By Becky Hardin
Published Nov 3, 2021
Get ready for the holidays with these delicious and easy pecan sandies! A mix between shortbread and a sugar cookie, this simple recipe is always a crowd pleaser!
Pecan Sandies Cookie Recipe
Holiday season means baking, and cookies are one of my favorite things to make for friends and family.
These pecan sandies are such a simple cookie recipe , that even the most novice of bakers will be able to master these. They are sweet and buttery with a crisp texture, and I promise that you won’t be able to stop at one!
Be sure to try my Shortbread Cookies and Soft Sugar Cookies too!
Why you’ll love this Old Fashioned Pecan Sandies recipe:
- SIMPLE INGREDIENTS: You only need a few simple baking ingredients to make these sweet cookies.
- QUICK AND EASY: Just mix the ingredients together and bake, and they are ready to enjoy in 30 minutes.
- MAKE AHEAD : These pecan sandies have a great shelf life and are freezer friendly too. They are perfect to enjoy across Christmas , and make for great gifts too!
I also love these cookies for Easter , Springtime, and lots of other occasions.
How to make Pecan Sandies for Holidays and Beyond
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Beat together the butter, sugar, vanilla and milk.
- Beat in the flour to form a dough.
- Stir in the pecans.
- Shape into balls and place on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake until a light golden brown.
- Let cool and toss in powdered sugar.
How long do they keep?
Like shortbread, sandies have a high fat content so this means they have a pretty long shelf life. Once baked, cooled and tossed in the sugar, transfer them to an airtight container. They will keep well at room temperature for around 2 weeks.
Can you freeze them?
Yes, these cookies freeze so well, so be sure to make a double batch! Flash freeze the cooled cookies on a baking sheet til solid, then transfer to a freezer container or bag. They will keep well frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature to enjoy.
Recipe Variations
These pecan sandies are so delicious as they are, but you can easily add different nuts if you prefer, walnuts and peanuts both work great. Traditionally sandies are tossed in powdered sugar, like this recipe, but feel free to skip that and add some vanilla frosting instead if you prefer!
All the Holiday Cookies
25+ Favorite Christmas Cookies
Baking and Christmas go hand in hand. See our guide for our fave recipes + tips and tricks for perfect cookies.
Tips!
- Mix in the flour in two separate steps. This will help to create a smooth cookie dough.
- Make sure that your oven is fully pre heated so that the sandies cook evenly.
- Let the cookies cool completely before tossing in the powdered sugar.
These pecan sandies are the perfect holiday sweet treat. With their long shelf life, you can enjoy these right throughout the festive season!
More Easy Cookie Recipes we Love
- Gooey Butter Cookies
- Pignoli Cookies
- Italian Anise Cookies
- Brownie Cookies
- Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter 227 grams (2 sticks), cold
- ▢ ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- ▢ 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 8 grams
- ▢ 1 tablespoon milk 14 grams, plus more if needed
- ▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour 240 grams
- ▢ ¾ cup chopped pecans 86 grams
- ▢ ¾ cup powdered sugar 85 grams
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla and milk together until smooth, about 2 minutes. 1 cup unsalted butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon milk
- Slowly add in half of the flour, beating until it is well combined. It will be a thick dough. 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Add in the remaining half of the flour. Once the dough is well mixed and soft, stir in the chopped pecans. ¾ cup chopped pecans
- Scoop or use a large spoon, measure dough and shape into balls, about 1 inch in size. Place on the prepared baking sheet. You can leave them as they are, or gently press them with the bottom of a lightly floured glass to flatten the tops. Bake for about 13-15 minutes, until the bottoms of the cookies are light golden brown.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.. Once they have cooled, they will be slightly firm.
- Fill a large Ziplock bag with powdered sugar and toss the cookies in the sugar until they are completely coated. Top with chopped pecans if desired. ¾ cup powdered sugar
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Hand Mixer
- Cookie Portion Scoop (optional)
Becky’s Tips
- Mix in the flour in two separate steps. This will help to create a smooth cookie dough.
- Make sure that your oven is fully preheated so that the sandies cook evenly.
- Let the cookies cool completely before tossing in the powdered sugar.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Pecan Sandies Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Hand Mixer
- Cookie Portion Scoop (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter 227 grams (2 sticks), cold
- ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 8 grams
- 1 tablespoon milk 14 grams, plus more if needed
- 2 cups all-purpose flour 240 grams
- ¾ cup chopped pecans 86 grams
- ¾ cup powdered sugar 85 grams
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla and milk together until smooth, about 2 minutes. 1 cup unsalted butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon milk
- Slowly add in half of the flour, beating until it is well combined. It will be a thick dough. 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Add in the remaining half of the flour. Once the dough is well mixed and soft, stir in the chopped pecans. ¾ cup chopped pecans
- Scoop or use a large spoon, measure dough and shape into balls, about 1 inch in size. Place on the prepared baking sheet. You can leave them as they are, or gently press them with the bottom of a lightly floured glass to flatten the tops. Bake for about 13-15 minutes, until the bottoms of the cookies are light golden brown.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.. Once they have cooled, they will be slightly firm.
- Fill a large Ziplock bag with powdered sugar and toss the cookies in the sugar until they are completely coated. Top with chopped pecans if desired. ¾ cup powdered sugar
Notes
- Mix in the flour in two separate steps. This will help to create a smooth cookie dough.
- Make sure that your oven is fully preheated so that the sandies cook evenly.
- Let the cookies cool completely before tossing in the powdered sugar.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
