These Butter Pecan Shortbread Cookies buttery nuggets with a pecan half baked in the center of the dough. They are finished off with a light confectioner's sugar drizzle and festive sprinkles, making them the perfect cookie to put out on your holiday cookie tray!
Butter Pecan Nuggets are a winner recipe and a long time favorite of mine! The buttery shortbread cookie dough has a toasted pecan hiding inside. I always put a roasted and salted pecan half just because I like the sweet/salty contrast!
I knew when I made this Hazelnut Shortbread cookie, I was hooked on shortbread. That's when I decided to try making these pecan shortbread cookies that would have a pecan baked inside of the shortbread dough!
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Why You'll Love Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Buttery Goodness: These cookies are rich and tender thanks to real butter, which gives them that classic shortbread texture we all know and love.
Balanced flavors: The combination of lightly sweetened shortbread and the nutty flavor from toasted pecans creates a satisfying, sweet and nutty bite.
Impress Your Guests: Whether for holiday cookie trays or special gifts, these cookies look beautiful and taste like they came straight from a bakery.
Ingredients
Shortbread is made of butter, flour, sugar, and flavorings. Pretty basic and very easy to make. Below are the ingredients you need to make these pecan shortbread cookies.
- Pecan halves
- Salted butter
- Light brown sugar
- Vanilla extract
- All purpose flour
- Powdered sugar
- Whole milk
- Colored sugars
See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.
How To Make Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Pecan shortbread cookies are really easy to put together and start out a bit different from your normal cookie recipe; it all starts in the saucepan on top of your stove!
- Step 1: In a large saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar until sugar is dissolved. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Step 2: Add flour to butter mixture until well mixed. Shape into ¾ inch balls. Press a toasted pecan half into each ball and enclose nut in dough to form an oval.
- Step 3: Place shortbread cookies on parchment lined baking sheet and bake until golden. Cool completely on a cooling rack.
- Step 4: Mix together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Step 5: Drizzle over pecan shortbread cookies and decorate with sugar.
- Step 6: Store cookies in an airtight container up to 4 days, in the freezer up to 3 months.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine butter and brown sugar. Heat and stir til butter is melted. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Cool.
- Stir in flour til well mixed. Shape into ¾ inch balls. Press a toasted pecan half into each ball and enclose nut in dough to form an oval.
- Place on cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or til done. Remove and cool.
- Stir together powdered sugar, clear vanilla and enough milk to make of drizzling consistency.
- Place frosting in decorating bag and cut at the very tip to make a small hole. Drizzle over cookies.
- Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired.
Substitutions
Nut swap: use whole roasted walnuts in place of pecans.
Extra buttery flavor: substitute ghee for the butter for an even nuttier flavor.
Sugar swap: for deeper more caramel like flavors, use brown sugar in place of granulated sugar.
Variations
Brown Butter Pecan Shortbread: brown the butter before mixing in the sugar.
Maple Pecan Shortbread Cookies: substitute maple extract for the vanilla and make a maple glaze with maple syrup and confectioners sugar and drizzle over top of the cookies. Sprinkle with maple sugar.
Sugar-Coated Pecan Shortbread: roll cookie dough in sugar before baking for a crispy sugar exterior.
Equipment
- Large saucepan
- Wooden spoon
Storage
Store pecan shortbread cookies in an airtight container up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze up to 3 months.
Related Recipes
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Pecan Shortbread Cookies
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Ingredients
For the cookies
- ¾ cup pecan halves , toasted
- 1 cup butter
- ⅔ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
For the icing drizzle
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 teaspoons milk
- colored sugars (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar. Cook and stir til butter is melted. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Set aside to cool
- Stir flour into butter mixture til well mixed. Shape dough into ¾ inch balls. Press a toasted pecan half into each ball and enclose nut in dough to form an oval.
- Place on cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or til done. Remove and cool.
- In a small bowl, stir together powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk to make a drizzling consistency. Place frosting in decorating bag and cut at the very tip to make a small hole. Drizzle over cookies. Sprinkle with colored sugar.
Jamie
Shelby,
These are some pretty cookies. Looks lke a piece of art...food art! I would love some of those with my nightly cup of tea.
Brad
Your recipe and pics are great, Thanks.
Cristine
So pretty!
Debbie
I was going to cut my baking down this year, but, now you show us these!
what to do? what to do?
(make them of course!)
Robin Sue
I found the white and blue sugar alluring too. Makes it look so festive and shiny! All these treats you are making look so beautiful!
Pam
Very yummy blog!
Bee happy and enjoy!
Lori
These look so delicious. I love how the sugar looks like jewels.
Bellini Valli
These do look like a winner Shelby!!!
Shirley
These sure look divine!
averagebetty
So pretty and I love the idea of a pecan hiding inside!
Tasty Eats At Home
I love the blue and white sparklies! Yum!
teresa
congrats to the winners! i LOVE those pretty little cookies, they look delicious!
Jessie
I just love the decoration along with the pretty sprinkles on the cookies. Congrats to the winners as well!
Barbara Bakes
Love the simple drizzle and pretty little sugars!
CookiePie
Beautiful cookies!!!
Linda
Very pretty, HoneyB!
Katy ~
Congratulations to the winners!
And boy, everyone is a winner who has an opportunity to enjoy these beautiful cookies. Lots of WOW in these!
Mags
Oh my gosh... those are so pretty!
Helene
Wow, another recipe to bookmark. I have never seen any blue sugar around here. Really helps decorating this cookie.
Amanda
oh Shelby, those are soooo pretty!!! I love them!