Pecan Pie Cookies
Recipe Overview
Recipe Name: Pecan Pie Cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 10–13 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour
Servings: 24 cookies
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the Cookies
1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
½ cup (100 g) packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2¾ cups (345 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup (110 g) finely chopped pecans
For the Pecan Pie Topping
1 cup (110 g) pecans, finely chopped
⅓ cup (67 g) packed brown sugar
¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon maple syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Optional Garnish
Whole pecan halves
Light drizzle of melted chocolate
Small pinch of flaky sea salt
Instructions
1. Toast the Pecans
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Spread the chopped pecans on a baking sheet and toast them for about 5–7 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
Keep a close eye on them because pecans can burn quickly.
Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool completely.
Toasting isn’t absolutely required, but it makes a noticeable difference in flavour. The pecans become more fragrant, buttery, and crunchy.
2. Prepare the Cookie Dough
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together for approximately 2–3 minutes.
The mixture should become light and creamy.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together:
Flour
Baking soda
Salt
Cinnamon
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
Mix just until combined. Avoid overmixing because too much mixing can produce tough cookies.
Fold in 1 cup of the toasted chopped pecans.
3. Chill the Dough
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for approximately 30 minutes.
Chilling helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking and also improves their texture.
If your kitchen is particularly warm, you can chill the dough for up to 1 hour.
4. Make the Pecan Pie Topping
While the dough chills, prepare the topping.
Place the butter, brown sugar, heavy cream, maple syrup, and salt in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
Stir continuously until the butter melts and the mixture becomes smooth.
Allow it to gently simmer for about 1–2 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and chopped pecans.
Let the mixture cool for several minutes.
The topping should become thick enough to sit on the cookies without running off.
5. Shape the Cookies
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Scoop approximately 1½ tablespoons of dough for each cookie and roll into balls.
Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between them.
Gently flatten each ball slightly with your fingers or the bottom of a glass.
Using your thumb or the back of a small spoon, create a shallow indentation in the centre of each cookie.
This little well is where the delicious pecan pie topping will go.
6. Add the Topping
Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of the pecan topping into the centre of each cookie.
Don’t overfill them. The topping can spread slightly as it bakes.
If desired, place a pecan half on top of each cookie for a beautiful bakery-style presentation.
7. Bake
Bake the cookies at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 10–13 minutes.
The edges should look lightly golden while the centres remain slightly soft.
Don’t wait until the cookies look completely firm in the oven. They’ll continue to set as they cool.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack.
Let them cool completely before serving.
Helpful Notes
Use Softened Butter
For the best texture, your butter should be softened but not melted.
Butter that is too warm can cause the cookies to spread excessively.
Don’t Skip Toasting the Pecans
Toasting intensifies the natural flavour of the pecans and gives the cookies a more luxurious taste.
Measure Flour Correctly
Too much flour can make cookies dry and crumbly. For the most accurate measurement, use a kitchen scale.