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Finished Pecan Balls dusted with icing sugar

Pecan Balls

Buttery pecan cookies rolled in icing sugar.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Cookies
Cuisine Global
Servings 20 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 250 g salted butter (1 cup + 1 tbsp / 8.8 oz),cold
  • 110 g sugar (½ cup + 1 tbsp / 3.9 oz)
  • 250 g flour (2 cups / 8.8 oz)
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 120 g chopped pecan nuts (1 cup / 4.2 oz)
  • Icing sugar for dusting and rolling

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F).
  • Line two baking trays with parchment paper or baking paper.
  • Roughly chop the pecan nuts and set them aside.
    Chopped pecans for Pecan Balls
  • Beat the butter and sugar together until well combined.
    Butter and sugar creamed for Pecan Balls
  • Add the flour and mix until a dough starts to form.
    Pecan Balls cookie dough being mixed after adding flour.
  • Add the vanilla essence and chopped pecans and mix until everything is evenly combined.
    Pecan Balls dough with chopped pecans
  • Divide the dough into two equal portions.
  • Roll each portion into a log using clear plastic wrap.
    Pecan Balls dough shaped into logs
  • Cut each log into approximately 1 cm slices.
  • Roll each slice between your hands to form a ball.
    Pecan Balls dough log being sliced
  • Place the balls onto the prepared baking trays, leaving a little space between each one.
    Unbaked Pecan Balls on baking tray
  • Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden.
    Freshly baked Pecan Balls
  • Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately sprinkle them with a litlle icing sugar while they are still hot.
    Warm Pecan Balls being sprinkled with icing sugar after baking.
  • Allow the cookies to cool on the baking tray.
  • Once cool, roll each Pecan Ball in icing sugar again to give them their classic snowy coating.
    Pecan Balls rolled in icing sugar

Notes

No chilling required: Unlike many cookie recipes, this dough does not need to be refrigerated before baking. Once the dough is mixed, you can shape and bake the cookies straight away.
Keep the cookies uniform: Dividing the dough into two logs and cutting each log into slices before rolling them into balls is an easy way to make the cookies a similar size.