I didn’t always love pecans. No sirree, I hated the things. I didn’t like the dryness in my mouth after eating them, I didn’t like cracking the shells (because let’s face it – the shells sometimes look too much like the actual nut and, well, it’s not that easy to chew. Trust me), and I didn’t like the flavor. This story is old news though – you guys know already that my love affair with pecans began when I first tried them toasted and always ALWAYS in Mom’s pecan pie.
Another thing that made me fall in love with them though? When I found out Nate liked them too. See, I’m not that girl that loves things because a guy loves them. But food shared is food savored and we always were able to love the same foods together. I’ll never forget when we were dating and Nate decided he wanted dessert one night when we were eating out. He wanted pecan pie goshdarnit and who am I to say no to a man craving pecan pie?
The waitress came over and asked the traditional, “You guys ready for some dessert?” question that you have to ask when you’re in the restaurant business. And my husband – my sweet, adorable husband – told that poor girl that he wanted a slice of “Peckin’ Pie.”
Silence followed, along with some confused look and a giggle or two from my direction.
“I’m sorry, what kind of pie?”
“Peckin’ pie. You know, with peckins in it and the crust and the ice cream…”
(More confusion).
Finally, to put the poor girl out of her misery, I blurted out, “Pecan pie. He’s trying to say pecan!”
Needless to say she walked away, put in the order and probably spit in our whipped cream while Nate and I sat there and died laughing about how ridiculous he was being. And that pecan pie, although the flavor was nowhere near Mom’s, is probably one of the best slices I’ve ever had.
BUT………….I didn’t make pie for you guys today. Nope. I made cookies instead. Not lazy cookies, but the real deal cookies that are shaped like circles because I baked them that way. They have finely chopped pecans, too much butter and sugar, and will become your newest addiction. I promise you this: I was wary at first because they didn’t have chocolate and cookies without chocolate just aren’t my think these days. But I’ll be darned if I haven’t eaten almost every single one that I made and am contemplating making more tonight.
BUTTERY BROWN SUGAR PECAN COOKIES
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 cup very finely chopped pecans (I gave mine a whirl in the food processor)
Preheat your oven to 350. Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the vanilla and egg and mix until combined. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in the pecans until evenly distributed. Drop by the heaping teaspoon onto a pan lined with parchment or a Silpat and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. You just want to see a little golden brown around the edges at the bottom, and then remove them immediately to cool. Cool for about 10 minutes before eating…if you can!
Maybe only make these when you have friends or family over…I can’t be held responsible for the stomachache that will ensue when you eat too many. Trust me, it’ll happen.
Nancy Delgado says
I made two batches of these cookies and I’m trying to figure out what I did wrong! The dough of the first batch was very sticky . All the dough ran together and created a sheet of cookie. After baking for your 13 minutes they still appeared underbaked. I left them in for two minutes more and they came out well done. They were very thin and they tasted good but they were qq to crisp to cut them into squares .
I immediately made a second batch, I added about 1/8 cup more flour, hoping that this would help with my problem. I also checked the oven periodically to see how the cookies were doing . I had the same problem except this time I did not over cook them. I was able to cut the cookie into squares. They are very delicious , they are thin , lacey , and crisp. BUT, they do not look like the picture. What could I be dong wrong? Any suggestions?
Heather says
Hey Nancy! I’m so sorry it didn’t work out for you – I’ll be honest, I don’t know what could have gone wrong. My initial thought would be to reduce the liquid maybe cutting back on the butter a bit…?) first. I actually just made these again the other day for some new neighbors and they turned out fine for me :/
Duke says
If it’s too runny add flour!
Heather says
Thank you for the feedback Duke!
Katherine says
i am ready to mix the dough but first i have to say that a really good “peckin” pie has twice as many peckins in in than your usual recipe calls for / a few years ago i was living away from it all in the mountains with a gentleman friend / we were having a blizzard so i made a double your nuts pecan pie in a little woodburning stove when, big surprise, a couple of friends of friends (actually strangers to us) arrived at our little underground cabin / they had trudged through two miles of blizzard to reach us / you can imagine their astonishment to be served a magnificent pecan pie with (of course) whipped cream / smile / oh my what a nice memory / and now onward with the cookie dough
Heather says
Such a fun story! I love memories like that 🙂
Jo-Anne says
This cookie recipe is simply delicious and so easy to make. Gives the house a wonderful aroma.
Heather says
Thanks so much Jo-Anne! It definitely does smell nice while they’re baking 😉
Bobbi Tanguay says
Made these today, and they were little bites of heaven!! Perrrrrfect!
Heather says
Yay! I’m so glad you liked them – I can’t even make ’em when I’m home alone 😉
Stephanie says
These cookies are magic! Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Heather says
They’re so addicting! I’m glad you like them!
felicia says
These remind me of the chewy pecan supreme cookies from great American cookie. I’m fixing to make these to have with some coffee!!!
felicia says
They are in the oven!!!!!
Heather says
how’d they turn out?!
felicia says
Not like the picture but still absolutely delicious and edible!! Lol. I’m going to add more pecans next time. Thanks for the recipe!!!
Maria says
Love these!
Donna says
Hello! These look delicious! I wanted to know for this recipe, how many cookies does this make?
Thanks!
Heather says
it depends on the size you make, but for me it was about 30 cookies total 🙂
The Food Hunter says
Yes, Please!!
Living The Sweet Life says
These are completely calling my name right now ~YUM!
Brittany says
These look delish! I want to make them now! 🙂
Julie @SavvyEats says
YUM. Do you say it “pee-cans” or “peh-kahns”? Or peckin’s…
Heather says
i’ve always said it peh-kahns, but i love when people say pee-cans too!
janetha @ meals & moves says
ohhh shit. i have all that stuff in my kitchen right now. and it’s only 9 PM. doing it.
janetha @ meals & moves says
they are now in the oven. i had JUST enough brown sugar and pecans in my house. i mean peckins. it was meant to beeeeee!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
Yes yes yes and YES!
Sally @ Spontaneous Hausfrau says
I so love pecans and so love that this recipe is only 8 ingredients long! Can’t wait to make these.
Megan @ MegGoesNomNom says
A cup of butter! These babies have got to be good! 😉 Seriously though, these cookies are making my mouth water.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
Oh man, I can just imagine how tasty these are!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
I can see how one could easily eat to many of these!
Cat @Breakfast to Bed says
wow. these look fantastic. I need one now.
Jamie says
Hysterical! I love this story! And I can’t even remember if I ever had pecan pie before but I know I do love pecans – put them in everything I sensibly can. And I’ve been in the mood for cookies lately – these look scrumptious!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
I was just looking for a pecan recipe!! I found this too late, though 🙁 Oh well, this just means I will have to get more pecans!
Cassie says
This sounds perfect. Brown sugar and pecans are a great match!
Lindsay @ Lindsay's List says
lol…peckin’. love little stories like that! Great pics too, heather!
Maria says
Great cookie recipe!