Best Pecan Shortbread Recipes

PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla and almond extracts. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter/sugar mixture. Add the pecans and mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut into 2 1/2-inch squares with a plain or fluted cutter (or cut into any shape you like). Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature and serve.

MAPLE PECAN SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine the flour and 1/3 cup brown sugar in a mixer. Mix in the softened butter until a dough has formed. Press into an ungreased 8x8-inch baking dish, and prick with a fork.
• Bake the shortbread in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. While the shortbread is baking, beat the egg in a mixing bowl along with 1/3 cup brown sugar, maple syrup, and pecans. Pour the pecan mixture over the hot crust, and return to the oven. Continue baking until firmed, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, and immediately run a knife around the edges to prevent sticking. Cool completely, then cut into 1-inch squares to serve.

EASY PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• To toast pecans, sprinkle in ungreased heavy skillet. Cook over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until nuts begin to brown, then stirring constantly until nuts are light brown. Remove from heat; cool.
• In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually add flour, beating just until blended. Stir in toasted pecans and vanilla.
• Divide dough in half; shape each portion into 2 (1 1/4-inch-thick) logs (about 12 inches long). Wrap in cooking parchment paper; refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
• Heat oven to 325°F. Line cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper. Unwrap dough; cut into 1/4-inch slices. On cookie sheets, place slices 1/2 inch apart.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.

BUTTER PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicon mat.
• In a large bowl with an electric mixer or a food processor, beat together butter and brown sugar until creamy.
• Add flour, ground pecans, vanilla and salt and beat just until it forms a smooth dough.
• Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour to allow it to firm up just enough to shape.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C).
• By hand, roll dough into 1-inch balls.
• Place them on the prepared cookie sheet and flatten very slightly (to about 1/2-inch thickness) with the bottom of a glass that has been dipped in flour to prevent the dough from sticking to the glass (If you have a cookie stamp, you can use it to flatten the cookies instead of the glass).
• Place in the oven and bake for 12 minutes or until set and very lightly browned on the bottom.
• Remove from pan and let cool on a rack.

COCONUT PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES WITH CARAMEL FILLING

Steps:

• To make the shortbread: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place coconut on a baking sheet, and toast until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes, stirring halfway through. Transfer the coconut to a cutting board, and finely chop. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.
• Spread the pecans on the baking pan, and toast until fragrant and golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Transfer the pecans to a cutting board, and finely chop. Add to bowl with the coconut.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract, flour, and salt; beat to combine. Stir in coconut and pecans.
• Form the dough into a disk, and wrap in plastic. Transfer to refrigerator, and chill until firm, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 1/4-inch-thick. Using a 2 1/4-inch fluted pastry cutter, cut out 68 rounds. Place the rounds, spaced 1 inch apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate dough 5 to 10 minutes. Using a 3/4-inch round aspic cutter, or the large end of a pastry tip, cut out and discard the centers from 34 cookies, making top halves.
• Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through baking time. Transfer cookies to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container, at room temperature until ready to use
• To make the filling: Place the sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Set over medium-high heat, and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, and cook until dark amber in color, about 5 minutes. Use a pastry brush, dipped in water, to wash down sides of pan to prevent crystallization as the mixture boils. Remove saucepan from the heat, and gradually whisk in the cream and butter. Transfer to a medium bowl, and let cool.
• To assemble the cookies: Spoon or pipe about 1/2 teaspoon caramel in the center of each of the bottom halves, and sandwich both halves together. Drizzle remaining caramel over the tops of the cookies. Let the caramel set at least 2 hours, and up to overnight.

PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Process cookies into crumbs in a food prcessor or crush in a heavy plastic bag with a rolling pin.
• Add melted butter and mix until combined.
• Press into bottom and sides of a nine-inch pie dish.
• Bake for 10 minutes; it will feel soft, but will firm up as it cools.
• Cool completely before filling with your favorite filling.

PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Cream butter, oil, white sugar, and confectioners' sugar together in a large bowl using an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Stir in vanilla extract.
• Combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt in a separate bowl. Stir gradually into the butter mixture. Stir in pecans.
• Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place onto ungreased cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Remove from cookie sheets and cool completely on wire racks, 20 to 30 minutes.

BROWN-SUGAR AND PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, salt, nutmeg, and cloves; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and brown sugar together on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla, and mix to combine. Add pecans. Reduce mixer speed to low and add flour mixture; mix until just combined.
• Turn dough out onto work surface and form into two flat squares; wrap with plastic wrap and transfer to refrigerator. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with racks set in the upper and lower thirds. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
• Place a nonstick baking mat on work surface. Place one square chilled dough on baking mat; top with a sheet of plastic wrap. Roll out dough between baking mat and plastic wrap until it is 3/8-inch-thick. Transfer to freezer to chill until firm, about 30 minutes. Repeat process with remaining dough.
• Using a 2 1/4-inch square cutter, cut out dough and transfer to prepared baking sheets. Carefully prick each cookie with a skewer, gently pushing through the dough until it reaches the baking sheet.
• Transfer baking sheets to oven and bake, about 10 minutes. Halfway through baking, repeat pricking process and rotate baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back. Cookies should be very pale and not take on too much color. Transfer cookies to rack to cool.

MARTHA'S MAPLE-PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Whisk flours, salt, and chopped pecans in a bowl.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth and light, about 1 minute. Add maple syrup, egg yolk, and vanilla; beat on medium until well combined. On low speed, gradually add flour mixture; beat until just combined. Dough should be smooth and pliable. Flatten into a square. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate until firm, 1 1/2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. Cut out squares using a 3-inch fluted square cutter; place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake cookies, rotating sheet halfway through, until golden just around the edges, 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days.

MAPLE PECAN SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 175 degrees C (350 degrees F)
• Combine the flour and 75g light brown muscovado sugar in a mixer until well combined.
• Mix in the softened butter until a dough has formed.
• Press into a lined 20x20cm baking dish, and prick with a fork. If you don't have an 20x20cm dish you can use any rectangular dish. You may just have to make more shortbread, but that's never a bad thing!
• Bake the shortbread in the preheated oven for about 20-30 minutes (depending on the amount of shortbread you make). It should look puffy and golden brown when done.
• While the shortbread is baking, beat the egg in a mixing bowl along with 75g light brown muscovado sugar, maple syrup, and pecans.
• Pour the pecan mixture over the hot shortbread and return to the oven. Continue baking until firmed, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven, and immediately run a knife around the edges to prevent sticking if the mixture has got past the baking parchment. Cool completely, then cut how ever you like. ENJOY!

COCONUT-PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in coconut and pecans. Divide dough into two portions. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until easy to handle., Preheat oven to 350°. On a floured surface, roll each portion to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a 1-in. round cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake until lightly browned, 10-12 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Meanwhile, for filling, bring sugar and water to a boil in a large heavy saucepan. Add corn syrup; cook until syrup turns golden, about 5 minutes (do not stir). Gradually stir in cream and butter., Spread filling on the bottoms of half of the cookies, a scant 1/2 teaspoon on each; cover with remaining cookies. Let stand until set, about 2 hours.

MAPLE-PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Into a medium bowl, sift flours and salt. Whisk in 1/2 cup chopped pecans; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until smooth and light, about one minute. Add the maple syrup, egg yolk, and extract; beat on medium speed until well combined. On low speed, gradually add flour mixture, beating until just combined. Dough should be smooth and pliable. Flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic; chill until firm, 1 1/2 hours or overnight.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out rounds using a two-inch cookie cutter; place one inch apart on prepared baking sheet. Brush tops with beaten egg; sprinkle centers with remaining 1/4 cup pecans. Sprinkle the entire surface with turbinado sugar.
• Bake cookies, rotating baking sheet halfway through, until golden around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream together butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until mixture is light in color, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add flour, salt, pecans, and almond extract, and mix until combined and the pecans start to break up.
• Wrap dough in plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator at least 1 hour or overnight. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using 2 1/2-inch diameter fluted cookie cutters, cut cookies, and place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Return to refrigerator 1 hour more.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Sprinkle cookies with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and bake until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool.

PECAN SHORTBREAD DIAMONDS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Press into an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 375° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack. Reduce temperature to 350°., To make filling, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and melted chocolate; fold in pecans. , Pour filling over crust. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until filling is set. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into diamond-shaped bars.

CARAMEL PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in milk and vanilla. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle., On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut into 2x1-in. strips. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. , Bake at 325° for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, combine caramels and milk in a large saucepan. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until caramels are melted and smooth. Remove from the heat; stir in the butter, sugar and pecans. Cool for 5 minutes. Spread 1 teaspoon over each cookie. , For icing, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt chips and milk; stir until smooth. Stir in the butter, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Cool for 5 minutes. , Spread 1 teaspoon icing on each cookie; top each with a pecan half. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.

PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIE CRUST

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 350^. Combine ingredients in a medium bowl. Press evenly into pie pan or other baking dish; lining the bottom and sides of dish. Bake for about 20 minutes; just until crust starts to brown. Cool.
• 2. Note: It is not necessary to bake this crust if you don't want to. Works great either way baked or not!

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. I suggest using a Kitchenaid (or other brand) stand mixer with a paddle attachment as this is a VERY stiff dough -- I don't suggest mixing it by hand ...either your hand will wear out or the wooden spoon will break.
• 2. Cream together sugar and butter--just until combined.
• 3. Add extracts and stir into butter/sugar mixture.
• 4. In separate bowl, whisk flour and salt together.
• 5. Add flour/salt mix to butter/sugar mix, a little at a time.
• 6. Add chopped pecans to dough and THOROUGHLY incorporate them. (I chopped them by hand).
• 7. Place reserved 1/2 cup of pecans in separate bowl.
• 8. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. By hand, roll each piece into a log (about 2-3 inches in diameter). Wrap each log, snugly, with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• 9. Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C).
• 10. Remove plastic wrap from dough log and slice into 3/8-inch - 1/2-inch thick slices.
• 11. Place sliced dough onto UNGREASED parchment-paper lined cookie sheet about 1/2 inch apart.
• 12. Bake for 15-20 minutes until edges are golden brown and center is cooked but NOT browned (see photo above).
• 13. After baking, gently transfer to cooling rack (they're VERY fragile at this stage), and cool completely. Once cooled, they are quite sturdy.
• 14. In microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate morsels (in 30-second increments, stirring after each increment)
• 15. Spread reserved, chopped pecans (or, if desired, sliced almonds) onto cookie sheet and return to oven for 5-10 min. until toasted. Watch them carefully so they don't burn. Then, place them in a bowl.
• 16. Coat cooled cookies 1/2-way with melted chocolate (front, back, and sides)--scraping off excess.
• 17. Roll chocolate-dipped cookies in toasted pecan pieces. Alternately, you can use sliced almonds, or crushed toffee pieces (Heath or Skor bars)...or, leave them plain or just dipped in chocolate if you like. When coated, return cookies to cooling rack to set.
• 18. Chill chocolate-dipped cookies for 20-30 min. in fridge to set chocolate before serving.
• 19. Store in airtight container (if you have any left).

SHORTBREAD PECAN COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine butter, cream cheese, and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined. Add flour and mix until combined.
• Roll dough into 1-inch balls and set on ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned on bottom, 10 to 13 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool, 8 to 10 minutes more. Place one pecan half on top of each cookie and dust lightly with powdered sugar.

SPICED PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cloves, and baking powder. Mix in the butter using a fork until well blended. The dough will be flaky and separated. Stir in the pecans, and press into an 8 inch square pan.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned on the top. Cut into squares while still warm, but do not remove from the pan. Allow to cool, then dust with confectioners' sugar.

PECAN CARAMEL SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread pecans on a baking pan. Bake until golden and fragrant, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool. Chop roughly, and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light in color. With the mixer on low speed, add flour, and mix until just combined.
• Line an 11-by-17-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Press dough into the bottom of baking pan in an even layer. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, using a microwave or double boiler, heat caramel until liquid; stir in pecans. Spread mixture over the cookie layer. Return pan to oven, and bake until caramel is slightly darkened in color, about 10 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack to cool. Cut into 2 3/4-by-1/2-inch rectangles.