Celebrate National Pecan Day With Pecan Cookie Balls

pecan nuts

April 14th is National Pecan Day! Here in Texas pecans are a big business. We’re the second largest producer in the country (after Georgia), and the pecan tree is also our official state tree. We’ll be celebrating with a variety of pecan-inspired goodies, including these Pecan Cookie Balls.

 

INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter, softened

2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups flour

2 cups finely chopped pecans

 

DIRECTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Use an electric mixer at medium speed/power to beat the butter in a large bowl until it’s light and fluffy.
  • Add 1/2 cup of the sugar, the vanilla extract, ground nutmeg and salt to the butter. If you are using cinnamon, add it as well. Beat the mixture until it’s well blended.
  • Stir the flour and pecans into the mixture.
  • Shape the dough into 1-inch balls, and place them one inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. It should make around 48 balls.
  • Bake for 15 minutes.
  • Remove the hot cookies from the baking sheets, and immediately roll them in the remaining two cups of sugar.
  • Place the sugared cookies on wire racks to cool. Once they are cool, roll them in the sugar again.

It’s a soft, sweet treat that everyone can eat!

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