Best Soft Pecan Sandies Cookies are a delightful baker's dream, offering a consistently melt-in-your-mouth experience perfect for any occasion. This simple recipe guarantees chewy, buttery cookies infused with the nutty charm of pecans, making them a universally loved treat.
Key Ingredients for Best Soft Pecan Sandies Cookies
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted (plus extra for topping, optional)
- Confectioners' sugar, for dusting (optional)
How to Make Best Soft Pecan Sandies Cookies
Whip up a batch of these incredibly easy, wonderfully satisfying Best Soft Pecan Sandies Cookies in no time! With just a few common pantry staples and a simple mixing process, you'll achieve a delightful texture that's both chewy and tender, all thanks to the perfect balance of ingredients and a short baking time of approximately 10-12 minutes. Get ready for a truly craveable cookie experience!
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with the granulated sugar and light brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes with an electric mixer.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Incorporate Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Fold in Pecans: Gently fold in the finely chopped, toasted pecans until evenly distributed throughout the cookie dough. If you're a big pecan lover, you can also reserve some whole or larger chopped pecans for pressing onto the tops of the cookies before baking.
- Chill the Dough (Optional but Recommended): For easier handling and to prevent excessive spreading, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes. This step is particularly helpful in warmer climates or if your butter was quite soft.
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Shape the Cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. If desired, gently press a few extra chopped or whole pecans onto the tops of each cookie dough ball.
- Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft. The cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 2-3 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Dust (Optional): Once completely cool, you can lightly dust the Best Soft Pecan Sandies Cookies with confectioners' sugar for an extra touch of sweetness and elegance.
Why You’ll Love This Best Soft Pecan Sandies Cookies
You'll adore these Best Soft Pecan Sandies Cookies for their incredibly tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s far superior to your average crumbly cookie. The warm, comforting flavor of toasted pecans married with rich butter and brown sugar creates a symphony of taste that’s simply irresistible, reminiscent of homemade goodness without the fuss.
The incredible joy of creating these delightful cookies at home means you bypass store-bought prices while guaranteeing the freshest, most flavorful treat for your loved ones. Unlike a snickerdoodle which offers a spiced warmth, these sandies deliver a pure, buttery nutty essence that’s universally appealing, making them a go-to for any sweet craving. Dive in and experience the magic!
Storing and Reheating Tips
These Best Soft Pecan Sandies Cookies are best enjoyed fresh, but they store beautifully to maintain their delightful softness for days.
- Room Temperature Storage: Once completely cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5-7 days. To keep them extra soft, you can even place a slice of bread in the container with the cookies; the bread will help maintain moisture.
- Freezing: For longer storage, wrap the cooled cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: If your cookies have become a bit stiff from storage, you can gently reheat them. Place a cookie on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 5-10 seconds on low power. Alternatively, you can warm them in a low oven (around 250°F or 120°C) for a few minutes.
Final Thoughts
These Best Soft Pecan Sandies Cookies are a testament to simple ingredients yielding extraordinary flavor and texture. Whip up a batch to experience pure cookie bliss, and you'll find them disappearing faster than you can say "delicious!"
Best Soft Pecan Sandies Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with the granulated sugar and light brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes with an electric mixer.1 cup unsalted butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Gently fold in the finely chopped, toasted pecans until evenly distributed throughout the cookie dough. If you’re a big pecan lover, you can also reserve some whole or larger chopped pecans for pressing onto the tops of the cookies before baking.1 cup finely chopped pecans
- For easier handling and to prevent excessive spreading, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes. This step is particularly helpful in warmer climates or if your butter was quite soft.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. If desired, gently press a few extra chopped or whole pecans onto the tops of each cookie dough ball.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft. The cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 2-3 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once completely cool, you can lightly dust the Best Soft Pecan Sandies Cookies with confectioners’ sugar for an extra touch of sweetness and elegance.confectioners’ sugar