Pecan Sandies Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Eileen xo

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Let's talk about buttery, nutty, crispy, and crunchy Pecan Sandies that are so full of everything you want in a great cookie. These shortbread type cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delectable.

Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Equipment
  • Instructions
  • Storage
  • Expert Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Similar recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

  • Pecan Sandies are perfect because they have just a few ingredients and everything comes together quickly.
  • These delightful golden brown pecan sandies are a classic cookie full of flavor.

Ingredients

  • chopped pecans - well these are Pecan Sandies, so we need to add them.
  • unsalted butter - adds moisture to the batter.
  • white sugar - sweetness and develops browning in the cookie.
  • brown sugar - another level of sweetness to the cookie.
  • egg - binds the cookie.
  • vanilla - adds flavor.
  • salt - a little boost of flavor.
  • all-purpose flour - binds the cookie

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Equipment

Instructions

This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer with beaters attached, cream butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy, about 5 to 7 minutes. The mixture will be a pale yellow.
  2. Beat in egg and vanilla.
  3. Mix in pecans, flour, and salt.
  4. Roll into a log about 1 ½ inches thick. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for at least 4 hours up to overnight.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C.
  6. Remove wax paper from cookie dough and slice into ½ inch slices.
  7. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
  8. Bake for 12-15 minutes in the preheated oven
  9. Let cool on a cooling rack.

Storage

Keep the cookies in a covered airtight container on the counter for up to 4-5 days.

Freezer instructions: When following the instructions in the recipe card below, when the dough is refrigerated, instead, wrap the dough well in plastic wrap and place it into a freezer-safe bag. The dough can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When ready to bake, defrost the dough in the refrigerator. Then slice the cookies and bake them according to the recipe.

The dough logs can also be sliced and placed on a baking sheet in the freezer to flash-freeze the dough for about an hour and then placed in freezer-safe bags. The dough won't stick together in the freezer and slices can be removed and baked as needed.

Expert Tips

Expert Tip: Use room temperature unsalted butter so the dough will be easier to blend together.

  • Have your egg at room temperature so they mix easily.
  • Use care to measure flour correctly so the cookies will be perfect when baked.
  • Follow the directions as baking is not as forgiving as cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use salted butter to make these cookies?

Sure, but then omit adding salt to the cookie batter. You may over-salt the cookie.

Can the dough be frozen prior to baking the cookies?

Absolutely. The dough can be refrigerated at the point when it should be refrigerated overnight.
Wrap the dough well in plastic wrap and place it into a freezer-safe bag.
The dough can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, defrost, slice the cookies and bake according to the recipe.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy Pecan Sandies with a tasty Caramel Macchiato for a tasty snack or dessert.

Pumpkin Spice Lattes would be a great pairing with these cookies.

For the over 21 crowd, you have got to try my Dad's Irish Coffee Recipe, it is the best!

Similar recipes

Thumbprint Cookies is another classic cookie to enjoy.

Our No-Chill Sugar Cookies are super easy to prepare and enjoy.

Neiman Marcus Cookies are full of flavor and a personal favorite.

I love any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below.

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Eileen xo

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Pecan Sandies Recipe (5)

Pecan Sandies

Buttery, nutty and so absolutely delicious! These Pecan Sandies are easy to prepare and are always a hit. Perfect for family gatherings, Christmas cookie exchange, and pot lucks.

5 from 15 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Baking, Christmas Cookies, Snacks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: old fashioned pecan sandies, pecan sandies, pecan sandies recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

refrigerate: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 27 minutes minutes

Servings: 18 cookies

Calories: 132kcal

Author: Eileen Kelly

Equipment Needed:

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl using a stand mixer with paddle attachment or an electric hand mixer with beaters attached, cream butter and sugar until fluffy and completely blended, about 5 to 7 minutes, the mixture will be a pale yellow.

  • Beat in the egg until blended, about 1 minute, and then the vanilla extract.

  • Fold in the pecans.

  • Gently mix in the flour and salt.

  • Remove dough and roll into a log.

  • Cover with a piece of wax paper and refrigerate for at least 4 hours up to overnight. (see notes if you want to freeze the dough for later)

  • Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C.

  • Remove dough from the fridge and discard the wax paper.

  • Slice the cookie dough into ½ inch slices.

  • Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

  • Bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes. Cookies will be golden.

  • Remove from the oven. Let cool slightly. Transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Notes

Be sure to check Expert Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help make a delicious recipe.

Storage: Store in a covered airtight covered container or tin for up to 5 days.

Tips for Success:

  • Have your butter and eggs at room temperature for best results.
  • Use care to measure flour correctly.
  • Follow the directions as baking is not as forgiving as cooking.
  • You can freeze the dough once it is rolled. Wrap well in plastic and place in a freezer-safe bag. They can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, defrost, slice the cookies and bake according to the recipe.

I do my best to provide the most accurate nutritional values. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.

Don’t forget to shop at theEveryday Eileenstore on Amazon.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

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Pecan Sandies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between sandies and shortbread? ›

Pecan Sandies are a cross between a rich shortbread and a drop cookie. The buttery richness of these cookies is reminiscent of shortbread. Yet you can use margarine rather than butter in this recipe and still enjoy a lush flavor, thanks to the pecans which add depth to the flavor of the dough.

Who made the original pecan sandies? ›

The name 'sandies” was registered by the Keebler Company in 1955 for their line of flavored shortbread cookies, including the pecan sandy.

Why do pecan sandies taste different? ›

The brown sugar contributes a faint butterscotch note that is characteristic of a Pecan Sandie (much like the effect it has on the flavor of Butter Pecan Ice Cream). The powdered sugar makes for a tender and slightly crumbly texture.

What is shortbread called in America? ›

Americans are the outlier on how we use "biscuit"

To most of the rest of the English-speaking world, a biscuit is what Americans would refer to as either a cookie or a cracker. Biscuits can be sweet (shortbread) or savory. They're baked in the oven, and they're crisp, not chewy.

What is shortbread called in Scotland? ›

Triangular wedges of shortbread became known as "petticoat tails", and this form of shortbread has become particularly associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. It has been suggested that a French term for the wedges of shortbread was petit* gâteaux or petites gatelles – little cakes, and this became "petticoat tails".

What is another name for pecan sandies? ›

According to Pastry & Baking Arts Chef-Instructor Norma Arellano-Salazar, these popular cookies are also called snowballs or pecan sandies on the East Coast of the United States, as they resemble snow or sand thanks to their powdered-sugar dusting. Some even refer to them as Russian tea cookies.

Why are pecan sandies called sandies? ›

These cookies are named after their crumbly texture. They have a sandy or breadcrumb-like texture when the flour and butter are mixed together. Pecan Sandies are also a sandy color, which makes the name very fitting.

Why are they called pecan sandies? ›

What Are Pecan Sandies? Pecan sandies get their name because they have a sand like, fine texture and they have chopped pecans in them. They are a shortbread style cookie.

Do pecan sandies have dairy? ›

Contains wheat, pecan, egg, milk and soy ingredients. May contain peanuts and other tree nuts.

What do pecan sandies taste like? ›

Pecan Sandies are so very good we keep some for snacking. The cookie is so rich and flavorful with the shortbread texture and then the pecans add such a burst of flavor they are irritable. The size of the cookie is just right for serving with your favorite beverage be it milk or tea/coffee.

When did pecan sandies come out? ›

Commercial production. The Keebler Company mass-produces and markets Sandies Classic (plain), Pecan, and Cashew shortbread cookies. Keebler first purveyed Sandies cookies in 1955 and added a toffee variety in 1993.

What brand is Pecan Sandies? ›

Keebler® Sandies® Pecan Shortbread| Keebler.

Where did Pecan Sandies originate? ›

Pecan Sandies are shortbread cookies loaded with toasted pecans. They're a bit sweeter and chewier than ordinary shortbread. Though they may have an Arabic origin, in the US these cookies were made famous by the Keebler Company which has been selling their “Sandies Pecan Shortbread Cookies” for decades.

What makes a cookie sandy? ›

These cookies are made by the creaming method, and have very little water. The most likely suspect to cause graininess is the sugar. If there were clumps in the granulated sugar for any reason, they might not dissolve completely during the mixing or baking, leaving a gritty texture.

What is the difference between Scottish shortbread and shortbread? ›

Shape and Presentation: Scottish shortbread is often formed into rounds or rectangles, and it's common to prick the dough with a fork before baking. Other shortbreads might come in different shapes or be presented in various ways.

What is the new name for shortbread? ›

Samoas are now “Caramel deLites.” Do-si-dos are “Peanut Butter Sandwiches.” Tagalongs are “Peanut Butter Cookies” and Trefoils are “Shortbreads.” But how are we going to move cookies with dull names like “Peanut Butter Patties?” And won't we get tired of explaining to customers what happened with the names?

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