Description
Pecan Meltaways are delicate, buttery nutty cookies that melt in your mouth with every bite. These tender cookies are flavored with vanilla and loaded with chopped pecans, then coated generously in confectioners sugar for a sweet finish. Perfect for holiday treats or anytime you crave a melt-in-your-mouth buttery cookie.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 2 sticks unsalted butter (1 cup), at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar (powdered sugar), divided
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking once the dough is prepared.
- Make Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and 1 cup of confectioners sugar until the mixture is creamy and fluffy. Beat in the pure vanilla extract thoroughly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt. Slowly add this flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture, blending until smooth and fully incorporated. Then fold in the chopped pecans evenly.
- Form Cookies: Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Roll each portion into smooth, uniform balls by hand for an even shape. Place them evenly spaced on the sheet.
- Chill Dough: Refrigerate the cookie dough balls on the baking sheet for about 15 minutes. Chilling helps maintain their shape during baking.
- Bake: Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until the cookies are set but not browned.
- Coat with Sugar: Immediately after baking, place the remaining 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar in a bowl. Roll the warm cookies gently in the sugar to coat them. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely.
- Final Dusting: Once cooled, use a small fine mesh strainer filled with confectioners sugar to dust a light, even coating of sugar over all the cookies. This final touch makes the cookies look beautiful and adds extra sweetness.
Notes
- Room temperature butter ensures the dough comes together smoothly and cookies have a tender texture.
- Chilling the dough before baking is key to preventing cookies from spreading too much.
- Rolling warm cookies in sugar helps the coating adhere better.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats for easier cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pecan meltaways, buttery cookies, nutty cookies, holiday cookies, melt-in-your-mouth cookies, vanilla pecan cookies
