Butter Pecan Cookies from The Food Charlatan (2024)

What is the butter flavor in butter pecan?

The butter flavor is real butter! It’s enhanced by the sweet, nutty flavor of the pecans which is what makes it such a beloved flavor combination.

What does butter pecan flavor taste like?

Butter pecan is a unique flavor combination that brings together the rich, creaminess of butter with the roasted nuttiness of pecans. The brown sugar in the cookies adds a caramel sweetness.

Is butterscotch the same as butter pecan?

Not quite. Butterscotch is the brown sugar-plus-butter version of caramel; it’s cooked until it’s soft, sweet, and rich. Butter pecan is a flavor combining JUST pecans and butter–no brown sugar–as in butter pecan ice cream. These butter pecan cookies also include brown sugar, but it isn’t a key ingredient in the flavor of butter pecan.

Why do they call it butter pecan?

Because of the butter…and pecans. It’s really that simple guys. “Butter pecan” desserts have a subtle and unique flavor. If you’re a huge butter fan (like me) you can taste that creamy richness immediately. Pecans have a roasted, sweet, nutty flavor that’s similarly rich, just like butter. Put ‘em together and you’ve got a recipe for some of my favorite cookies of all time.

Easy Butter Pecan Cookies Recipe

• ▢ 1 cup salted butter, softened
• ▢ 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• ▢ 1 egg yolk
• ▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt, I use kosher salt
• ▢ 50-60 pecan halves

• In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream butter and brown sugar. Beat it for at least 2-3 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides and bottom.

• Add the egg yolk and beat well.

• Add the flour & salt. Mix until it forms a ball, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl. When all the flour is incorporated, stop beating. (Over beating makes for a tough dough.)

• Cover the bowl and chill for about an hour. (If you are doubling the recipe, be sure to chill for more like 2-3 hours. They will bake flat if the dough is not cold. You can freeze the dough too, if you want.)

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.

• Form the dough into 1 inch balls. Place on the cookie sheet with one inch of space in between each cookie.

• Flatten each ball once with a fork. If the fork is sticking, dip it in flour, then press on the cookie.

• Press a pecan on top, perpendicular to the fork marks.

• Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes or until they are no longer shiny on the top or edges.* I don’t let mine get brown, or if they do, it is a very small amount on the bottom edges.

This recipe is from Grandma Prudie, Eric’s great-grandmother.

*The cook time on this recipe is MUCH DEBATED. I like to cook for a minimal amount of time (6-8 minutes) until the cookies are just cooked through. This way they are soft and stay that way for a few days. Kris, Eric’s mom, likes very crunchy cookies and will leave them in the oven until they are brown and very crispy. The choice is yours!

You can chill the dough for up to 3 days before using. If you need longer than that, throw it in a Ziploc in the freezer. It will keep a long time! Let thaw on the counter until cold, then shape into balls. You can even shape the cookies, including the fork marks and the pecans, then store them in a tight container in the fridge or freezer, then bake up to 2-3 days later.