Pecan Sandies Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Eileen xo

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Let's talk about buttery, nutty, crispy, and crunchy Pecan Sandies that are so full of everything you want in a great cookie. These shortbread type cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delectable.

Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Equipment
  • Instructions
  • Storage
  • Expert Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Similar recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

  • Pecan Sandies are perfect because they have just a few ingredients and everything comes together quickly.
  • These delightful golden brown pecan sandies are a classic cookie full of flavor.

Ingredients

  • chopped pecans - well these are Pecan Sandies, so we need to add them.
  • unsalted butter - adds moisture to the batter.
  • white sugar - sweetness and develops browning in the cookie.
  • brown sugar - another level of sweetness to the cookie.
  • egg - binds the cookie.
  • vanilla - adds flavor.
  • salt - a little boost of flavor.
  • all-purpose flour - binds the cookie

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Equipment

Instructions

This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer with beaters attached, cream butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy, about 5 to 7 minutes. The mixture will be a pale yellow.
  2. Beat in egg and vanilla.
  3. Mix in pecans, flour, and salt.
  4. Roll into a log about 1 ½ inches thick. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for at least 4 hours up to overnight.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C.
  6. Remove wax paper from cookie dough and slice into ½ inch slices.
  7. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
  8. Bake for 12-15 minutes in the preheated oven
  9. Let cool on a cooling rack.

Storage

Keep the cookies in a covered airtight container on the counter for up to 4-5 days.

Freezer instructions: When following the instructions in the recipe card below, when the dough is refrigerated, instead, wrap the dough well in plastic wrap and place it into a freezer-safe bag. The dough can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When ready to bake, defrost the dough in the refrigerator. Then slice the cookies and bake them according to the recipe.

The dough logs can also be sliced and placed on a baking sheet in the freezer to flash-freeze the dough for about an hour and then placed in freezer-safe bags. The dough won't stick together in the freezer and slices can be removed and baked as needed.

Expert Tips

Expert Tip: Use room temperature unsalted butter so the dough will be easier to blend together.

  • Have your egg at room temperature so they mix easily.
  • Use care to measure flour correctly so the cookies will be perfect when baked.
  • Follow the directions as baking is not as forgiving as cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use salted butter to make these cookies?

Sure, but then omit adding salt to the cookie batter. You may over-salt the cookie.

Can the dough be frozen prior to baking the cookies?

Absolutely. The dough can be refrigerated at the point when it should be refrigerated overnight.
Wrap the dough well in plastic wrap and place it into a freezer-safe bag.
The dough can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, defrost, slice the cookies and bake according to the recipe.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy Pecan Sandies with a tasty Caramel Macchiato for a tasty snack or dessert.

Pumpkin Spice Lattes would be a great pairing with these cookies.

For the over 21 crowd, you have got to try my Dad's Irish Coffee Recipe, it is the best!

Similar recipes

Thumbprint Cookies is another classic cookie to enjoy.

Our No-Chill Sugar Cookies are super easy to prepare and enjoy.

Neiman Marcus Cookies are full of flavor and a personal favorite.

I love any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below.

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Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.

Eileen xo

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Pecan Sandies Recipe (5)

Pecan Sandies

Buttery, nutty and so absolutely delicious! These Pecan Sandies are easy to prepare and are always a hit. Perfect for family gatherings, Christmas cookie exchange, and pot lucks.

5 from 15 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Baking, Christmas Cookies, Snacks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: old fashioned pecan sandies, pecan sandies, pecan sandies recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

refrigerate: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 27 minutes minutes

Servings: 18 cookies

Calories: 132kcal

Author: Eileen Kelly

Equipment Needed:

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Be sure to check Expert Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help make a delicious recipe.

Storage: Store in a covered airtight covered container or tin for up to 5 days.

Tips for Success:

  • Have your butter and eggs at room temperature for best results.
  • Use care to measure flour correctly.
  • Follow the directions as baking is not as forgiving as cooking.
  • You can freeze the dough once it is rolled. Wrap well in plastic and place in a freezer-safe bag. They can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, defrost, slice the cookies and bake according to the recipe.

I do my best to provide the most accurate nutritional values. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.

Don’t forget to shop at theEveryday Eileenstore on Amazon.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Donna

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (10)
    Made these yesterday. Good stuff. Perfect sized recipe for 2 people.

    Reply

  2. Debby

    Add the salt to the directions. I forgot it!

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Oh my gosh, thank you. I make these at least once a week but since I have the recipe in my head, I never check the recipe card here. Thank you, corrected and added it to the instructions.

      Reply

  3. Sandy

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (11)
    My husbands new favorite cookie! I made them according to the recipe, and they disappeared in record time. The next week, I was out of pecans, so used cashews. The cookies are great both ways!

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Awesome, so glad he enjoyed the pecan sandies

      Reply

  4. Robin

    I'm not sure why, but these seemed to need a bit of salt or maybe sugar on top. But they were otherwise very easy to make and came out beautifully.

    Reply

  5. Jaz

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (12)
    Hello !

    I cant want ti make these ! I don’t have any pecans but have a stash of walnuts . Can they be used instead ?

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Hi Jaz, I have only made these with pecans but I am sure walnuts would be fine to use. Let me know how they turn out. I hope you enjoy.

      Reply

  6. Christi

    Do you use all purpose flour? (I'm sorry if you already said that and I just missed it somehow!)
    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Hi Christi, yes I use all-purpose flour. I have updated the recipe to include this as well.

      Reply

  7. Dalia

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (13)
    Loved making these cookies. My family were eating them as soon as they came out of the oven and cooling.

    Thank you

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      I'm so glad you and your family enjoy the cookies, Dalia. I thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know. It is greatly appreciated.

      Reply

        • Eileen xo

          Thank you so much KB, glad you enjoyed the pecan sandies. Thank you for taking the time to let me know how the recipe worked for you.

          Reply

  8. RB

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (15)
    These cookies are the bomb! Easy to throw together and delicious! The only sub I made was using Butter Extract for the Vanilla and I toasted my Pecans. My husband proclaimed them a 'keeper'. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Wonderful RB, I love the idea of toasting the pecans. Thank you for taking the time to let me know how the recipe worked for you.I'm glad your husband wants to make these often. 🙂

      Reply

  9. Vicky

    Perfectly delicious, and so simple to make! I’m definitely keeping this recipe on hand!

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Awesome Vicky, so glad you enjoy the cookies.

      Reply

  10. Carlos at Spoonabilities

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (16)
    My husband will definitely love these pecan Sandies. I'm bookmarking this recipe.

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Awesome,I hope he enjoys the Sandies as much as we do Carlos.

      Reply

  11. colleen kennedy

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (17)
    Me being the cookie monster that I am, how have I never had these? Trying soon!

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      You will love these sandies.

      Reply

  12. Jersey Girl Cooks

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (18)
    These are the best cookies! Yum!

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      I love them

      Reply

      • Natasha

        [emailprotected] I don't what I did wrong but they spread out flat. I was presice with measurements esp the flour? Still taste great but I wanted them to be like in your picture.

        Reply

        • Eileen xo

          Hi Natasha, did you refrigerate them overnight? Are you making them into the log shape before refrigerating? I have never had them spread.

          Reply

  13. Anne Lawton

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (19)
    These bring back memories! My mom loved pecan sandies, and they were almost always in our house. Either the homemade or store bought version. Pinning this recipe to try soon.

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Excellent, enjoy the pecan sandies.

      Reply

  14. Laura

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (20)
    I love these cookies! And you have so many great cookie recipes.

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Thank you so much Laura, enjoy!

      Reply

  15. Vallerie White

    for some reason my dough came out too sticky but I formed it in a roll anyway, and waited overnight until I took them from the fridge. They taste great but they spreaded and did not block like I wanted them too. I followed the recipe well, even the part about measuring the flour. So with the remaining dough (I only baked 4 test cookies) I am going to add more flour in hopes that this doesn't spread and be soft.

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Hmm, hey Vallerie, I've never had an issue with this dough and we make these cookies a lot. The sugar you measured out? You had them in the fridge overnight so they should not have spread. Are you in a very high altitude? I will be making these again over the weekend and I will try and see where the dough may get sticky. Let me know how the

      Reply

    • Lyn

      Cookie dough will get sticky if it gets to warm. Letting butter get so soft that its mushy will also contribute to sticky dough. Hope this helps.

      Reply

      • Eileen xo

        I agree Lyn. If the dough starts to get sticky, place it in the fridge for a bit before continuing with the cookies.

        Reply

  16. Carol Rodgers

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (21)
    We made this with the kids. Delicious. I’m making another batch today to bring to work they were a hit. The pecan flavor was perfect and nice and buttery

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Fantastic Carol. I'm so glad you enjoyed the pecan sandies.

      Reply

  17. Stacey

    Can the dough be kept in the fridge for two days or should I freeze and then defrost instead? Thank you!

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Hi Stacey, keep the dough well wrapped with plastic wrap in the fridge for the 2 days and you will be fine then to complete baking. any more than two days, I would place the dough in the freezer until ready to bake. Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy the cookies. These are delicious. Happy Holidays.

      Reply

      • Iris A Leiva

        Hi do I have to leave it overnight or I can just do two hours.

        Reply

        • Eileen xo

          I have found the best results in refrigerating overnight.

          Reply

  18. Kelley

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (22)
    These are perfection! They turned out so good and I loved the step by step instructions. YUM!

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Thank you Kelley, glad you enjoyed the cookies.

      Reply

  19. Tayo

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (23)
    I find it incredibly hard to resist pecans so I will definitely be giving this a try. I love that the dough can also be frozen. Thanks so much for posting this!

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Awesome Tayo, enjoy these cookies Let me know how they turned out for you.

      Reply

  20. Whitney

    Pecan Sandies Recipe (24)
    These cookies are a classic! Perfect flavor and texture, I love making them for cookie exchanges!

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      So glad you enjoy these pecan sandies

      Reply

  21. Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck

    That color!!! It almost has me drooling! Oh, alright, so maybe I am drooling!!!

    Reply

    • Eileen xo

      Aw, thank you Colleen. I hope you enjoy the cookies!

      Reply

Pecan Sandies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my pecan sandies so crumbly? ›

Is Easy Pecan Sandies dough supposed to be so crumbly? Yes. These cookies are meant to have a crumbly texture, similar to shortbread. The dough will come together just enough to form into the ball cookie shapes.

Who made the original pecan sandies? ›

The name 'sandies” was registered by the Keebler Company in 1955 for their line of flavored shortbread cookies, including the pecan sandy.

What is another name for pecan sandies? ›

According to Pastry & Baking Arts Chef-Instructor Norma Arellano-Salazar, these popular cookies are also called snowballs or pecan sandies on the East Coast of the United States, as they resemble snow or sand thanks to their powdered-sugar dusting. Some even refer to them as Russian tea cookies.

What are sandies cookies made of? ›

Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Vitamin B1 [thiamin Mononitrate], Vitamin B2 [riboflavin], Folic Acid), Soybean and Palm Oil, Sugar, Pecans, Contains 2% or Less of Salt, Eggs, Baking Soda, Vanilla Flavoring, Whey Protein Concentrate, Soy Lecithin.

What is the mistake in making shortbread? ›

The most common mistakes when making shortbread are over-working the dough, and incorporating too much flour. The less you work the dough, the more crumbly and melt-in-your-mouth your shortbread cookies will be.

Why are pecan sandies called sandies? ›

That's because pecan sandies are a type of shortbread cookie. They get their name from their sandy texture—in French, similar cookies are known as sablé which means sand. Sandies are more soft and crumbly than a sugar cookie.

What's the difference between sandies and shortbread? ›

Most shortbread, however, is baked in one pan and then cut into pieces. Sandies are individually-formed cookies. Like other drop cookies, Sandies are shaped by “dropping” or pushing spoonfuls of cookie dough onto a baking sheet. During baking, the mounds of dough flatten and spread.

What do pecan sandies taste like? ›

The brown sugar contributes a faint butterscotch note that is characteristic of a Pecan Sandie (much like the effect it has on the flavor of Butter Pecan Ice Cream). The powdered sugar makes for a tender and slightly crumbly texture.

How old are pecan sandies? ›

The Keebler Company mass-produces and markets Sandies Classic (plain), Pecan, and Cashew shortbread cookies. Keebler first purveyed Sandies cookies in 1955 and added a toffee variety in 1993.

Do pecan sandies have dairy? ›

Contains wheat, pecan, egg, milk and soy ingredients. May contain peanuts and other tree nuts.

How do you store sandies cookies? ›

How to Store Pecan Sandies. Store the pecan sandies for up to a week in an airtight container at room temperature. You can freeze them for up to three months.

How many calories are in pecan sandies? ›

Kellogg's Sandies Cookies Keebler Pecan Shortbread (2 cookies) contains 18g total carbs, 17g net carbs, 10g fat, 1g protein, and 160 calories.

What is Snoop Dogg cookies? ›

Snoop Dogg's peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe - His original cookie features creamy peanut butter and semisweet chocolate morsels, making it the perfect indulgence this holiday season. #

What are Elvis cookies? ›

The Elvis: Peanut Butter, Banana and Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Where did pecan sandies originate? ›

Pecan Sandies are shortbread cookies loaded with toasted pecans. They're a bit sweeter and chewier than ordinary shortbread. Though they may have an Arabic origin, in the US these cookies were made famous by the Keebler Company which has been selling their “Sandies Pecan Shortbread Cookies” for decades.

What if my shortbread is too crumbly? ›

But in a quick fix that saves both fear and butter, Garten suggests simply adding more water if the batter is more crumble than dough. "If the shortbread dough feels dry, I add a teaspoon or two of water until it's easier to work with," Garten explained. Score one for the Wonder Woman of the kitchen!

Why does my cookie dough feel crumbly? ›

Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

What causes dry crumbly cookies? ›

If you overmix the dough, the cookies will be dry and crumbly. The best way to fix this is to add more liquid to the dough. This can be done by adding milk, water, or even melted butter. You may also need to add more flour to the dough if it is too wet.

Why are my sugar cookies so crumbly? ›

Overworking = tough, misshapen, and crumbly cookies

Overmixing your dough usually makes cookies tough and shrink into weird shapes, but it can also make them crumbly. Generally you only want to mix just until the flour disappears, and then stop mixing!

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