juice.
- Mix flour and baking powder; add to wet.
- Fold in finely chopped pecans to form soft dough.
- Drop spoonfuls onto lined sheets; bake at 350F for 9 to 11 minutes until pale gold.
- Whisk powdered sugar with little lemon juice; drizzle over 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.
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk melted butter and brown sugar smooth; beat in egg and vanilla.
- Add flour and baking soda to form loose batter.
- Fold in finely chopped pecans.
- Drop small teaspoons onto lined sheets, well spaced for spreading.
- Bake at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes until deeply golden with lacy edges.
- Cool completely on pan to crisp before lifting.
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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and granulated sugar; beat in egg and vanilla.
- Add flour and salt to form smooth dough; roll rectangle on parchment.
- Mix cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans; sprinkle evenly over dough.
- Roll tightly into log; wrap and chill 1 hour.
- Slice 1/4-inch rounds; 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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and brown sugar; beat in egg and vanilla.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into wet.
- Fold in toffee and pecans.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons onto lined sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until edges golden and centers chewy.
- Cool on pan to reset toffee.
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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and both sugars fluffy; beat in eggs and vanilla.
- Whisk flour and baking soda; stir into wet.
- Fold in white chocolate and pecans.
- Drop rounded scoops onto lined sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until edges golden and centers 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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and brown sugar; beat in pumpkin and egg.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and pumpkin spice; stir into wet.
- Fold in pecans to form soft, thick batter.
- Drop rounded scoops onto lined sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 12 to 14 minutes until puffed and set.
- Cool fully to firm before serving.
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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and sugar light; beat in egg and vanilla seeds.
- Add flour and salt to form soft dough.
- Fold in finely chopped pecans.
- Roll balls; gently flatten on lined sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 11 to 13 minutes until set with barely golden edges.
- Cool on pan before transferring to 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.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream butter and brown sugar; beat in egg and espresso.
- Mix flour and baking soda; add to wet.
- Fold in mini chips and finely chopped pecans.
- Roll small bite-size balls; place on lined sheets.
- Bake at 350F for 9 to 11 minutes until edges set.
- Cool briefly on pan; serve with coffee.
