Easy Butter Pecan Cookies
Make these butter pecan cookies with crispy edges and a soft inside. A rich, nutty flavor and buttery taste make them the perfect sweet treat.
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If you love the flavor of butter pecan, these easy cookies give you plenty of that buttery, nutty flavor without a complicated recipe.
They’re crisp around the edges, softer in the center and filled with finely chopped pecans so you get a little crunch in every bite. Even better, there’s no chilling required, so you can mix the dough and get them straight into the oven.
They take less than 30 minutes from start to finish, making them easy enough for an afternoon treat but still special enough to add to a Christmas cookie tray.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Ingredients for Butter Pecan Cookies
You only need six simple ingredients to make these cookies, and you likely already have most of them in your pantry.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare Your Ingredients
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Finely chop the pecans or pulse them in a food processor until you have small, even pieces. If using a food processor, pulse in short bursts and stop before the pecans become too finely ground.
Mix the Wet Ingredients
Cream the unsalted butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract to enhance the sweetness.
Combine Dry Ingredients
In the same bowl, mix in the flour and baking powder until fully incorporated. The dry ingredients should be well blended, creating a thick cookie dough.
Add the Pecans
Fold in the chopped pecans to distribute them evenly throughout the cookie dough.
Scoop and Bake
Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough into cookie dough balls and place them on the prepared cookie sheet, spacing them apart. Bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Once fully cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4-5 days.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Butter Pecan Cookies
- START WITH SOFTENED BUTTER – Room-temperature butter creams more easily with the sugar and helps create an even cookie dough.
- FINELY CHOP THE PECANS – Smaller pieces distribute throughout the dough so you get pecans in every bite.
- DON’T OVERMIX – Once you add the flour, mix only until the dough comes together.
- WATCH THE EDGES – The cookies are ready when the edges are lightly golden. Let them sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.
Do You Need to Toast the Pecans?
No. I make these butter pecan cookies with regular chopped pecans, so there’s no extra toasting step required.
If you want an even deeper nutty flavor, you can lightly toast the pecans before adding them to the cookie dough. Just make sure they cool before mixing them into the dough.
For the easiest version, though, simply chop the pecans and add them as-is.
Other Easy Cookie Recipes You’ll Enjoy:
- The Best Chocolate Chip Cowboy Cookie Recipe
- Quick Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies (Valentine’s Day Treat)
- Classic Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
- Cookies and Cream Cookies
- Quick No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Yummy Eggnog Cookies
Frequently Asked Questions
Do These Cookies Need to Chill Before Baking?
No, there’s no need to chill the dough before baking, but keeping the extra dough chilled between batches can help maintain consistency.
Can I Use Pre-Chopped Pecans?
Yes, store-bought chopped pecans work fine, but using a food processor allows for a more finely chopped texture.
How Should I Store These Cookies?
Store them at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.
These easy butter pecan cookies prove you don’t need a long ingredient list or hours of chilling to make a really good homemade cookie. Finely chopped pecans give you plenty of nutty flavor, while the simple buttery dough keeps them crisp around the edges and softer in the middle.
Save this one for an easy weekend baking project or add a batch to your Christmas cookie trays this holiday season.
Easy Butter Pecan Cookies
Not only are these cookies easy to make, but they are rich in flavor with butter and pecans.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Butter
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 1 ¾ cups & 2 tablespoons All Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 ¼ cups Pecans
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Process the pecans in your food processor for about 30 seconds, it’s best to use the pulse feature if you can, if not, just stop the food processor when the pecans are finely chopped, before it turns into crumbs. Then set aside.
- Cream together the butter and sugar, then stir in the vanilla.
- Stir the flour and baking powder until well combined.
- Fold in the chopped pecans.
- Using your 2 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop 6 cookie dough balls onto your baking sheet, evenly spread out.
- Bake for about 12 minutes and then let cool before enjoying!
Notes
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4-5 days.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 22 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 135Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 72mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 1g
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