You know what I love about baking. Ingredients can be extremely interchangeable! When you really want to bake but are missing an ingredient chances are you can substitute something else instead.
Take these Pecan Sandies for example. The recipe I set out to make was from a really old cookbook I have called “Chocolate”, and were supposed to be Chocolate Chip Sandies. I had never made them before but they looked really good.
When I needed to make some cookies to pack in Tim’s lunch I wanted to make these, but low and behold my pantry was completely empty of any chocolate what-so-ever. Not even a chocolate bar I could chop up. I am not sure how that even happened.
I did however have pecans so Pecan Sandies it is!
I even made enough to freeze some for the holidays. They lasted about a day and a half!
Note to self: Do not freeze Christmas cookies in kitchen freezer. Take them down to the chest freezer and they may actually last until Christmas!
Ever since I first started baking my favorite part has been the hands on work with the dough. I have said it before, just how therapeutic it can be. I kind of get lost in all the mixing, kneading, shaping and rolling.
While I did use my KitchenAid stand mixer to mix the dough, by the time I was done rolling and shaping it into crescents I was completely relaxed.
Funny thing about these cookies. I remember when I was a kid and would see this type of cookie on a holiday cookie tray, I would always pass it over for something more colourful and gooey like these Grampie’s Favorite Squares that are still our family’s favourite! What was I thinking? These cookies are buttery, melt in your mouth, with a yummy nutty crunch. So good!
I have to admit I probably ate 1 (or 6) too many myself. Give me a buttery cookie and a cup of tea and I am a happy camper!
Next time I will make two kinds. Pecan Sandies and the Chocolate Chip Sandies they were supposed to be in the first place.
What was your favorite holiday cookie as a youngster?
Until next time….
Maureen
- 1 cup butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup sifted confectioners sugar
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In the bowl of electric mixer beat butter on medium speed for 30 seconds.
- Add sugar and beat until fluffy.
- Add water and vanilla extract, beat well.
- Add flour and chopped pecans and mix on low speed until combined.
- Shape the dough into crescents about 2 inches long by 3/4 inches wide.
- Place on parchment lined baking sheets and bake for 20-25 minutes, until edges are lightly browned and cookies are firm.
- Remove from oven and cool completely.
- Add sifted confectioners sugar to a plastic bag. Gently shake a few cookies at a time in the bag until well coated with sugar.
Heather @ New House New Home says
I remember passing up these types of cookies too. Now there’s nothing more satisfying.
Maureen says
So true 🙂
Gail says
I feel the same…..still enjoy the others, but this type is comforting and I don’t feel as guilty eating more. Thanks for sharing
Maureen says
Gail, isn’t it funny how our tastes change 🙂
Daphne says
Good Evening Maureen, These little pecan sandies look lovely. Thank you for the tip about freezing these little beauties away from the kitchen. I have a large freezer in the garage which should be far enough away to stop me diving in after them.
For the life of me I cannot remember the name of the biscuits my mother Phyllis used to make. But they were a biscuit base and she used to include currants in the mix. She would then roll them out and cut them with little cake cutters. When I speak to her next I will ask the name of them. Although I cannot remember the name, I do remember they were delicious.
Best Wishes
Daphne
Maureen says
Thanks Daphne! I wonder if the cookies you are talking about are called Welsh Cakes. I remember my grandmother making something that sounds very similar, with currants and cut out with cookie cutters, and they were called Welsh Cakes!
Heather says
I’ve added these to my holiday baking list, they look so tasty! Thanks for sharing on the #GoodFriendsFriday linky, looking forward to seeing what you share this week!
Elaine says
Question; should the be pecans be toasted before using in this recipe? Thank you
Maureen says
No, I did not toast them for this recipe!
Ruby Gibson says
Absolutely adore these cookies, I used to always help grandma role them in the powdered sugar (while nibbling on a few!!!) so excited to try this recipe and see how much they compare to grandmas! quick question: does it work to use a hand held mixer? at the moment that’s all I have. Happy New Year!!!!
Maureen says
I think a hand mixer would work just fine. It was all I used at one time! We share the same memory of rolling them in the powedered sugar! I remember they were so good right out of the oven while still warm! Enjoy 🙂
Mary says
I have some toasted pecans that I need to use. Could I use them in place of untoasted ones?
Thanks!
Wendy Klik says
I just received some lovely pecans as a sponsor gift. These will be a perfect use for some of them.
Ellen says
I’m swimming in pecans. I should make these and send them in to teachers. They are one of my favorite cookies.
Sue Lau says
Such a classic cookie for both the holidays and all year long!
Amy (Savory Moments) says
These cookies look perfect — they’d not last in our freezer either! We would be gobbling them up! Pinning!
Angie says
These are delicious! One of my mom’s favorite cookies!
Eileen Kelly says
I just love these pecan sandies~ freezing them for Christmas is an awesome idea. I tend to fall behind at the Holidays and don’t bake enough. I am going to make a big batch of these for Christmas tomorrow!
Maureen says
Eileen, I can relate when it comes to falling behind during the holidays! I make a point to spend one day (or weekend) getting all my baking done and into the freezer. I hope you enjoy the pecan sandies!
Anne Lawton says
these bring back childhood memories! My mom used to make these all of the time – I’m going to give these a try!