Pecan Crescent Cookies
Why Pecan Crescent Cookies are the Ultimate Holiday Treat: ‘Tis the season for cozy evenings spent by the fire, sipping hot cocoa and indulging in the delectable delights of the holidays. And what better way to elevate your festive spread than with the irresistible charm of pecan crescent cookies?
These buttery treats are not just your average cookie; they are the ultimate holiday treat that will leave your taste buds begging for more. Read to discover why pecan crescent cookies are the perfect addition to your dessert lineup, from their melt-in-your-mouth texture to their rich, nutty flavor that warms the soul. Whether you’re a baking novice or a seasoned pro, these cookies are a must-try this holiday season.
Pecan Crescent Cookies. A light buttery shortbread cookie with chopped pecan and rolled on powdered sugar. One of my family’s favorite holiday cookies. Nothing fancy, just buttery goodness. This recipe is very easy for beginner bakers to make. Scroll down to see how to preserve these Pecan Crescent Cookies for weeks.
Add these easy-to-make Pecan Crescent Cookies to your holiday tray, take them to a cookie exchange, or serve them at your Christmas Party!
More Crescent Cookie Recipes
SNOWBALL PECAN COOKIES
TWO Reasons For Dry Cookie Dough
If your dough is dry, then either your butter wasn’t soft enough, or you haven’t mixed the dough long enough. This is how your dough should look
VERSATILE COOKIE FOR CHRISTMAS PARTIES AND COOKIE EXCHANGES
Looking to elevate your holiday baking game and impress your friends and family? Look no further than these pecan crescent cookies. Their rich, buttery flavor and nutty crunch make them a versatile addition to any Christmas party or cookie exchange. These cookies are not only delicious, but they also make a stunning presentation on any dessert table. So, whether you’re hosting a festive gathering or participating in a merry cookie swap, these pecan crescent cookies will surely be a hit. Treat your loved ones to a delectable bite of holiday joy with this ultimate holiday treat
How to make Pecan Crescent Cookies
Ready to try your hand at making these irresistible pecan crescent cookies? Here’s a simple recipe that is perfect for both beginners and seasoned bakers alike. Combine butter, flour, powdered sugar, and finely chopped pecans in a bowl, then shape the dough into crescent shapes before baking to golden perfection. These cookies are a delicious addition to any holiday spread and are sure to impress your guests at Christmas parties and cookie exchanges.
- Mix butter until creamy; add the flour, nuts, ½ cup sugar, salt, and extracts.
- Mix until well combined.
- Refrigerate, covered for 30 minutes.
- Roll into 1-inch balls.
- Shape the logs into crescents.
- Refrigerate an additional 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- When cool enough to handle, roll hot cookies in the remaining 2 cups of powdered sugar.
- Cool on the wire rack.
Why Do I Need To Refrigerate The Cookies For 2 Hours?
BAKING WITH CHILLED DOUGH: Chilling the dough is crucial to prevent the cookies from spreading too much. The colder and more solid the fat, the less the cookie will spread.
Variations of these Pecan Crescent Cookies
One bite of these pecan crescent cookies will transport you to a world of pure buttery bliss that melts in your mouth. These wonderful little cookies are not too sweet and go perfectly with a hot cup of tea.
Switch some ingredients out and add new ones to create several different cookies from one base cookie recipe.
- Create a shortbread cookie by omitting the pecans
- Don’t like pecans? Use your favorite nut instead
- Take out some of the flour and replace it with unsweetened cocoa
- For a little crunch and caramel flavor, add toffee bites
- Add a brown butter glaze
- To warm up the flavor, add a sprinkle or two of pumpkin spice
Can I Freeze Pecan Crescent Cookies?
YES! These cookies freeze beautifully. There are two ways to choose when planning to freeze your pecan crescent cookies. ONE—Form the dough into a ball, put it in a freezer bag, label it, and freeze. TWO—Form the cookies into crescents and place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the cookie sheet (with the cookies on it) in the freezer. Once cookies are frozen, drop them into a freezer bag. For both methods, the cookie dough needs to be cold but not frozen before baking.
Holiday Christmas Cookie Tray
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In conclusion, the allure of pecan crescent cookies lies in their buttery texture that melts in your mouth, rich nutty flavor that warms the soul, and easy recipe that caters to bakers of all skill levels. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party or participating in a cookie exchange, these versatile treats are sure to delight you. Embrace the magic of pecan crescent cookies this holiday season and start a new tradition of joy and sweetness with your loved ones. Try out this recipe and share the love with those around you.💗Sheryl
Pecan Crescent Cookies
A light, buttery shortbread cookie topped with chopped pecans and powdered sugar is one of my family's favorite holiday cookies.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup ground pecans
- 2½ cups powdered sugar, divided
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix butter until creamy, add the flour, nuts, 1/2 cup powdered sugarMix butter until creamy; add the flour, nuts, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, salt, and extracts. Mix butter until creamy; add the flour, nuts, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, salt, and extracts.
- Mix until well combined.
- Refrigerate, covered for 30 minutes.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls.
- Shape cookie dough into crescents.
- Refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- When cool enough to handle, roll hot cookies in the remaining 2 cups of powdered sugar.
- Cool on the wire rack.
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THANKS FOR VISITING♥
My mom used to make these! Thanks for the recipe! Enjoy your holidays!
These look delicious! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday! Please come back and vote on Sunday!
All the above look very nice and tasty but the pecan cresent cookies are calling my name. I remember a lady that used to make these when I was little and I still remember them today. So good Have a great holiday and thanks for the post andi
I just luv pecan sandies. Yours look delicious.
Thanks for sharing
Happy Holiday!
Joanne
Love these cookies. Definitely plan to make some this Christmas and share them with friends and family.
Lucky friends and family! 🙂
Thanks for sharing! These were my favorite cookies too!
If you wanted to have almond crescents, could you substitute the pecans for ground almonds and keep everything the same? Thanks!
Sure Tracey! 🙂
Thanks so much for your reply, Sheryl!
How much dough do you use per cookie?
Hi Jeanne, I don’t measure it but if I had to guess about 1 tablespoon.
I’m trying to modify my recipes for Gluten Free. Has anyone tried to substitute Almond Flower for the regular flour?
Hi Josie, I know my son has taken a lot of my cookie recipes and made them gluten free. He says they taste the same as if he had used all-purpose flour.
Hi, I just made these with gluten free flour! Delicious!
Cool Joy! I’m glad they turned out using a different flour. Now everyone can enjoy them! Merry Christmas!
I made the Pecan Crescents Cookies this evening. Followed the recipe exactly except I used 1/4 tsp Maple extract instead of almond.
Absolutely delighted because they are delicious! Thank you!
I’m so happy you like them Susan! Merry Christmas! 🙂
Hi,
Are you suppose to grease cookie sheet or not??
No, you don’t need to grease the cookie sheet. I do like to use parchment paper, not because the cookies will stick, just because I like the way the cookies brown with it.
Can these be frozen
Hi Tanna, You can freeze the dough to bake later but I wouldn’t freeze the baked cookies. I’m afraid when thawed the confectioners’ sugar will melt.
Could you bake the cookies, freeze them, then roll them in confectioners sugar once thawed?
Hi Jeanette, It’s best to roll the cookies while they’re hot. What you could do is make the cookie dough and freeze that.
These are a favorite from childhood!! A must make for the holiday
That’s awesome!
Are these like Mexican Wedding Cookies? They are really expensive on Amazon. I used to buy these at Christmastime at the grocery store. Now, super hard to find. I like pecans. Use almond extract with pecans?? Thank you. PS: Years ago, I added salt but had used self-rising four. Ewee big mistake!!!
Hi Sandra, I’ve never had a Mexican Wedding Cookie so…..all I can say is these cookies are delicious and melt in your mouth. The almond extract is what gives the cookies their delicious flavor.
Eat fewer cookies and they won’t seem as expensive. Lol. I can’t stop eatng them til they’re gone.
Hahaha….I’m right there with you Janan!
Can I leave the dough in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days before baking?
Hi Aziza, Sure! You can freeze it too.
I made these using walnuts instead of pecans. They came out perfect. I also waited until they cooled to coat them with powered sugar. I don’t like the way the powdered sugar melts on the hot cookies. Thanks for the recipe and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
That sounds delicious Lizz! Merry Christmas to you too!
I make these every year with your recipe! Never disappointed.
Awesome! Thanks Anne! ♥
I’m thinking of tipping one end of the cookie in chocolate and then once everything has set then rolling the cookie in icing sugar?
I love the idea of adding a bit of chocolate Vickie. I’m not sure if the powdered sugar will stick once the cookie is cooled.
I’ve looked for a pecan sandie recipe that I remember making from my childhood with my mother. I knew when I read the ingredients this was it! Just finished baking a batch and all an say is thank you soooo much! My Mom passed away a few years ago. These remind me of her. Will be sharing this recipe with my daughter. It is the best!
Oh….Wendy that warms my heart! I’m so glad you found this recipe too!
I make these cookies every year either with pecans or almonds. I bake them ,rolling in sugar and when cooled off I freeze them. When I thaw them out I sprinkle some icing sugar, through a fine sieve to make them look pretty. They taste the same as freshly made.
Thanks Liz for all the great tips!
Is 375 degree oven the right temp for baking these cookies. Also, can you shape them in balls instead of crescents?
Hi Sharon, Yes the temperature is correct at 375°. Yes you can! Snowball Pecan Cookies
So by powdered sugar, do you mean icing sugar? I have a similar recipe but it calls for berry sugar which I believe is just a finer granulated sugar. Want to be sure before I make them!
Hi ML, Yes powdered sugar is also known as icing sugar and confectioner sugar.
Thank you 😊👍
This is the recipe I’ve been waiting for. So good. I used roasted, salted pecans, and omitted the salt.
Fabulous!
Hi Deb, I’m so glad you like the recipe and I love the change up.
Has anyone toasted the nuts first?
Hi Kathy, I haven’t tried it but I think it would be delicious and add another layer of nutty flavor.