Description
Delightful pecan pie thumbprint cookies blend Southern charm with classic holiday sweetness. Buttery cookie bases cradle rich caramel and toasted pecans, offering a delectable twist on traditional pie flavors you’ll savor with each bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3/4 cup (170 g) unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 1 cup (220 g) brown sugar (firmly packed)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup (100 g) pecans (finely chopped)
- 1/2 cup (110 g) brown sugar (firmly packed)
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper, creating a smooth surface for cookie placement.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whip brown sugar and butter until creamy and well-blended, creating a smooth base for the cookie dough.
- Introduce egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, stirring until the ingredients harmonize and develop a consistent texture.
- Gradually fold flour and baking powder into the wet ingredients, gently mixing until a uniform dough emerges that holds its shape.
- Using a cookie scoop, portion out dough and roll into compact 1 1/4-inch spheres, ensuring consistent sizing for even baking.
- Arrange cookie balls on prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow room for potential spreading.
- Craft the pecan filling by combining chopped pecans, brown sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl, stirring until ingredients meld together seamlessly.
- Create a gentle indentation in the center of each cookie ball using your thumb or the back of a spoon.
- Carefully spoon a rounded teaspoon of pecan mixture into each cookie’s center, distributing the filling evenly.
- Slide baking sheets into the preheated oven and bake for 8-12 minutes, watching for a light golden-brown coloration.
- Remove cookies from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheets for a few minutes to stabilize their structure.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack, allowing them to cool completely and develop their final texture.
Notes
- Customize the pecan filling by adding a splash of bourbon or maple syrup for an extra layer of flavor complexity.
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for smoother dough mixing and better cookie texture.
- For gluten-free options, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or coconut flour to maintain a similar crumbly consistency.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before forming cookies to prevent spreading and create more defined thumbprint shapes.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 149 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 37 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg